WYO horse sale brings in $933,550

WYO Quarter Horse Ranch had the most successful sale in its 32-year history last weekend at the Hot Springs County fairgrounds with $933,550 brought in at one of the nation's elite quarter horse gelding sales.

According to Carole Smith, owner of WYO Quarter Horse Ranch, along with her husband, Bill, said there were buyers from 25 different states with Wyoming being the top state for purchases of the exceptional animals.

One of the Smith horses will find its new home in Peru.

"It was a great sale," Smith said. "Horses are at a premium right now. They're hard to come by, even for us."

Over 100 head were at auction on Saturday with the top selling gelding, "Smooth Talking Cat", going to a bidder from Nevada for $37,500.

Eighty-four head went for an average of $11,114 each. Fifty-eight broke geldings brought in an average of $14,345. Twelve yearlings went home with their new owners for an average of $1,963 each.

There were also 12 two-year-olds purchased for an average of $4,583 each and a single three-year-old who left the building for $16,000.

"This was our best sale ever," Smith said. "Everyone came to buy and we had an active, friendly crowd.

"They love coming to Thermopolis. They really have fun here."