By Nikki Hershberger
Special To Ropers Sports News
LITCHFIELD PARK, ARIZ. – Hershberger Performance Horse Sale Company, Jason and Nikki Hershberger, held their ninth annual performance horse sale Saturday, Feb. 15, in Litchfield Park, Ariz., at Dunn’s Arena. Horses were previewed on Friday at 2pm in a jackpot team roping. The jackpot was won by Ryan VonAhn riding hip #15, Ct Colonel Sug and Cole Sherwood, riding hip #84, Genuine Joe Drift. It was a tough roping and fun to watch! A special thank you to Troy Fischer for the beautiful buckles that he made and donated to the winners of the roping. Horses were previewed again on Saturday at 9am. Horses were demonstrated in roping, cutting, and cow horse. The sale began at 1pm. A professional staff included: auctioneer Joel White, announcer John Johnson, and bid spotters Stacy Lee, Mitch Armitage, and Cas Salley. The office was managed by Sara Vaessen Pedigrees and Maynard & Associates Elite Auction Services. Performance Equine Mobile Clinic was available for pre-purchase exams.
The High-Selling Horse, Joes Little Fool, was consigned by Keith Schumacher with Steve Orth as his agent. Joes Little Fool is a five-year-old Reds Little Joe gray stallion. He is an awesome head and heel horse. He sold for $36,000 to Nancy Christensen from Utah. Other top-10 selling horses were consigned by: Rick Chayer, Ryan Von Ahn, Jed Jacobs, Joe Day, Derrick Fleming agent for Ken Sursa, Les Oswald agent for John Krambeer, and Jason Hershberger. The top-10 horses averaged $25,150. In all, 75 horses were sold.
Jason is always excited to see good horses from the sale go on to be successful with their new owners. Jason was glad to see the quality of horses that were brought by consignors from Ariz., Calif., South Dakota, Okla., Missouri, Idaho, Wyo., Neb., Texas, Utah and Montana.The overall average sale price on the horses sold was $11,100. Despite the high average, there were some good buys of really nice horses for under $10,000. Thanks to the consignors who brought these quality horses.
This years lucky buyer was Steve Casterton. He took home the Straydog trophy saddle from the raffle drawing at the end of the sale.
Good food, beautiful Arizona weather, elite equine facility, shopping, and great horses to watch and bid on made this years performance horse sale a success. Hershberger Performance Horses would like to thank all that attended. We are grateful to all of our buyers that trust in the quality brought to the Hershberger Performance Horse Sale.
Jason and Nikki Hershberger, along with their family, present a Straydog saddle to Steve Casterton, winner of the raffle drawing held at the end of their sale.