November 16, 2011
By Christine HamiltonThe American Quarter Horse Journal
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Stop by Professional Auction Services, Inc. in the sale office in Barn 3 to pick up your 2011 World Show Sale catalog. (Journal photo)
The 2011 AQHA World Championship Show Sale is Friday, November 18, offering top show and performance horses in working horse, pleasure and halter sessions. The sale catalogued 249 head.
“We have a very nice set of horses in the sale,” says Mike Jennings of Professional Auction Services, Inc. “There is a nice group of yearlings with strong dams and popular sires; good broodmares such as the dam of De Renzo; and production sales from several top halter and performance breeders.”
“The sale is not as large as in previous years,” he continues, “and that is consistent with what we’ve seen in all major auctions throughout the year.”
Live online bidding will be available through www.horseauctions.com. Buyers must pre-register and get pre-approved to bid online.
There are two preview sessions – the roping and cow horse preview is November 16, after the senior heeling prelims in the Performance Arena in Barn 6, at approximately 6 p.m. The western pleasure, hunter under saddle and reining horse preview is November 17 at 9 a.m. in the Barn 8 arena.
In the outdoor arena behind Barn 8, Priefert has provided round pens for people to also preview prospects prior to the sale.
Horses purchased through the sale are eligible for payouts through the World Show Sale Bonus Plan in open, amateur and Select divisions; total payouts, to date, are $46,800.
“Since mid-summer we’ve seen improved prices in all the markets we’ve been dealing in, particularly with show-quality horses,” Mike says, speaking of auction markets in general. “That’s across the All American Quarter Horse Congress Super Sale, the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale, some of our regional Quarter Horse sales as well as the hunter pony and sport horse market.
“From the auctioneer’s standpoint, we are seeing more bidders per horse and buyers bidding more freely than they have in the last few years. That’s encouraging as well.
“As far as getting horses to the sale, I think we’ve seen the numbers of both yearlings and broodmares decline some in the last few years and more dramatically this year. Back in the 80s, when we saw this same (market decline) happen, it took a couple of years of a stronger yearling market before people went back to breeding mares at an increased number.
“I feel like we heard a lot of trainers this summer talking about how hard it was to find 2-year-olds. At Reno and Congress both, we saw people come back into that yearling market stronger.
“Based on numbers from AQHA, I don’t think we’ll see an increased number of those yearlings for at least a couple of years. I think if people want yearlings, they’re probably going to have to try a little harder to get them and don’t miss an opportunity to buy a nice one.”
SALE SCHEDULE November 16 – approximately 6 p.m. (after the senior heeling prelims) Performance ArenaSale Preview – roping and cow horse consignments
November 17 – 9 a.m. (Markel Insurance light breakfast at 8 a.m.)Barn 8 ArenaSale Preview – hunter under saddle, western pleasure, reining horse consignments
November 18 – 9 a.m. (Markel Insurance light breakfast at 8 a.m.)Barn 3 ArenaAQHA World Championship Show Sale