Working Ranch Magazine March/April 2025

to have experienced it,” explains Flora. “They’re going to be cowboy horses, they’re going to be trail horses, they’re going to be kid horses. You can ride ‘em bareback, you can put an English sad dle on them, you can do whatever you want and you can be safe. And that’s When it comes to selling your horse privately or placing them in a sale, the horse will determine the best fit. “Sometimes selling them privately is super nice. It’s convenient; you don’t have to wait till sale day; you don’t have to pay the consignment fee, commissions, or travel fees to get down there.” But more importantly, when you sell a horse privately you can screen people and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing who’s buying your horse and that the horse and rider are a great fit for their future. “I encourage people to come ride the horse for a couple days if they can so they really get to know each other to ensure it’s going to be a really good match.” On the other hand, sales, especially well-respected ranch horse sales, carry substantial benefits to consigning a horse. Benefits which have encouraged Flora to consign two horses for 2025; one for the 2025 Art of the Cowgirl Invitational Horse Sale which will take place February 25th through March 1st in Arizona. And another horse for the 2025 Pitchfork Ranch Horse Sale, May 30th through June 1st in Wyoming. “Sales are really good exposure for your name, especially when you’re just starting out. It’s great to make new connections, and the guarantee of your horse selling is nice,” says Flora, who consigns under her business name, Flora Belle Horses. For someone who doesn’t have the skills or desire to market their own horses, sales take some of that pressure off the seller. It also allows potential buyers to invest in your horses with added confidence knowing that the sale is confident enough in you and your horse to allow you into the sale ring in the first place. “I could sell them privately and do fine, but you get a lot more the number one thing.” PRIVATE OR PUBLIC

2024 Pitchfork Ranch Horse Sale

RICK HUTTON

people paying attention when you go through a sale. At these very well-run sales with high-quality horses, there’s an added layer of accountability that keeps people coming back each year.” Sales like the Pitchfork Ranch Horse Sale set themselves apart by requiring every horse to participate in trail courses and brandings in the days leading up to the actual sale. “I’m super excited about all the pre views they’re doing, the branding, doctoring, and trail courses that are required of the sale horses,” Flora

adds. “That honestly weeds out a lot of people. And I think it gives the buy ers a lot more peace of mind about what they’re buying.” “Selling a horse is always a whirl wind of emotions for me ... I get really attached to my horses, so it’s hard. The way it goes in selling horses is that you have to sell the best ones. You’re always selling your favorite horse because you put that much time into ‘em and that’s the way it should be. I’m excited to see where these horses go from here.” MARCH 2025 I 69