The Coliseum was once again packed this year for the annual Great American Ranch and Trail Horse Sale, held April 3-5 at the Virginia Horse Center. The sale, which has been held each spring for decades, continues to draw a loyal following of both horse sellers and buyers, and this year was no exception.
But times do change, and this year saw the growing influence of internet marketing in the horse world. The top-sellers not only were nice horses with good pedigrees and a history of being safe, but they also had good marketing well before the sale. Around the arena, beautiful photo ads were posted of some of the sale horses. Others already had strong social media followings.
With the world grappling with higher prices from groceries to trucks to hay, I wondered as the auction began how those concerns would affect sale prices. There were still plenty of high prices. Pretty similar to the past few years, the high-seller brought $78,000. Joes Last Tiger, a 6-year-old black quarter horse gelding, also was reserve champion in the sale’s trail horse competition.
But there seemed to be more instances than in the past of “no sales.” Buyers willingness to spend did not always align with what buyers were hoping to get. The bidding often stopped well before the reserve. Conversely, however, there were many horses that sold well below their value.
Of course, the Great American Ranch and Trail Horse Sale includes a Ranch Horse Competition and a Trail Horse Competition as well where consigners can win some cash, a saddle, and bragging rights before the sale. The competition also gives buyers a chance to see the horses in action and under pressure.
The Ranch Horse Competition was won by Mr. Smart Sioux, a 10-year-old buckskin quarter horse consigned by Thornton Quarter Horses of Alabama. The Shining Spark grandson brought $24,000 during the auction. His consigner, however, was seeking at least $30,000.
After a sale horse demonstration that included a running chainsaw earlier in the week, a Spotted Halflinger gelding, Tigers Sweet Gentry, took the trophy in the Trail Horse Competition and then sold for $19,000.
Top 10 High-Sellers
Hip #48 – $78,000 – Pleasant Valley Equine
Hip #38 – $67,000 – Pleasant Valley Equine
Hip #26 – $38,000 – Buckeye Acre Farm
Hip #10 – $35,000 – For His Glory Farms
Hip #21 – $33,000 – Buckeye Acre Farm
Hip #19 – $30,000 – Pleasant Valley Equine
Hip #34 – $30,000 – Kristin White
Hip #18 – $25,000 – Country Hills Stable
Hip #33 – $25,000 – Circle C Stables
Hip #83 – $25,000 – Nicole Inglassia
Roanoke Equestrian 