SHAWNEE, OK—FEBRUARY 16, 2016—Triangle Sales’ recent Winter Sale, held January 21-24, tallied a consistent $5,450 average and a top 200 that held strong for $9,700. This was slightly up from an even $5,000 per head average posted for the Fall Sale held in October. Final totals ultimately reflected a top 10 average of $27,700 with an 80 percent sales completion, and the solid start put 59 horses in Triangle’s “Top $10,000 Club”—a designation indicating horses sold for more than $10,000.

This steady overall average has been relative to the venue’s growth seen throughout last year under new ownership, which marked a 38 percent increase in sales for 2015 over the previous year. In addition to featuring 807-catalogued horses up for sale (minus those withdrawn), the multi-day Winter Sale event also featured the second Triangle Versatility Ranch Championship and Sale—this time, with a $20,000-added payout.

Jim Ware, owner of Triangle Sales was particularly pleased with the depth of the average and was reflective of the overall horse market. Ware says prices are continuing to hold steady, but still remain in a position that is optimal for buying.

“It is a prime time to purchase mares no matter your preferred discipline,” Ware said. “Good mares bought at the right price always seem to make money or hold their value at the very least.”

“I think the horse market is incredibly strong given where the national economy is,” he said. “I heard from someone recently that ‘a bucket of fried chicken costs as much as a barrel of oil,’ and I think that’s reflective of the condition of the economy. It is not what it has been in the past, but the reality is, sales are relatively steady.”

“What is really interesting,” Ware continued, referring to the recent Triangle sale, “is when you get into the top 200 horses and deeper—that is where the Winter Sale averages showed improvement over our Fall Sale.”

When considering averages by discipline, there were 115 horses that sold as cutters for an average of $9,800. This was followed by 41 reiners averaging $8,100. Horses selling as ranch horses/ropers (4 years old and older) numbered 113 and sold for an average of $6,800.

“If I could put my finger on one place where the market was different, it was on cutting horse prospects that just turned two,” Ware said. “That’s where I thought there was the biggest down swing in the market. I think a lot of that has to do with the expense versus the income potential for horses in cutting horse aged events with decreasing purses. I think that had a big impact on those colts and on the entire sale.”

“But overall, I was very pleased,” Ware said. “When you can average nearly $10,000 on the top 200 of them, that’s strong. I think that can be attributed in large part to our market and location. Our sale provides the world’s most versatile market. We sell all types of horses, and that opens doors for a lot of opportunity.”

Topping the sale was Quejanapep (Dual Pep x Quejanamia x Son O Mia) at $50,000. The 1996 chestnut mare was consigned by Sunrise Ranch, Fayetteville, Ark., and sold along with two embryos by Metallic Cat to her breeder, Coalson Acres, Weatherford, Texas. The top seller, Quejanapep is an accomplished cutter, with National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) earnings of $207,901.

Quejanapep’s earnings came from successes such as a NCHA Non-Pro Futurity Reserve Championship, a finalist qualification in the NCHA Open Futurity and a NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic Reserve Championship.

Second in the top five, was Metallic Echo (Metallic Cat x Miss Tazwood x Pepto Taz), a 2013 red roan son of Metallic Cat, consigned by Cowan Select Horses, LLC, Purcell, Okla., which sold for $36,000. The colt has been in training with Robbie Boyce at Cowan Select Horses and was purchased by Logan Alley, Walsh, Colorado.

Third high was Blu Ray, (Dual Ray x Quintan Blue x Mecom Blue) sold by McDavid Cutting Horses, Weatherford, Texas, for $32,000 and purchased by Todd Quirk, Denham Springs, La. Blu Ray is a 2009 sorrel gelding with $129, 237 in NCHA earnings, gleaned in part as a finalist in the NCHA Open Super Stakes, NCHA Super Stakes Open Classics and as a finalist in the Breeders Invitational.

Coming in fourth at $30,000 was the 2011 buckskin stallion, Two ID Hilt, (Joe Jack Red x Two Hilda x Two Eyed Red Buck) consigned by Calvin Campbell, Anadarko, Okla. Two ID Hilt has earned 25.5 heeling and 18 heading points in the American Quarter Horse Association and was purchased by Juan Rojas Martin, Collinsville, Texas.

Philip and Mary Ann Rapp, Weatherford, Texas, consigned the fifth high seller, Shiney Black Car (Metallic Cat x My Other Toys A Car x Smart Lena Boon), which sold for $25,000. The 2011 black mare has $15, 801 in NCHA earnings gained through achievements as a top 10 Finalist in the NCHA Limited Open Futurity and as a money-earner in the NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes. Juan Rojas Martin was also the successful bidder on this mare.

Sam and Pam Rose of Pilot Point, Texas, judged horses featured in the Triangle Versatility Ranch Competition. The Championship went to Dual Smarts Smooth (Dual Smart Rey x Smooth and Pretty x Smooth Herman), a 2009 sorrel gelding consigned by Cowboy Collection Quarter Horses, Gainesville, Texas, which sold for $11, 500 to Teri Stamper, Mounds, Oklahoma.

The gelding was exhibited by Todd Richardson, also of Gainesville, and earned a $7,500 paycheck, a Teskey’s trophy saddle, Kerry Kelly Spurs, a Triangle belt buckle, Stitches By Showtime jacket, Serna Custom boots, and a complimentary consignment fee. Coming in as Reserve Champion overall was Lil Bit of This (WR This Cats Smart x Little Bit of Wilson x Doc Wilson), a 2009 sorrel gelding consigned by Carson Horner, Rochester, Texas, which sold for $12,000 to Robbie McCommas, Agra, Okla.

The horses that showed and actually sold within the Versatility Ranch Sale Session averaged $8,500. Top five and top 10 sellers averaged $14,000 and $11,600, respectively. The session high seller was Satin Lil Kat (Hesa Peculiar Cat x Ripped in Satin x Doc’s Hickory) at $24,000. The son of Hesa Peculiar Cat was consigned by Damiano Rivera Cordero of Manati, Puerto Rico, and purchased by Shank Stephens of Hinton, Okla. Along with the full roster of competitors, the versatility competition drew a large crowd of spectators, as did the sale. Buyers from 32 states and four foreign countries attended the sale over four days.

Ware says buyers are making a noticeable shift toward purchases based on conformation and ability, rather than strictly pedigree.

“I think as much as anything, people are buying for conformation and what horses are capable of doing, rather than what is on their papers,” Ware said. “As a breeder, it’s time to reach out, be a horseman and breed for quality rather than a ‘magic cross.’” “As we enter the 2016 breeding season, I encourage mare owners to do just that—and by all means…breed your mares back. We may see a decrease in production, so breeders don’t want to be caught without a supply of good prospects in a few years.”

Triangle Sales will host its next Spring Sale March 17-19. For more information, visit trihorse.com.