Destination: billings

Solid broke, user friendly, and ready to ride – the overall demand for a better horse – in all divisions and disciplines, drove the market at Billings Livestock’s annual “Cow Country Classic Catalog Sale” May 22.

Ranch horses had their time to shine in the “Best of the Remuda” Ranch horse competition Friday afternoon where the using horses showcased their skills in a judged competition.

A one-day total of 631 head of horses went through the gates at Billings with 24 pass outs or no sales.

May’s Number One with a $75,000 sale price –  was the complete package offered by Turner Performance Horses LLC, East Helena, MT and purchased by Hercules Haseotes, Sudbury, MA

This guy checked ALL the boxes – handsome, gentle, trained – ridden outside in the pasture, on trails, trained to lie down, good with gunfire, came with his American Ranch Horse Certificate, too , and Hip 118 “Who Gotta Gun” a 2016 AQHA Bay Gelding x Spooks Gotta Gun and out of a daughter of Who Whiz It really was a show stopper.

So very pretty and bred the best, Hip 115 “Hot N Catty” a 2016 AQHA Red Roan Mare by Catty Hawk and out of a Peptoboonsmal daughter earned reserve sale honors with a $48,000 bid.

Offered by Blake Kruger, Forest Lake, MN, the trained reined cowhorse had been used to sort and work cattle and trail ridden on weekends, and sold to Mike Kalberg, Steamboat Springs, CO.

Billings has historically been home to the popular drafts and draft crosses, as six head occupied a spot in the top 20 sellers listing, including Hip 113 “DCG Historys Summer Solstice” a 2015 Gypsy Vanner Horse Society Piebald Gelding offered by Northeast Acres Ranch, Bismarck, ND and purchased by a Florida buyer. Gentle, broke, and kind – the good looking gelding brought $22,500.

With volume comes a wide selection and Billings offers a horse for every budget, every time.  This month 90 head of catalog horses brought between $3,500 and $7,500.

In the loose division 360 head were offered as is, where is, with the top loose horse at $8,000., 15 over $4,000, 42 head bumped over $3,000 and 80 head hit $2,000 or better.

Catalog sale averages reflect the strong demand as the top five averaged $44,300, top ten at $31,670; Top 20 at $22,865; Top 50 at $15,001; and the top 100 averaged $10,591.

Join us – on premise or online – June 26 for Billings Livestock’s “Summer Special Catalog Sale” complete with a full performance preview on Friday, June 25.

See what’s coming, consign, and sign up for online bidding at www.billingslivestock.com

  • Posted on: January 5, 2023