Western Bloodstock’s 2011 NCHA Summer Spectacular Sale proved to be a bell ringer, as well as a bellwether for the upcoming NCHA Futurity Sales in December.

“We had 91 percent completed sales this year and, although the overall net average was lower than in 2010, we sold 229 horses, compared to 99 in 2010,” said Western Bloodstock pedigree expert and commentator Jim Ware.

“More importantly, the top 20 high sellers averaged $45,150. That’s $8,775 more than in 2010. And the top 50 averaged $28,000, which is $7,140 more than in 2010.

The sale topper, Little Baby Sister, from Bobby Pidgeon’s Bar H Ranche Dispersal, brought $230,000 from Tim and Pat Dewey, Cimarron, KS. The 16-year-old Dual Pep daughter, with offspring earnings of over $1 million, sold with a filly at side by Third Cutting, and with embryos by Metallic Cat and High Brow Cat.

Miss Rey Hickory, an 8-year-old Dual Rey daughter with a colt at side by High Brow Cat and an embryo by High Brow CD, was the second-highest seller at $98,000. She was purchased by Richard Bertel, Fort Worth, TX, from K & C Ranch, Hillsdale, MI.

Following the financial crash of 2008, broodmares took a hit in the sale market, according to Ware. The 2010 NCHA Futurity Sale saw demand return, when 38 head averaged $47,000 in the Invitational Mare Sale.

“During the 2011 Summer Sale, 10 outstanding mares averaged $58,150,” Ware noted. “The industry’s number one commodity, broodmares, and its number two commodity, yearlings, showed considerable strength in this sale.”

Spoonfuls Supercat, sired by Hes A Peptospoonful and out of 2005 NCHA Futurity champion Highbrow Supercat, was the top-selling yearling at $37,500. Consigned by Paul Dean, Claremore, OK, the red roan colt sold to Bill Shank, Huffman, TX.

Abbigal Grace, a yearling filly by High Brow CD and consigned by Bernie Kirkland, Weatherford, TX, brought $37,000 from Kyle Aymond, Waterproof, LA.

“The fact that 15 December-quality yearlings and weanlings averaged $30,000, indicates a strong demand for yearlings, of which there is a short supply,” said Ware. “Western Bloodstock annually researches yearlings by cutting’s most popular sires and, in 2010, AQHA supplied us with 4,542 yearling records by those stallions. In 2011, on the same date, AQHA provided us with records for 2,779 yearlings, by the same sires.”

The limited supply of yearlings available in 2011 amounts to a 61 percent decrease compared to 2010, according to Western Bloodstock’s AQHA records. This number, in addition to an increase of $2.5 million to a total of $3.5 million in funding for NCHA Triple Crown events in Fort Worth, points to a big demand for yearlings during the NCHA Futurity Sales in December.

Two 6-year-old mares, both consigned by Rick Beaman, Wills Point, TX, topped the show horse lots during the NCHA Summer Sale. Hollys Pepto Lena, by Peptoboonsmal and the earner of $8,838, brought $30,000 from Carl Lott, Madisonville, TX; and Dual Little Star, by Dual Rey and the earner of $10,071, brought $30,000 from Janet Henderson-Cagley, Livingston, LA.

“We had a good number of consignments that sold while working cattle, but not the number of proven horses that we usually offer,” said Ware. “The top ten averaged $25,650, which is respectable, considering their average earnings, and really good, when compared to the Show Horse Session at the 2010 Futurity, where 75 head averaged $19,250.”

Fifteen of the 25 finalists in the 2011 NCHA Open Derby had been offered previously in Western Bloodstock Sales.

For a complete list of sale results and information on the 2011 NCHA Futurity Sales, go to www.westernbloodstock.com

NCHA SUMMER SPECTACULAR SALE 2011

Gross Sales: 251 head averaged $10,800
RNA’s: 22 head averaged $17,150
Net Sales: 229 head averaged $10,450
Withdrawn: 12 head

Completed Sales: 91%

Top 5 sold averaged $91,700
Top 10 sold averaged $64,000
Top 20 sold averaged $45,150
Top 50 sold averaged $28,000
All 229 sold averaged $10,450

BAR H DISPERSAL
Net Sales: 49 head averaged $13,500
Withdrawn: 1 head

2010 vs 2011 SUMMER SPECTACULAR SALE

2010                                               2011

Net Sales      99 head ave. $13,600             229 head ave. $10,450
Top 10          averaged $54,000                    averaged $64,000
Top 20          averaged $36,375                    averaged $45,150
Top 50          averaged $20,860                    averaged $28,000