The NCHA Summer Spectacular Sales held July 29 through 31 at Will Rogers Equestrian Center, Fort Worth, Texas, reflected the strong market for cutting horses and the popularity of this venue as an alternative to the NCHA Futurity Sales.

Net sales on 311 head averaged $14,555, while the top 100 horses sold for an average of $32,087.

"The market is very strong," said Western Bloodstock partner Milt Bradford. "We didn't have a lot of the high-dollar horses in this sale that we've had in the past, like Dean Sanders' mare Justaswinging Peanut, who sold last year for $385,000, but we had a lot of good horses and they sold well.

"We realized there would be a big demand to put horses in this sale because it has proven to be a great alternative market to the Futurity Sales. We were committed to three days of sales and we tried to offer every NCHA member a place to sell their horses, but we had enough entry applications for four days."

This year's sale topper, Blissful, consigned by leading owners and breeders Phil and Mary Ann Rapp, Weatherford, Texas, sold for $250,000 to Waco Bend Ranch, Graham, Texas. The 5-year-old Smart Lil Ricochet daughter, with lifetime earnings of $70,543, sold after qualifying for the NCHA Summer Spectacular Classic/Challenge Non-Pro Finals the previous week. She came with a rebreeding for 2006 and a 2006 booking to High Brow Cat.

Blissful sold during the Saturday, July 30 Sale Session II, which saw net sales on 95 horses average $23,230.

Cash N Scooter, consigned by FAL Ranch, Palo Pinto, Texas, the high-selling broodmare, was purchased for $137,000 by Jeff Oswood, agent. The 11-year-old Cash Quixote Rio daughter, bred to Cats Red Feather for 2006, was part of the FAL Ranch Complete Dispersal, held on Friday, July 29, which averaged $28,090 on 11 head.

Bar H Ranch consignment Patty La Dual, with a foal at her side by CD Olena and bred to High Brow Cat, was the second highest-selling broodmare. The 12-year-old Dual Pep daughter brought $128,000 from Black Rock Ranch, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

The 8-year-old broodmare Reys Starlight, consigned by Slate River Ranch, Weatherford, Texas, sold to Wagonhound Land & Livestock, Douglas, Wyoming for $95,000. The Grays Starlight daughter, half-sister to 2005 NCHA Non-Pro Summer Spectacular champion and Open reserve champion Dual Rey Me, sold with a foal at her side by That Sly Cat and bred to Playdox for 2006.

Main Street Boon, by Peptoboonsmal out of Playboys Ruby, was the high-selling yearling at $100,000. Consigned by his breeders Phil and Mary Ann Rapp, the sorrel colt was purchased by Waco Bend Ranch, Graham, Texas.

Cataleno, consigned by Stephan Ralston, MD, Ogden, Utah, was the second highest-selling yearling. The High Brow Cat daughter, full-sister to 2004 NCHA Futurity Open finalist Cattilion, sold for $65,000 to Billy and Kyla Taylor, Seymour, Texas.

High-selling futurity prospects included Smart Lil Lightning at $70,000 and Cat Commander at $55,000. Smart Lil Lightning, by Smart Little Lena and a full sister to Little Hickory Gal, the dam of Swinging Lil Gal (LTE $319,386), was consigned by El Cid Land & Cattle and purchased by Jack and Sherry Cowan, Payson, Arizona.

El Cid Land & Cattle Company, Clovis, New Mexico, owned by leading breeders Lonnie and Barbara Allsup, will hold a dispersal as a special feature to the 2005 NCHA Futurity Sales.

Cat Commander, consigned by Jeffrey Matthews, Turkey, North Carolina, sold to Beverly Brent, Lufkin, Texas. The gelded son of High Brow Cat was in training with Ronnie Rice.

"The market is more stable than it has been in a long time," noted Milt Bradford. "The only negative aspect we saw were some very unrealistic reserve bids. The market is very good, but sellers should be in tune with what is realistic and what is not."

Western Bloodstock's next venue is EE Ranches Second Annual Breeders Production Sale, Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, Whitesboro, Texas, followed by the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Gelding Stakes and Futurity Sales, November 4 and 5, Reno Livestock Events Center, Reno, Nevada.

Western Bloodstock's next NCHA sales will be the 2005 NCHA Futurity Sales, Dec. 3 through 11, at Will Rogers Equestrian Center, Fort Worth, Texas.

For information on past and/or future sales, visit www.westernbloodstock.com or call 817-594-9210.

Date: 8/22/05