Sales


Quality Offerings for Breeding, Racing and More at Upcoming LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale
The 2014 LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale will have a change of venue from Kinder to the Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC sale pavilion in Opelousas, Louisiana.

© Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC
Quality Offerings for Breeding, Racing and More at Upcoming LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale

By Martha Claussen

OPELOUSAS, LA—OCTOBER 29, 2014—The Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) will present its 2014 Fall Mixed Sale on Saturday, November 8. The action begins at 10:00 am at the Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC sale pavilion in Opelousas.

The catalog lists 142 horses with a wide range of offerings from weanlings and yearlings, to broodmares and horses of racing age. Since 1986, the sale has offered consignors an opportunity to close out their year with quality sales and buyers one more chance to spot a future racing and breeding prospect.

New Venue in Opelousas Selected for This Year's Fall Mixed Sale

The 2014 event will have a change of venue from Kinder to the Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC sale pavilion in Opelousas, Louisiana. The company was founded and owned by horsemen with the goal of promoting both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred equine industry in Louisiana. They held their first Yearling sale in 2012, and will be easily accessible for the horsemen currently running at Evangeline Downs.

The sale ring at the new Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC.
© Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC
"We are thoroughly excited to welcome the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association to our facility," said Foster Bridewell of Equine Sales of Louisiana. "We have added four new barns adjacent to the sale pavilion, which will be very convenient for the horsemen."

"Our November 8 date is the morning after trials for the LQHBA Breeders' Futurity," said Ryan Robicheaux, a Louisiana horseman and LQHBA board member. "This new location is less than five miles from Evangeline Downs, so we hope that the owners and breeders attending the trials will make it to the Fall Mixed Sale this year."

The annual LQHBA Yearling Sale will remain at the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana in August.

"Our board of directors chose to move the Fall Mixed Sale to Opelousas," said Tony Patterson, executive director of the LQHBA. "We are fortunate to have two quality venues to host our annual Yearling and Fall Mixed Sales."

Consignors Preparing Their Stock

Over 60 consignors in Louisiana are making final preparations to send their horses to Opelousas. Chris Blanchet, who owns Blanchet Farms in Ville Platte, plans to send 32 prospects to the Fall Mixed Sale. He is hoping to attract buyers for a wide range of offerings, from broodmares in foal to weanlings to older horses that are no longer viable racehorses, but have potential as barrel or rodeo prospects.


A horse in the walking ring prior to entering the sale ring at the new sales facility located in Opelousas.
© Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC
"The Mixed Sale is important to Louisiana horsemen in many ways," explains Blanchet. "We have quality mares enrolled in breeding programs and we want to keep them here. The young horses that pass through the sale ring help us promote our stallion program and might encourage horsemen to breed to Louisiana stallions. There are some older horses that haven't been successful on the racetrack, but could become an excellent barrel horse."

Natalie Montgomery and her husband, Jim are prepping four weanlings and three mares for the 2014 Mixed Sale.

"This is a good way to wrap up the season and get ready for foaling," said Montgomery. "Equine Sales of Louisiana has a very nice facility. We hope for a good turnout at the sale."

Robicheaux Ranch, LLC is another major consignor and has several quality yearlings in the catalog.

"Some of our babies were just not ready for the August Yearling Sale," states Ryan Robicheaux. "We look at it that they would have been small fish in a big pond, but should get their fair share of attention in the Fall Mixed Sale."

Majority of Weanlings & Yearlings Eligible for the $1,000,000 LQHBA Breeders' Futurity

Horsemen who make a winning bid on one of the weanlings or yearlings in the Fall Mixed Sale are in luck as the majority of the young horses in the sale are currently eligible for the LQHBA Breeders' Futurity. The race, held at the end of November at Evangeline Downs, is the only seven-figure futurity in Louisiana.

Each of the yearlings that pass through the annual LQHBA Yearling Sale are eligible to run in trials for the million dollar LQHBA Breeders' Futurity. However, the Fall Mixed Sale catalog has 17 weanlings listed and the owners of 16 have made the first payment for the 2016 LQHBA Breeders' Futurity. Of the 49 yearlings, payments are up to date for 33 for next year's event.

"This is another opportunity for horsemen to spot the next major Louisiana champion," adds Patterson. "The majority of young horses that will pass through the sale ring are paid to date for the richest state-bred futurity in the country."

Potential Racing Prospects Spotted in 2013

The sale topper in the 2013 Fall Mixed Sale was Lils Little Snow who sold for $37,000, but the majority of horses passing through the ring went for very affordable prices; some for under $1,000. While many of the graduates were purchased exclusively for breeding, there were several excellent racing prospects as well. Most notably was Hubert Vestal's purchase of Embrujo Star, a daughter of Embrujo Fg out of the Toast to Dash mare Allas Toast for just $5,000. Trained by Trey Ellis, the talented filly won the $286,280 Lassie Futurity at Delta Downs and ran third in the $645,645 Lee Berwick Futurity on July 12. Her current earnings stand at $222,424.

Noe R. Sanchez signed a $6,700 ticket for Party With Braxton, a colt by Swingin Jess. He qualified for futurities at Louisiana Downs and Fair Grounds and has already earned $73,394 in six career starts.

"The Mixed Fall Sale is a great way to pick up a quality futurity prospect," states Blanchet. "Some yearlings need time to mature and do not get the attention they deserve at the LQHBA Yearling Sale in August."

Live streaming of the 2014 Fall Mixed Sale will be available on the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association website: www.lqhba.com.

Martha Claussen served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years. She continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.

FACT BOX
2014 LQHBA Fall Mixed Sale
Saturday, November 8
10:00 am

Equine Sales of Louisiana, LLC
372 Harry Guilbeau Road
Opelousas, Louisiana 70570

Sale catalog available at lqhba.comor by calling (318) 487-9506.

Free and open to the public.