Konnie, I (Tamalyn) and my son Colton traveled to Red Bluff for their annual Bull and Gelding sale this last January. It was a chilly Thursday and we were all bundled up. I’ve only heard of this sale so actually being there and buying horses was quite an honor for me.

I was in the market for 5 horses, 4 for us and 1 for the Haku Baldwin Horse Center. The first day all the horses are shown in halter, youngest to oldest. First, the horses must pass several stations before they are allowed into the sale, they must meet conformation and disposition standards. They are then bridled and unbridled, must pick up all 4 feet, go in and out of a trailer, and then checked for soundness in the round pen. If they fail at any of these they are “sifted” out of the sale. There were about 33 horses sifted out.  Most all of the horses are ranch raised registered Quarter Horses or Paint Horses. They can rope and work cattle too, some have been shown in western or cutting.

They’re also shown under saddle and complete a working cow horse pattern where they track a steer and cut him back and forth and then freehand rope em’ It’s so nice to see such great horsemen and women doing what they love and you can see in their horses how much they also love what they’re doing.

The sale was Friday night 6 pm. We arrived early so we could get a good seat next to the sale ring. The bleachers along the walls started filling up and soon it was standing room only. On the other half of the arena was the BBQ and beer garden and I think the whole town of Red Bluff was there. It was the biggest sale I had ever been to. There were 4 different auctioneers and a 100 horses and 5 mules to be sold.

I had my eye on a favorite grey horse but he ended up selling way out of my budget.  It was loud in there and the horses were shown at their best. They’d spin, stop, back up, do roll backs, riders would stand up in the saddle, the kids would come in and ride the horse or crawl around under it’s feet. Saddles would be pulled off and the rider would jump up bareback and then the  price goes up and up! It was great fun.

We’re now the proud owners of  a chestnut horse (Silas), a grey (Banzai), a red dunn (Pe’ahi) and a buckskin (Tonga). Three are in the pictures here. We also picked up a nice Paint (although he’s solid white) for the Horse Center, he’s now being shown in dressage.

After all was said and done it was time to do some shopping. Silversmiths, saddlemakers and handmade cowboy gear, it was all there. Konnie had a custom hat made and I’m the proud owner of a new rawhide bosal and some fine looking bridle conchos.

Our horses are now at the ranch and have been going out on the trail, ask about them when you come out to the ranch.