RAPID CITY, SD – When it gets to be the last weekend in January, thoughts turn to the Black Hills Stock Show Horse Sale and this year was no exception. Held once again in Rushmore Hall at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, the 50th Annual Black Hills Stock Show presented their sale on January 25-26.
With buyers registered from 18 states, the two-day sale drew 156 head representing a wide variety of breeds and stages of training. For the first time, the preview of lots was held at the Pennington County Expo Center on the Central States Fairgrounds each morning prior to the sales. Auctioneer Alan Odden was assisted on pedigrees this year for the first time by Jake Clark and sale averages far exceeded the previous year even though the horse market appears to be in a general downswing.
Twenty-two of the regions leading sires were again showcased on the Stallion Row that was also housed in the Rushmore Hall of the Civic Center. With a majority of the breeds represented being the American Quarter Horse, the American Paint Horse Association and the Pony Of America (POA) breeds were also represented this year. The Parade of Stallions preceded the auction each day giving the stallion owners a means to present their stallions for potential bookings for the upcoming 2008 breeding season. New this year was the ‘People’s Choice Award’ – presented to the spectators favorite stall decorations on Stallion Row. Winning the inaugural honors was Tyler and Dee Haugen of Sturgis, SD, with their stallion High On Corona, a AAA son of Corona Cartel.
Topping the sale in 2008 was Sooner At The Bar, a chestnut gelding sired by Smart Sooner by Smart Little Lena (LTE $743,275) and out of a Peppy San Badger granddaughter. Cataloged as having a strong foundation in reining and cutting training and a ‘big time heel horse,’ he was consigned by the Krebs Ranch, Inc. of Gordon, NE. The 6-year-old caught the eye of Rich Hutchins from Fallon, NV on a bid of $13,400. Tim Schaak of Edgemont, SD had the final bid on Leans Smart Olena, again sired by an own son of Smart Little Lena – the Babco*ck Ranch stallion Smart Chic Olena. Out of Lenas Red Hot, a granddaughter of both Doc O’Lena and Lightnin Bar Jr, the finished cutting horse with NCHA Lifetime Earnings of $8,612,59 was consigned by the Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. from Arthur, NE. The proven 14-year-old bay gelding left the ring at $12,250 as the high seller on the Saturday sale.
Also topping the $10,000 mark on Saturday was Special Tiger Leo, a solid 7-year-old gray gelding consigned by Sioux River Ranch in Watertown, SD. The finished head and heel horse has had extensive training and brought a bid of $10,100 from Delbert Woodward of Dupree, SD. He was sired by a grandson of Tiger Leo and out of a granddaughter of Doc Bar.
Special award presentations were made throughout the weekend with the First Western Bank Stallion Award, an insulated winter blanket, being presented during the Stallion Preview to Codys Tiger Jet, a 12-year-old APHA Black Tobiano stallion owned by Laura Lee McKenney from Belle Fourche, SD. The Steve London Memorial ‘Best Fit Consignment Award’ is given each year by Mary and Maggie London from Rapid City and this year’s recipient was on the Saturday sale – Special Tin Lizzie, a 4-year-old APHA Sorrel Overo mare consigned by Brian and Jennifer Philipsen from New Underwood, SD.
2008 Averages
Overall Average – $3,584 (2007 $3,370)
Top 5 Head – $10,430 (2007 $8,340)
Top 10 Head – $8,475 (2007 $7,370)
Friday, Jan. 25 Average – $3,336
$13,400 – SOONER AT THE BAR – AQHA 2002 Chestnut Gelding sired by Smart Sooner by Smart Little Lena and out of a Peppy San Badger mare. Consigned by Krebs Ranch of Gordon, NE, purchased by Rich Hutchins of Fallon, NV.
$7,900 – CASHY STREAKER – AQHA 2003 Brown Mare sired by Streakin Sixes by Streakin Six and out of a Dash For Cash/Three Brand mare. Consigned by Lyle and Janice O’Rourke of Interior, SD, purchased by Kyle Harris of Martin, SD.
$6,400 – ZANDULAR BALOO – AQHA 2002 Blue Roan Gelding sired by a son of Zan Parr Barr and out of a Te Shadows bred mare. Consigned by Mike Jobgen of Martin, SD, purchased by Troy Swift of Sioux Falls, SD.
$6,000 – KING LEO DUN IT – AQHA 2001 Dun Gelding sired by a son of Hollywood Dun It and out of a Gay Bar King granddaughter. Consigned by Nicole Wheeler/Sylvia Landa of Baker, MT, purchased by Diane Hill of Hot Springs, SD.
