A horse that had a tough time in the show ring fared better in the sale ring during Canada’s Premier Select Ranch Horse events at Canadian Western Agribition.
Wayne A. Morris saw the potential in SQ Mr. Blue Socks, a young buckskin gelding consigned by Sim Qua Ranch of Kola, Man.
Morris, bidding on behalf of his business partnership with Marvin Longman, said he liked the horse’s size, colour and disposition.
That’s why they were willing to spend $10,000, which stood as the highest price in the Nov. 25 sale.
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Morris, who is from Punnichy, Sask., said they would use the horse in their small ranching operation, which includes 50 cows and 40 papered brood mares.
“We only have a few geldings and they’re starting to get old now,” he said.
The partners operate a heavy equipment construction company as their main business.
“But ranching is in our blood,” Morris said. “It goes back generations.”
Dale Barkman rode the horse during the competition and sale.
He said the gelding did well despite the odds. Barkman spent five months working with the horse as a two-year-old. He placed third at the Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 Futurity.
But then they took a break. “He’s been eating grass for two years doing nothing,” Barkman said. “If you saw him in the ring you’d have seen that.”
He just began working with the now four-year-old horse again in September.
Barkman said he had hoped someone would see through the rawness and pay a good price.
He said it can cost $700 to $900 per month to train a horse.
“Some of the more broke ones have between $10,000 and $15,000 worth of training in them,” he said.
Barkman said the gelding’s disposition is critical to his future as a working horse. He is not easily spooked and is generally easy going, he said.
The show champion, Ms Doc n Doll, was a mare entered by Karen Blake of Abbey, Sask. and ridden by Beau Smith. She brought $8,100 in the sale and won $5,000 in the show.
Chics n Diamonds from Frehlick Quarter Horses in Estevan, Sask., placed second in the show, behind by just two points. Dancin in Lightnin from Lyle Ludwig in Craven, Sask., was third but brought the second-highest sale price at $9,600.
The sale averaged slightly more than $7,000 on 12 lots, down about $400 from last year.
