The 2013 Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale - Anyone been?

[Shermy]

http://www.equinescience.colostate.edu/lor/information.html

I am in the market for a new horse. I have a 17 yr old paint, owned for 10+ yrs, that has a ligament tear. He is getting the best care and Vet is confident that he will be sound again, but may take quite awhile.

I am gonna get a new horse, then once my guy gets all healed, will look into half leasing him. I am just not sure it is fair to ask him to as much as had had been before his injury. Vet thinks he took a bad step and torqued his foot, tearing his lateral Collateral ligament.

I mostly trail ride, but 15 miles isnt that far, so I ride a lot and put miles on my horse. I think after this injury, I would be too paranoid of reinjury. My horse is very a solid trail horse and would be perfect for someone to gain confidence. I think I could find someone that would love to ride him, but not ride him super hard. I think he needs to take it a bit easier. I will still ride him, cuz he is my baby, but I think it is time for me to get another horse and let him take it a bit easier

Soo, that puts me in the market for a horse. I have been playing w/cattle, mostly sorting. My horse is a good boy, but not super cowy. I am thinking I would have fun by going agile and quick.

Looking at different ranches, led me to this sale. I am seriously thinking of taking my trailer and going to it.

Looks like there will be some REALLY nice horses. Anyone been to this sale? Had 63 horses last year. Average was around $4,000. Two sold for $18,500.

I am thinking of staying young, like a 2 or 3 yr old. I want a gelding. If anyone has any additional info, any idea what those mostly went for?

It will just be a leap of faith, hauling 14 hours for a sale that I know very little about it. They will have the Catalog online by March 22, so at least I will know what is up for sale, but again, the prices are a bit up in the air.

Thanks!

[goodhors]

Not familiar with this Sale, but getting a copy of Western Horseman or maybe checking their site, could find a Sale closer to you. The ranch horses can have very good bloodlines, plus if already trained, they will have gotten more “handling” and various experiences in ranch type jobs.

However! Ranch horses are used to being worked, almost NEED to be worked so you keep them from getting bouncy when you want to use them. An almost daily ride of 15 miles is a good start to use up the spare energy! I don’t think getting a younger one is going to “save” you because he won’t have been worked, if he is even started much. So that leaves YOU to start him, work thru his baby steps, instead of just being able to get on and ride like an older horse does. And you have to let a baby grow, get his bones developed. Putting that 10-15 miles a day, or even every couple days, is too much for a young horse with soft tissue in joints. 4-6 miles, not so much, and straight going forward is lot better than daily ring work for a youngster!

You could get a catalog of various sales, read the descriptions, see if any listed animals catch your interest before attending. Trouble with going to a sale, is you get distracted, caught up in excitement and lots of folks buy an animal that is NOTHING like they really wanted.

Attending a PERFORMANCE horse sale is probably going to show you animals ready to go to WORK in Western activities. Rodeo, Roping, or ranch work type things at a serious level, especially at those prices! Buyers expect to have that horse pay for himself pretty soon and then start earning. Any chance you will be getting QUITE serious about your sorting, to want this kind of horse?

Another idea, is to fly out, rent a car to attend the sale. No pressure to fill your trailer and make trip “worthwhile”. Should you find a horse to buy, I would think you could board him there for a short time, come home and drive out or have him shipped to you. We have often found the cost of shipping one way, to be a HUGE savings in fuel costs, exhaustion of doing the driving ourselves. Nation-Wide is located in Colorado Springs, makes trips East on a regular basis. I am naming them because we have used them and been VERY happy with how our horses arrived.

http://www.nwht.net/

Good luck shopping, but remember that there is more than one Sale that sell excellent Western horses. You can buy from Ranch Productions, or like this one, using Consigners. Not sure what criteria you start with, bloodlines or listing of skills, a performance record, but you can find them all with a bit of looking. You want to get one and keep him, so it is good to move carefully hunting him out. Sale season is on now, everyone wanting horses for summer work and competitions, so do look around.

[LJStarkey]

It’s good that you’re interested in a younger horse, because that’s about all that’s available at this benefit sale.

The ranches donate 2-year-olds to the CSU equine program, and the students break them out as part of their college work.

I wouldn’t consider them finished ranch horses. They’re from ranching bloodlines, but they’re only as experienced as any other just-started colts.

That said, there are some excellent bloodlines in there, and many of them will have a lot of “cow.”

Also, a lot of these colts are eligible for special AQHA ranch horse programs and competitions because they come from specific ranches.

Feel free to PM me for more info.

[LJStarkey]

It’s good that you’re interested in a younger horse, because that’s about all that’s available at this benefit sale.

The ranches donate 2-year-olds to the CSU equine program, and the students break them out as part of their college work.

I wouldn’t consider them finished ranch horses. They’re from ranching bloodlines, but they’re only as experienced as any other just-started colts.

That said, there are some excellent bloodlines in there, and many of them will have a lot of “cow.”

Also, a lot of these colts are eligible for special AQHA ranch horse programs and competitions because they come from specific ranches.

There are a few older horses also consigned, and those will be the more finished horses that go for the higher prices you noticed.

I would say $15,000 is cheap cheap cheap for a finished rope horse, but if you’re more interested in a prospect, then you can get one for quite a bit less.

[Shermy]

Thanks for the info on the shipping company. I emailed for a quote. I got a quote from another company, it was $885. Considering flying into Denver, getting a rental car, plus the shipping on top, I think hauling would be a lot cheaper.

If it is was an intense drive thru a lot of crazy traffic, I would probably do the opposite, but other than the 14 hours, it really does look like a pretty easy drive. I will going w/a few friends, so would be a fun road trip.

I take VERY good care of my horse. It will take him some time in order to heal, so it is a little earlier than I had planned, but I think it is time to get another horse. I am looking at a young one, but trust me, will not over work it.

These are very well bred horses that you can not find around where I live. I think this sale is a great way to see many horses in one place. I will know more of what will be available when the sales catalog is online the end of March.

I just have a good feeling about the type of horses at this sale when I look at the ranches that are donating the horses. There is a LOT of quality!!

[goodhors]

Well have a good time then!! Friends riding along, sharing the driving, can’t beat that. Hope you find what you are looking for.