Ranch horses | Sixteen horses sell for $134,400 for an average $8,400
Auctioneer Brad Stenberg left the sale block from which he had just conducted the popular ranch horse sale at Canadian Western Agribition and said, “wow.”
That’s what a lot of people were saying after the strong sale of 16 entries in Canada’s Premier Select Ranch Horse sale, along with 10 prospect horses.
The 16 grossed $134,400, for an average $8,400.
That’s up from last year’s $84,400 on 12 lots and a $7,033.33 average.
David Esmond of Qu’Appelle Trails Ranch Ltd. at Eyebrow, Sask., earned at least some of the credit for the higher numbers after buying three top-priced horses, including the high seller:
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- Spoonfulla Kitty, consigned by John Wilgenbusch of Halbrite, Sask., and winner of the competition ahead of the sale, for $14,500
- Dial Juan Sailor, offered by Candice Dandum of Rosedale, Alta., and the second-place finisher, for $12,000
- Blueberry Pepto from Karen Blake at Abbey, Sask., for $9,400
Esmond said it made sense to buy his horses at Agribition.
“I can drive and look for a horse in another province and I’d spend that much just looking. You might as well buy at home.”
He said he is also a fan of horses trained by Dale Clearwater, who worked with Spoonfulla Kitty.
Judge Ron Hoffman said he and the other judge, Scott Lees, were impressed with the consistency of the horses during the competition and expected all of them to work well on ranches.
The lowest price paid was $4,400.
After Spoonfulla Kitty, the second highest price was $13,700 for Major Entertainer. The mare, consigned by Frehlick Quarter Horses of Estevan, Sask., finished third in the competition and went to Andrew Fuller from Wolfville, N.S.
First place earned $5,000, second won $2,500 and third won $1,500.
Fourth place in the competition and $900 went to Lucky Lil Player, offered by Teresa Cook of Saskatoon and ridden by Clearwater. The mare sold to Dusty Wigemyr of Okotoks, Alta., for $8,100.
Among the 10 prospect horses, Catts Pay, a sorrel mare consigned by Rebecca Gervin of Spy Hill, Sask., topped the sale at $6,800. Lianne Rae of Saskatoon was the buyer.
The prospects grossed $47,600 for a $4,760 average.
