Inthemoney waltons-rockingw-dispersal web

In The Money: Are Dispersals A Good Deal?

Inthemoney waltons-rockingw-dispersal webA large crowd gathered in Millsap, Texas, to watch the Walton’s Rocking W Ranch Absolute Dispersal Sale. • Photo by Stacy Pigott

The recent Walton’s Rocking W Ranch Absolute Dispersal Sale on Oct. 22 drew a standing-room-only crowd of potential buyers and spectators who wanted to be a part of history. As is the case at all dispersal sales, horses that would not have otherwise been available were offered to the highest bidder. But are the horses on the auction block at dispersal sales a good deal?

Could you end up paying too much, just because it might be your last chance to own a part of that particular program? Or are there bargains to be found among the lots? Quarter Horse News took a look back at some noteworthy dispersal sales from the past decade, to see how they compared to regular sale events.

2008

In 2008, there were three cutting horse dispersal sales. The Polo Ranch Dispersal Sale was a stand-alone event, while the Gasparilla Inn Inc. and St. Nick’s Pine dispersals were held with the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity Sales. The Polo Ranch sale saw two horses sell for more than $100,000 each, while the Gasparilla Inn Inc. and St. Nick’s Pines sales recorded $50,000 and $37,000 as their highest prices, respectively.

Sale / Con. / Gross $ / Gross Avg. / Sold / % Sold / Net $ / Net Avg. / Median

Polo Ranch Dispersal Sale / 126 / $2,676,500 / $21,242 / 121 / 96% / $2,595,000 / $21,446 / $14,500

Gasparilla Inn Inc. Dispersal / 57 / $614,000 / $10,772 / 57 / 100% / $614,000 / $10,772 / $7,000

St. Nick’s Pine Dispersal / 8 / $141,000 / $17,625 / 8 / 100% / $141,000 / $17,625 / $13,750

ALL 2008 CUTTING SALES / 2,092 / $33,257,850 / $15,898 / 1,626 / 78% / $22,527,850 / $13,855 / $7,500


2009

In 2009, the only major dispersal was that of Rock Creek Ranch, which was held in mid-October. Nine head hit or exceeded the $100,000 mark, led by $400,000 highest seller Pet Squirrel.

Sale / Con. / Gross $ / Gross Avg. / Sold / % Sold / Net $ / Net Avg. / Median

Rock Creek Ranch Dispersal Sale / 61 / $3,237,600 / $53,075 / 61 / 100% / $3,237,600 / $53,074 / $20,000

ALL 2009 CUTTING SALES / 1,497 / $22,238,650 / $14,855 / 1,218 / 81% / $17,310,950 / $14,213 / $7,200


2010

Four dispersal sales were held in 2010, highlighted by the 215-horse dispersal of Waggoner Ranch. Held in Weatherford, Texas, the Waggoner Ranch sale resulted in five $100,000-plus sales, topped by the $280,000 sale of Katz. Three of the four dispersals were held as stand-alone events in October, while the Estate of Kenneth Jackson Complete Dispersal took place during the NCHA Futurity Sales. All four of the 2010 dispersals saw at least one six-figure sale.

Sale / Con. / Gross $ / Gross Avg. / Sold / % Sold / Net $ / Net Avg. / Median

Buffalo Ranch Dispersal / 58 / $1,402,000 / $24,172 / 58 / 100% / $1,402,000 / $24,172 / $13,750

Stan Thomas Dispersal / 66 / $1,703,700 / $25,814 / 65 / 98% / $1,699,300 / $26,143 / $21,000

Waggoner Ranch Dispersal / 215 / $4,186,200 / $19,471 / 215 / 100% / $4,186,200 / $19,471 / $10,500

Estate of Kenneth Jackson Complete Dispersal / 17 / $755,500 / $44,441 / 17 / 100% / $755,500 / $44,441 / $29,000

ALL 2010 CUTTING SALES / 1,728 / $27,907,250 / $16,150 / 1,395 / 81% / $21,053,850 / $15,092 / $8,500


2011

The Bar H Dispersal was the only major dispersal held in 2011. It was held during the NCHA Summer Spectacular Sale, making it one of the few held during the summer months. Little Baby Sister was the highest seller at $230,000; the sale saw a significant drop to the second-highest price of $30,000.

Sale / Con. / Gross $ / Gross Avg. / Sold / % Sold / Net $ / Net Avg. / Median

Bar H Dispersal / 49 / $661,200 / $13,494 / 49 / 100% / $661,200 / $13,494 / $5,500

ALL 2011 CUTTING SALES / 1,259 / $20,022,300 / $15,903 / 1,026 / 81% / $14,830,200 / $14,545 / $8,500


2012

In 2012, the Brewer Ranch Dispersal Sale was held in conjunction with the NCHA Super Stakes Sale. The Husby Cutting Horses Complete Dispersal took place in late September. Cats Peptolena changed hands for a $148,000 final bid, followed by Cats Boonolena at $80,000.

Sale / Con. / Gross $ / Gross Avg. / Sold / % Sold / Net $ / Net Avg. / Median

Brewer Ranch Dispersal Sale / 40 / $790,600 / $19,765 / 38 / 95% / $761,600 / $20,042 / $10,250

Husby Cutting Horses Complete Disp. / 35 / $899,800 / $25,709 / 34 / 97% / $893,800 / $26,288 / $13,250

ALL 2012 CUTTING SALES / 1,307 / $25,043,200 / $19,161 / 1,044 / 80% / $17,676,750 / $16,932 / $9,500


2013

The Strawn Valley Absolute Dispersal Sale took advantage of the timing and location of the Brazos Bash to function as a stand-alone sale the day prior to the show at the Silverado Arena in Weatherford, Texas. Two horses hit the six-figure mark, with Smart N Metallic selling for $120,000 and Cats Lookin Smart bringing $100,000.

Sale / Con. / Gross $ / Gross Avg. / Sold / % Sold / Net $ / Net Avg. / Median

Strawn Valley Ranch Absolute Dispersal Sale / 40 / $1,085,200 / $27,130 / 39 / 98% / $1,079,700 / $27,685 / $16,000

ALL 2013 CUTTING SALES / 1,090 / $21,522,050 / $19,745 / 874 / 80% / $16,296,050 / $18,645 / $10,000


2015

Sale / Con. / Gross $ / Gross Avg. / Sold / % Sold / Net $ / Net Avg. / Median

Walton’s Rocking W Ranch Absolute Dispersal Sale / 90 / $3,230,500 / $35,894 / 90 / 100% / $3,230,500 / $35,894 / $8,000


In only two cases over the past 10 years have dispersal sales recorded median prices lower than the overall cutting horse median price. In both cases, the net averages were also lower than the overall cutting net average on horses sold. Both sales lacked a standout horse to draw buyers, resulting in lower prices at the top end of the scale.

The trend points to the fact that, while dispersal sales probably won’t result in too many low-cost bargains, the real bargain may be the rare chance to own the horses at all. You can finally buy that previously unattainable horse, but be prepared to loosen the purse strings to pay for it.

Despite the fact that the Walton’s Rocking W Ranch Absolute Dispersal Sale was announced less than two months prior to the Sept. 22 sale date, it turned out to be a don’t-miss event as buyers sought to buy a piece of the proven breeding program. The event was what can only be classified as a rousing success, with a $500,000 highest-seller leading the way. Still, time will tell if the horses that changed hands that day will turn out to be bargains, or simply good stories to tell in the annals of cutting horse history.

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