11/20/07 Columbia River Horse Sale

Who says you have to go south to find a top rope horse, I'm Jeff Keane and I will be back to tell you how the bar has just been raised for quality rope horses in the Northwest. The Northwest now has it's own premier sale for roping and barrel horses. Here's Susan with the story: That's right Jeff, the first annual Columbia River Horse Sale was held November 2 with consigners of the 43 horses and the sale producers the Fullers and the Woods families holding their breath to see if it there was a lucrative market for quality rope horses. Their gamble and hours of effort more than paid off when the first horse into the sale ring brought over $6,000. It was uphill from there. Buyers from as far away as Canada and New Mexico aggressively bid on horses consigned by some of our regions top team and calf ropers. The sales topper, Buckaroo's Dinner, a flashy 9 year old Buckskin sired by Dinner Flight and adept at roping both ends brought $17,000 dollars and the top ten head of horses averaged $10,840 dollars . Held at the TRAC arena in Pasco, the Columbia River Horse Sale provided a chance for prospective buyers to rope off the horses prior to the sale. Karen Fuller told me over 300 people attended and she expects that next years sale will again be capped at around 45 rope horses plus 15 barrel horses. Mike, one of our regions top trainers also made it a point to follow- up with buyers to see how they are getting along with their new horse. Hats off to the Fullers and the Woods for producing a quality sale that is creating a strong Northwest market for rope and barrel horses. I'm Jeff Keane with today's American Rancher.