60TH ANNUAL RED BLUFF GELDING SALE
Jan. 28, Red Bluff, CA
45 Geldings: $22,850
10 2-year-olds: $10,650
Auctioneers: Rick Machado & Trent Stewart
To describe the gelding sale at Red Bluff accurately and truthfully would take more pages than one publication can offer. There’s a feeling of anxiety, adrenaline and excitement, all mixed with humility and passion. People from all walks of life attend the gelding sale, and it has become an event of Northern California, not just a single town.
It is estimated a crowd of 3,200 people were there to start the sale, and looking across the crowd, we fully believe that number is accurate. The amount of buyer numbers distributed exceeded the number of sale consignments by over five times!
The horse market has been on a steady incline, so anticipation of an extremely successful sale was felt as the national anthem was sung to the enormous crowd of standing, respectful people. The geldings more than surpassed expectations as the sales on saddled geldings increased by more than $4,500 per horse.
The quality of the consignments was outstanding. From the crowd, the recurring statement was “It’s a very consistent group of geldings that can go to their new homes and go right to work.” The crowd was very supportive of each consignor, with geldings getting placed in new homes in nine different states.
Geldings are able to display their best attributes throughout the week in various disciplines. Stock horse, heading, heeling, breakaway, cutting and snaffle bit classes are offered to display what each horse can do. Geldings can enter in multiple classes and reach new buyers with each event. As each class is shown, a full crowd is in attendance. If a gelding has an “off day,” potential buyers are sure to see it. However, the reward outweighs the risk at this sale, and geldings are shown as much as possible.
Worthy of note, what separates Red Bluff from many sales is the strict and stringent sifting and grading process. A committee of 18 individuals keeps a close eye at all times on these geldings. Early in the week, each gelding is evaluated for health and wellness, structure, eyesight, gait and easiness to bridle. If a gelding doesn’t meet their expectations, it is immediately sifted.
Furthermore, if a gelding makes it through the initial sifting but has a situation unfold throughout the week, the committee has the right to sift the horse at any given point in the week leading up to the sale. By the time the sale arrives, these geldings have been thoroughly vetted, and buyers can rest assured they are getting what they expect to buy.
A thank you to the committee members is due for upholding the standards of the Red Bluff Gelding Sale: Bob de Braga; Dusty de Braga; Matt Owens; Mac McGiffin; Art Sutfin, DVM; OW Hooton, DVM; Wayne Merhoff, DVM; Jon Sutfin, DVM; Maurice O’Keefe; Kenneth Owens; Nathan Owens; Bryan Owens; Martin Murphy; Kathy Ferguson; Justin Daugherty; Robert Staley; Roy Owens; and Kevin Terra, DVM.
For the full results of the Red Bluff Gelding Sale, go to www.RedBluffBullSale.com, or to view more pictures of the event, go to www.CrystalAmenPhotography.com to see various classes, geldings and sale pictures.
TOPS—Geldings: FD Star Pep, a 2010 bay by Francis Dual; from Spencer and Whitney Mitchell, Orange Cove, CA, to Clint and Gail Moffit, Biggs, CA, $59,000. Attracted to Royalty, a 2013 sorrel by One Time Royalty; from Justin Wright, Santa Maria, CA, to Bill Thomas, Ione, CA, $48,000. Chromed Out Rockstar, a 2014 sorrel by That CD Rocks; from Chet and Angela Vogt, Elk Creek, CA, to Tammy Burgin, Galt, CA, $47,000. Fancy Quick Wrangler, a 2014 gray by Very Special Playgun; from Coyote Hollow Ranch, Waterford, CA, to Robert White, Napa, CA, $39,000. Hickory Monster Mash, a 2016 red dun by Hickory Holly Time; from Rodney Koberstein, Page, AZ, to Karstin Stranger, Dixon, CA, $38,000. Highbrow Sammy, a 2018 bay by High Brow Jackson; from Gina Liberini, Lovelock, NV, to Mike and Pam Ralph, Grants Pass, OR, $35,000. Mylanta He Is Sparky, a 2016 brown by Mylanta Lena; from Brian and Mary Kate Hunstberger, Paso Robles, CA, to Lazy JT Land and Cattle, Paso Robles, CA, $35,000.
2-year-old: Maxmetallicoffer, a 2020 sorrel by Offers Are Cheap; from Christina Darger, Ukiah, CA, to Brandon Staebler, Klamath Falls, OR, $17,000. — LOGAN IPSEN
