AQHA World Show Sale

More than just top-notch horses are up for bid at the AQHA World Championship Show Sale.

“The ‘A’ Team,” a bronze 12” x 12” x 6” sculpture by AQHA life member Lisa Perry, is Item 2 in the art sale portion of the AQHA World Show Sale. (AQHA photo)

Before Hip No. 1 enters the sale ring at the 2012 American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show Sale, buyers will have the chance to bid on a different kind of world-class medium. Three pieces of art – two paintings and one bronze sculpture – will be up for bid at 10 a.m. on November 11 before the start of the horse auction in Oklahoma City.

The art sale portion of the AQHA World Show Sale, held in conjunction with the AQHA World Show at State Fair Park, will feature:

Item 1: “From A Far Off Place,” original oil 24” x 36” painting by Ritch Gaiti. A self-taught artist, Ritch won the People’s Choice Award of the 2009 American Plains Artists exhibition and the Judges Award of Merit in the Trail of Ponies National Art Competition. He is a member of the Oil Painters of America, American Plains Artists and Cowboy Heritage Artists and Photographers Society. His latest works and exhibitions may be viewed at www.gaiti.com.
Item 2: “The ‘A’ Team,” bronze 12” x 12” x 6” sculpture by Lisa Perry. AQHA life member Lisa Perry and her husband, George, have ranched in Montana and bred Quarter Horses for 40 years. The artist now calls Springtown, Texas, home and many of her designs have been used by AQHA for awards. Her monumental works of horse sculptures are featured at AQHA, racetracks and farms throughout the country.
Item 3: “I Ain’t Gonna Fade,” watercolor 18” x 22” painting by Buck Taylor. Buck Taylor, son of famed actor Dub Taylor, grew up on movie sets. Starting his television acting career in the 1950s, Buck is most famously known for his role as Newly O’Brien on “Gunsmoke.” Buck’s career as an artist began at the 1993 National Finals Rodeo. A fan of watercolors, Buck uses the faces of cowboys, Native Americans, horses and homesteaders to tell stories of adventure, nobility, hardship and sacrifice.

“These three featured artists have great ties to the American Quarter Horse and our industry,” said Doug Hayes, AQHA director of business development. Although Doug is the in-house staff person handling the sale, he answers to the AQHA World Show Sale Committee, which comprises AQHA members who are industry leaders in their disciplines. “By offering these three pieces of art, we are hoping to set the tone for this year’s sale.”

For the first time, the AQHA World Show Sale will be managed by AQHA, and with the change of management came a new set of goals for the sale. One of the goals for this year’s sale was to set a standard for horses consigned to the sale. Before accepting a horse into the sale, the committee members analyzed each horse’s performance record, pedigree, dam and sire performance records, conformation and athletic ability. View the online sale catalog, which includes hip numbers and photos of consigned horses.

The preview of sale horses will start at 1 p.m. on November 10 in the Performance Arena. Interested buyers must register in the sale office located in the alley by Barn 6; the sale office opens 1 p.m. on November 8. There will be no online biding, but the sale, which starts at 10 a.m. on November 11, will be live-streamed on www.aqha.com/worldshow. Phone bidding will be offered to those who have completed and received approval of the Buyers and Prospective Bidders Checking Account Verification Form. The number for phone bidding is (405) 948-6788. Sale catalogs will be available in the sale office or the AQHA booth located in the trade show, and a free digital catalog is available to view online. To order a catalog, contact Geneva Hoyne at ghoyne@aqha.org or (806) 378-4390.

As a proud sponsor of AQHA, Markel Insurance Co. focuses on protecting your western lifestyle, including your horses, barn, tack and equipment. With over 40 years of expertise in insuring horses and horse businesses, Markel will meet your unique needs. Markel is sponsoring the AQHA World Show Sale and providing 24-hour fall-of-the-hammer insurance coverage to sale consignments.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA Publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications.