Legendary Consigners Enlist for the 3rd Annual Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale

Colorado State University’s equine sciences program’s annual Legends of Ranching Performance Horse sale will boast its highest-quality collection of consigners to date this year including a group of this country’s most successful equine leaders, ranches and horseman.

The consignors for the sale, slated for April 26 at the university’s B.W. Pickett Center on Overland Trail, will include Burnett Ranches Ltd. (6666), Valley Oak Ranch, Bartlett Ranch Wyoming, KeSa Quarter Horses, Cowan Select Horses LLC at Windward Stud, Ritchey Land and Cattle Co., Pete Becker Ranch, Inc., Wagonhound Land and Livestock, T-Cross Ranches, Bogle Ranches, S Ranch, Singleton Ranches-San Cristobal Ranch, Tule Ranch, DVD Farm and Ranch Inc, Saunders and Saunders Cattle Co., and Purina Mills.

Each year the American Quarter Horse Association recognizes an outstanding ranch breeding program with the Best Remuda Award. The award has been bestowed on 16 of the greatest ranches in the United States. Of the consigners participating this year, four have been recognized by the AQHA with the Best Remuda Award. These four ranches are Bogle Ranches, Burnett Ranches Ltd. (6666), S Ranch and Tule Ranch.  

"We are so pleased to have relationships with such outstanding members of the ranch horse industry," said Jim Heird, director of teaching and outreach for the equine sciences program. "The involvement of these ranches in our sale allows us to offer the highest quality ranch horses to our buyers and to give our students the opportunity to work with legendary consigners."

"The purpose of the sale is to showcase Colorado State University’s equine sciences program and its students," said Woody Bartlett of Bartlett Ranches, a member of the university’s equine sciences advisory committee and consigner since the inception of the sale. "Colorado State is able to give their students a first-class learning experience and put high-quality ranch horses through the sale arena at the same time."

Colorado State students enrolled in sales management and preparation, horse training and event management classes will experience a busy two semesters, culminating in the sale in April. Students are able to use their classroom knowledge in a hands-on setting while working alongside equine professionals. Students will plan and advertise the sale and train and fit two- and three-year-old fillies and geldings from some of the nation’s top ranches.

At the 2007 Legends of Ranching Performance Horse sale, 44 ranch-bred horses were sold at an average price of $5,401. The highlight of the sale was Jacks Strait Shot, a six-year-old grey gelding sired by Jack Nasty out of Ms Silver Commander, consigned by the Pitchfork Land and Cattle Co. The gelding was sold by auctioneer Don Green for $23,500.

For the first time, the Legends of Ranching Performance Horse sale will be hosted at the B.W. Pickett Equine Center at Colorado State University’s foothills campus. The B.W. Pickett Equine Center, 701 S. Overland Trail, is home to the equine sciences undergraduate program at Colorado State. In addition to the location change, the date of the sale will be moved from mid-March to April 26.

In addition to the sale, an educational day will be held on April 25 featuring seminars and clinics presented by members of the university’s equine sciences advisory committee and a number of the Legends of Ranching Performance Horse sale consignors. Possible topics include training and preparation of the halter horse, starting young ranch horses, what to look for at a horse sale, and potential career paths and expectations of those looking to enter the equine industry.

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