The 2009 NCHA Summer Spectacular Sale bolstered confidence in the cutting horse industry with a strong sale that saw many new buyers and some categories that topped those of the 2008 venue.
Net sales on 190 head averaged $10,225 compared to 2008, when 204 head averaged $10,814. In addition, the percentage of RNA’s from net sales was 12% compared to 18% in 2008.
“Eighty-eight percent of horses passing through the sale ring actually sold. It doesn’t get much better than that in a consignment sale,” said Jim Ware of Western Bloodstock, the sale’s production company.
While the average for the top five high sellers was down from 2009, Ware pointed out that the top 10 and top 20 categories were actually stronger than in 2008.
“In 2008, five head of expensive broodmares averaged $73,800,” Ware noted. “We didn’t have that type of broodmares consigned to this sale. But absent those high sellers, the top 10, 20 and even 100 high sellers were actually higher.
“That indicates to me that the overall market was stronger than last year.”
Another favorable market indicator was the high percentage (27%) of new buyers.
“The new sale format with the demonstration of horses in Watt Arena on the Friday afternoon prior to Saturday’s sale in John Justin was extremely well received,” said Ware. “We had a packed house for both the demonstration and the sale.”
“The general ‘feel’ of the sale was better than at the 2009 Super Stakes Sale in April and that was better than at the 2008 Futurity Sales. Buyers and sellers seem to be more optimistic and in a better mood about the future.”
The high-selling lot from the NCHA Summer Spectacular Sale, at $81,000, was 5-year-old Peppers Stylish Cat, a daughter of High Brow Cat out of Stylish Pepper, in training with Matt Gaines. Consigned by Brewer Ranch, Weatherford, TX, she sold to Clint Hixson, Monroe, LA.
Confetti Cat, consigned by Paul and Julie Hansma, brought $67,000 as the second-highest seller. The 6-year-old High Brow Cat daughter out of Savannah White sold to Richard Carney, Kemp, TX.
Cat O Connor, by High Brow Cat and in foal to Dual Rey, sold for $59,000 to Gary Rosenbach, Greenwich, CT. She was consigned by Terry Whitman, Weatherford, TX.
Three-year-old Stylish House Cat was the high-selling futurity prospect at $56,000. The High Brow Cat daughter, also out of Stylish Pepper, was consigned by Randermann Quarter Horses, Brenham, TX and sold to Skeeter Cox, Upper Marlboro, MD.
The Shrontz Family Ltd Partnership, Brenham, TX, consigned the high-selling 2-year-old of the sale. Kinda Hot In Here, by Spots Hot out of Some Kinda Memories, was purchased by Rick Beaman, Will Point, TX, for $50,000.
Beaman also paid $40,000 for the high-selling gelding, 5-year-year-old Stylin And Profilin, by Mr Skyline Peppy out of Flyin Stylish, consigned by Miller Cutting Horses, LLC, Weatherford, TX.
The Slate River Production Sale, a special sale within the NCHA Summer Spectacular Sale, averaged $11,665 on 32 head, all of which sold.
The high-selling Slate River consignment was the 1995 stallion Playdox, who sold to Jimmy Bittle, Muenster, TX, for $52,000. Sired by Freckles Playboy out of Dox Come Back, Playdox is an all-time leading sire and was ranked #13 among 2008 sires by Equi-Stat.
Bobs Freckles, also consigned by Slate River Ranch, sold for $38,500. The 14-year-old son of Bob Acre Doc out of War Of Freckles, also a leading sire of 2008, was purchased by Carlos Delem, Collinsville, TX.
The NCHA Futurity Sales, to be held December 5 through 13, are next on the agenda for NCHA and Western Bloodstock, with major new changes in store.