Ranch Country Horse Sale continues to raise the bar

Five-year-old Aubrey Eccleston riding UC The Only One. At the front is Aubrey’s mom, Angie.

Submitted by Terri Mason

If there is one event that signals the arrival of fall in Southwest Saskatchewan, it is the Ranch Country Horse Sale (RCHS) in Maple Creek. More than just a horse sale, it has become one of the premier social and agricultural events of the season, attracting horsemen, ranchers, buyers, sellers, and spectators from across the Prairies.

This year’s festivities kicked off on the Saturday morning of September 5 with the traditional horse preview in the beautiful High Chaparral Arena. From the moment the first horse entered the ring, it was clear that consignors had brought some outstanding prospects. The horses were beautifully turned out, exceptionally trained, and presented to showcase their talents.

The weather could not have been better. The sun shone, but temperatures remained comfortable, creating the perfect setting for horses, riders, and spectators alike. The relaxed atmosphere let buyers carefully evaluate each horse while enjoying one of the finest demonstrations of ranch horse talent in Western Canada.

Inside the arena, horses displayed their responsiveness, athleticism, and willingness. Yet many consignors chose to go a step further, demonstrating the practical working abilities that ranchers and horse buyers value most. Several horses were shown on cattle, proving their cow sense, agility, and trainability under realistic ranch conditions.

Perhaps the most exciting demonstrations involved high-speed team roping. Assisting with those presentations was rancher, accomplished roper, and Canadian Bull Riding Champion Jared Parsonage. His skilled horsemanship and talent as a team roper let prospective buyers see exactly how the sale horses performed under pressure. Watching horse and rider burst from the box, rate cattle, and work smoothly together was enough to solidify some check marks beside their Lot #.

Meanwhile, activity in the back pens was almost nonstop as a revolving crew of capable helpers demonstrated other sale horses working cattle. The constant flow ensured plenty of opportunities for buyers to evaluate each horse’s confidence, instincts, and working ability.

One of the biggest changes this year was moving the auction to Cowtown Livestock. By all accounts, the move proved a tremendous success. It significantly reduced the workload for the dedicated Ranch Country Horse Sale volunteers while providing an efficient and comfortable venue for both buyers and consignors.

The move also provided an excellent setting for the foal offering. The well-bred, beautifully presented youngsters were housed at Cowtown and shown through the smaller auction ring where buyers could get an up-close look at the future prospects of Western Canada’s horse industry.

Adding another modern dimension to the sale was Direct Livestock Marketing Systems technology. The auction featured live video feeds, pre-recorded videos, and a strong online bidding platform that attracted buyers from far beyond Maple Creek. The technology let viewers see horses from multiple angles and gave distant buyers confidence to bid.

If there was a single complaint heard during the day, it had nothing to do with the horses or the sale itself.

“There weren’t enough seats.”

That observation says everything about the event’s popularity. In Maple Creek, the Ranch Country Horse Sale is not simply a commercial transaction—it is a reunion, a gathering place, and one of the most anticipated social occasions of the fall season.

The sale featured 47 horses and foals, with only three late scratches, creating a strong, active market.

The high-selling foal was a striking roan 2026 stallion consigned by Joanne Vayro. Strong interest pushed online bidding to $6,750 before Holt Colony Farming of Irma, Alberta secured the youngster.

The high-selling saddle horse was PQH Double Again, affectionately known as “Deuce,” a 2013 gelding consigned by Little Big Ranch (Olivia Parsonage) of Maple Creek. Deuce built an impressive résumé as a competitive gymkhana and breakaway horse at the college rodeo level, helping win more than $10,000 in breakaway earnings and contributing significantly to Olivia’s college rodeo success, as well as a trip to the Canadian Cowboys Association Finals. A product of the breeding program of my late friends, Marg and Ken Perrin, Deuce topped the sale at an impressive $30,000 and was purchased by Heath Tallentire of Bar T Livestock near Earl Grey, Saskatchewan.

When the final gavel fell, there were smiles all around. Buyers found quality horses, consignors received fair value, and spectators enjoyed another memorable day celebrating the Western ranch horse industry.

The Ranch Country Horse Sale continues to prove that quality horses, dedicated horsemen, and strong community support remain alive and well in Western Canada. Judging by this year’s success, anticipation is already building for the 22nd Annual Ranch Country Horse Sale, which will once again be held on the first Saturday of September 2027.