$5,900 – DOCS SMOKIN FRITZ – AQHA 2000 Palomino Gelding sired by a son of Docs Juniper and out of a Smokin B Neville/Jacks Royal bred mare. Consigned by Heidi and Mary Meuwissen of Mayer, MN, purchased by Gary A. Romey of Hot Springs, SD.
$5,750 – BT HONEY BARS – AQHA 2000 Palomino Mare sired by a grandson of Mr Bud Bars and out of Trippers Julie by Ishawooa Tripper. Consigned by Adam Graf of Spearfish, SD, purchased by Bobbie Hammond of Olpe, KS.
$5,600 – GRADE 2001 Palomino Gelding. Consigned by Mark Wray of Ord, NE. Purchased by Danny Schicke of Nuevo, CA.
$5,400 – PACIFICS BLACK BART – APHA 2002 Black Breeding Stock Gelding sired by JR Pacific by Pappy Cash and out of a Smooth Herman granddaughter. Consigned by Speared Heart Performance Horses of Holdrege, NE, purchased by Gary Anderson of Miles City, MT.
$5,000 – HAPPY FOR ONE – AQHA 2000 Black Gelding sired by a Gee No Go Royal/Docs Jack Sprat grandson and out of Happy To A Tee by Triplechic Te by Azure Te (TB). Consigned by John Sheets of Arcadia, NE, purchased by Cody Wensing of Florence, SD.
$4,700 – BOSTON SUN SOCKS – AQHA Sorrel Gelding sired by PC Sun Socks and out of Boston Showtime by Bricks Reflection. Consigned by Trisha Pitts/Kathy Van Hill of Alvord, IA, purchased by Danny Schicke of Nuevo, CA.
Saturday, Jan. 26 Average – $3,742
$12,250 – LEANS SMART OLENA – AQHA 1994 Bay Gelding sired by Smart Chic Olena by Smart Little Lena and out of a Doc O’Lena/Lightnin Bar Jr granddaughter. Consigned by Haythorn Land & Cattle, Co of Arthur, NE, purchased by Tim Schaack of Edgemont, SD.
$10,100 – SPECIAL TIGER LEO – AQHA 2001 Gray Gelding sired by a Tiger Leo grandson and out of a granddaughter of Doc Bar. Consigned by Sioux River Ranch of Watertown, SD, purchased by Delbert Woodward of Dupree, SD.
$8,500 – DOCS BLUE SPINKS – AQHA 2001 Buckskin Gelding sired by Sprinks Blue Man by Buck Spinks and out of a Colonel Freckles bred mare. Consigned by Tom and Sonya Coolahan of Hermosa, SD, purchased by Lyle Gehrke of Castlewood, SD.
$7,600 – FLASH AT NIGHT TIME – AQHA 2003 Sorrel Gelding sired by Superior Reining Stallion Night Time Shiner and out of a Watch Joe Jack/Paprika Pine mare. Consigned by Hardy and Mandy White of Pine Bluffs, WY, purchased by Collin and Tammy Frerick of Belgrade, MT.
$6,700 – DASHIN KING REED – AQHA 1999 Brown Gelding sired by a grandson of Tee Jay Badger and out of an own daughter of Hot Dasher. Consigned by Roger and Janice Ludeke of Atlanta, NE, purchased by Jack Marton of Buffalo, WY.
$5,300 – OLE OAKLY – AQHA 2002 Palomino Gelding sired by Ole Mans Oak Leaf and out of a Tyree Watch bred mare. Consigned by Tyson and Shiloh Hewitt of Vale, SD, purchased by Chad Miller/Gene Miller of Bowman, ND.
$5,300 – CEE HEART SKIPPYJACK – AQHA 2001 Bay Gelding sire by Hawkeye Classic by Dandy Seeker and out of a granddaughter of Snippys Cowboy and Frosty Feature. Consigned by Clayton and Sally Chord of Edgemont, SD, purchased by Raina Perli of Rapid City, SD.
$5,200 – PACOS 2001 Grade Buckskin Gelding. Consigned by Greydin Ludeke of Holdrege, NE, purchased by Deone Hart of Mitchell, SD.
$5,200 – DOCS GOLDEN DISCO – AQHA 2002 Palomino Gelding sired by Doc Bo One Three by Doc Bo Three and out of Hanks Classy Lady by Broadway Classic. Consigned by Tom Brannon of Sheffield, IA, purchased by Ken and Vicky Kirkeby of Rapid City, SD.
$5,100 – JD DANDY LADY – AQHA 2001 Bay Mare sired by Dandy Wilywood by Wilywood and out of JK Pepper Lad daughter. Consigned by Mark Wray of Ord, NE, purchased by John Fortier of Shepard, MT.
