62ND ANNUAL RED BLUFF GELDING SALE
Jan. 26, Red Bluff, CA
46 Geldings $24,554
4 Cold Bloods $16,125
5 Mares $25,400
10 2-Year-olds $10,750
Auctioneers: Rick Machado & Trent Stewart
Pedigrees: Eric Duarte
The Red Bluff Gelding Sale had a lot of changes in 2024, but the same excitement, anticipation and success all remained the same going into the 62nd anniversary sale. Friday night in Red Bluff, CA, hosts an enormous crowd and has become one of the fixtures the community gets to see throughout the year.
This year was a special sale because entries were opened to more than geldings for the first time in the sale’s history. This year featured the first “cold bloods” that included the $23,000 Gypsy Vanner from Craig and Ashley Wright to lead off this year’s sale. Four head of these horses averaged $16,125. Additionally, this year featured a group of mares. Five mares averaged $25,400 with a high of $49,000. The mares were excellent quality mares that competed right along with the geldings and were showcased remarkably. The sale committee looks for this area of the sale to grow over the next few years.
The horse market has been very competitive over the last several years. Increased sales prices across the nation with fewer and fewer horses available to the public is driving things forward. As Red Bluff consignments rolled in ahead of the deadline, this situation is becoming more and more apparent. It’s simply harder to find the right horse of the right age to fit everyone’s needs. Red Bluff recognized this and is committed to moving forward and adapting to the changing market. What is exciting is that each year, it seems the high-selling record is broken. We don’t see this trend changing.anytime soon. We see the high-selling horses continuing to get higher, but it will take the right horses to accomplish this.
Red Bluff’s criteria for the horse sale haven’t wavered in this high market. Each horse is thoroughly evaluated by several vets, committee members and stockmen. If a horse doesn’t appear to be sound, quality and represented accurately, it is sifted on the spot. This stringent process has given Red Bluff its reputation for generations.
Each horse can compete for champion honors in several categories including stock horse, heading, heeling, breakaway, cutting and snaffle bit. Horses are given opportunities to shine in each area, so prospective buyers know exactly what they are bidding on. This multi-day preview style allows for people to truly see what these horses are capable of. It’s really a one-of-a-kind sale.
A thank you to the sifting and selection committee members is due for upholding the standards of the Red Bluff Gelding Sale: Bob deBraga; Dusty deBraga; Matt Owens; Mac McGiffin; Art Sutfin, DVM; O.W. Hootin, 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.
TOPS
Geldings: Vyntage, 2018 bay gelding by Doc’s Hickory; from Walt and Mary Vermedahl, Flagstaff, AZ, to Legacy Pro Rodeo, Corvallis, OR, $72,000.
Once a Roan Rey, 2018 red roan gelding by Once In A Blu Boon; from Olivia Bennett, Hickman, CA, to SOS Ranch, Lakeview, OR, $50,000.
I Got The Blues, 2017 sorrel gelding by Cat Man Blue from Gary Scheer, Santa Ynez, CA, to Legacy Pro Rodeo, Corvallis, OR, $41,000.
AF River Starlight, 2015 bay gelding by Starlighting; from Andrea Feeney, Willows, CA, to Kade and Danielle Savler, Tuscarora, NV, $40,000.
Rayzin Pepto Time, 2019 sorrel gelding by Reyzin The Cash; from Tucker and Tina Robinson, Shandon, CA, to Chris Raimondi, Santa Barbara, CA, $35,000.
Hash Money, 2019 red roan gelding by Hashtags from Tom and Carmen Buckingham, Bruneau, ID, to Crystal Burrill, Red Bluff, CA, $33,000.
Mare: Real Smooth Liz, 2015 bay mare by Real Smooth Cat; from Angela Begley/Brian Sloan, Tracy, CA to Geren Moon, Hines, OR, $49,000.
