The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Markel Futurity Sales were the perfect example of how the sport of reining is continuing to grow while the equine industry remains strong as more than 220 horses passed through the ring. It looked like the high-seller came early when the fourth horse out sold for $150,000, but as the last ten horses went through the pen, a new leader topped the charts at $189,000. This helped the annual event accumulate a total ring sales of $5,765,500, which averaged $25,739.
They say never go to the grocery store hungry, but it was clear that bidders came to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds on November 30 with empty trailers for the annual sale. After filling their plates at the sale breakfast sponsored by Q Stallions, bidders got to work supporting the next generation of reiners during the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) Stallion Breeding Auction.
The NRHyA auction, the group’s main fundraiser, brought in just over $30,000. A breeding to NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Spooks Gotta Whiz (Spooks Gotta Gun x Prettywhizprettydoes) was the high seller with a bid of $6,900 from Alan D. Chappell of Collinsville, Texas. NRHyA appreciates the support of Spooks Gotta Whiz’s owner, Michell Kimball of Collinsville, who donated the breeding, as well as the other stallion owners who donated and the buyers who made those breeding purchases.
With fewer than ten horses left to sell for the day, the event topped out at $189,000 during the Premier Sale thanks to Hip No. 517 – Trick R Treat (Tricked Out Spook x Dontquestionthischic) – who sold to Anne Tournay of Vieux-Genappe, Belgium. Consigned by Cooper Smith of Whitesboro, Texas, the striking, dappled gray colt was the high-seller on a day when 120 head passed by the auction block in the Premier Sale. Tournay and Smith are tied together from the 2022 sale as they were both the buyer and consigner on the 2022 high seller. Numbers were strong through the last horse. The sale brought a ring total of $2,540,000 for an average of $21,167. Total sales accumulated on 105 sold totaled $2,228,500 for an average of $21,224.
It was a day for loud colors as two of the top four sellers were their own shade of palomino. The top seller in the Performance Horse Sale came early when Hip No. 104 – Dunit With An Iceman (SG Frozen Enterpize x Pale Dancer Nic) – sold for $150,000 to NRHA Million Dollar Owner Robert Santagata of Campbell Hill, New York. The 2021 colt was consigned by the Chappell-Mathison Partnership of Tioga, Texas. A total of six head sold during the Performance Horse Sale, which is less than in previous years but clearly the quality of the offering was outstanding. The six horses brought a total of $365,000 for a ring average of $60,833. Of the four horses sold, the sale grossed $315,000 for an average of $78,750, which is a 200 percent increase above 2022 even with fewer head.
Out of the 30 horses that ran through the ring during the Preferred Breeders Sale, it was a palomino weanling that turned the most heads. One of the youngest colts in the sale, Hip No. 316 brought a slow but steady stream of bidding until the gavel fell at $110,000 to Haras Bellini Inc. of Rancho Santa Fe, California. Consigned by M13 Equine of Ogden, Utah, the 2023 colt is by NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire Pale Face Dunnit and out of Electric Cha Ching by Jacs Electric Spark.
Thirty horses sold during the Preferred Breeders Sale, including NRHA Million Dollar Sire Electric Code (Jacs Electric Spark x Hot Coded Candy), who brought $69,000 for consignor Jared LeClair. The ring total in the Preferred Breeders Sale came to $735,000 for an average of $24,500. Twenty-three horses sold to accumulate $579,000 for an average of $25,196.
Jamie Walters from Laguna Beach, California, purchased back-to-back prospects during the Elite Yearling Sale. Hip No. 212 led the yearlings in the sale when the 2022 colt sold for $82,000 for consignor Cooper Smith of Whitesboro, Texas. The buckskin colt – Chex Shining – is by NRHA Million Dollar Sire Colonels Shining Gun and out of Snip O Chex by Nu Chex To Cash. Walters also purchased Satrdaynitecentrfold (Gunnatrashya x SDP A Lasting Step) for $75,000 from consignor Adh Mor Ranch of Alberta, Canada. The 68 elite yearlings brought in $2,125,500 in total ring sales for an average of $31,257. The sale grossed $1,807,500 on 57 sold horses for an average of $31,711.
All prices and totals reflected are unofficial. Final prices will be posted on nrha.com at a later date.