BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, JOURNAL EDITOR
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| The 2009 CSU Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale topper Hey Im Cashin In brought $19,500 on April 25, 2009. CSU stands the 3-year-old’s sire, Hey Houston; his service fees go toward scholarships. |
For the first time in the sale’s history, a young horse topped Colorado State University’s Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale. Consigned by Cowan Select Horses LLC of Havre, Montana, Hey Im Cashin In, a 2006 roan gelding by Hey Houston and out of Booming Cash by Boomernic, brought a strong $19,500.
Crofoot Ranches LLP of Lubbock, Texas, sold the second highest seller for $16,000, a 2001 bay gelding by Red Hot Hancock and out of Snickelfritz Mabel by Snickelfritz Chex.
Held Saturday, April 25, 2009, at the B.W. Pickett Equine Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, the invitational sale cataloged 65 seasoned ranch geldings and mares, and 2- and 3-year-olds from leading ranching and performance Quarter Horse breeders, including several AQHA/Bayer Best of the Remuda Award-winners. An estimated 600 people attended.
The overall sale average was $4,308, and the top five averaged $13,540. The top five aged ranch stock averaged $11,340; the top five 2- and 3-year-olds averaged $9,740. According to CSU, the average of the top 10 2- and 3-year-olds increased from $5,220 in 2008 to $7,200 in 2009 – a testament to the quality of the horses ranches send to the program.
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CSU student Amanda Alps won the Wagonhound Land and Livestock Student Competition with Western Paddy Gal, a 2007 bay mare by Paddys Irish Whiskey and out of Western Lena by Mr Sun O Lena. Amanda trained the filly for consigner Burnett Ranches LLC (Four Sixes Ranch). Kevin Meyer of Wagonhound presented the awards. |
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Now in its fourth year, the sale is the culmination of two semesters’ work for students in CSU’s equine sciences program. The students in the horse training classes take on the work of starting and riding the young stock sent to the program in the fall by the ranches; and the equine sales management and equine event management classes manage and promote the sale, as well as produce the catalog online and in print.
“I believe in the program,” said Barbara Cowan of Cowan Select Horses LLC, on hand for the sale. “It means a lot to the students.
“I want to make it clear, we really believe in the youth and the Quarter Horse,” she added with a smile. “Oh, does it solve a lot of problems!”
The Cowan family also donated the top seller’s sire Hey Houston to the University. A son of Smart Chic Olena out of a Tari Glo mare, the stallion stands for $950, and the proceeds from his service fees go to CSU equine sciences scholarships.
Consignors for this year’s sale were: Bartlett Ranches, Pike Road, Alabama; Becker Ranch, Ashby, Nebraska; Bogle LTD, Tatum, New Mexico; Burnett Ranches LLC, Guthrie, Texas; Colorado State University; Cowan Select Horses LLC, Havre, Montana; Crofoot Ranches, LLP, Lubbock, Texas; Hanging H Ranch, Sutherland, Nebraska; KeSa Quarter Horses, Bellvue, Colorado; Purina Mills Equine Nutrition Center, St. Louis, Missouri; Ritchey Land and Cattle Co., Hudson, Colorado; S Ranch LTD, Pryor, Montana; Saunders Ranch, Weatherford, Texas; Singleton Ranches, Lamy, New Mexico; T-Cross Ranches, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Tongue River Ranch, Paducah, Texas; Tule Ranch, Tulia, Texas; Valley Oak Ranch, Oakdale, California; Wagonhound Land and Livestock, Co., Douglas, Wyoming; Wood Ranch, Heber Springs, Arkansas.
To learn more about the sale and CSU equine sciences, and to view complete sale results please visit www.csuequine.com.
