One-of-a-kind gelding tops Elders AG-Grow Elite Horse Sale in Emerald

The average price paid for a horse at this year's Elders Ag-Grow Elite Horse Sale in Emerald was up by $6266 on the 2024 sale, reflecting the quality of this year's offering and demand for reliable mounts.

Of the 63 horses that went under the hammer at Emerald on Friday, June 27, 57 sold for a 90 per cent clearance rate, to achieve a top of $47,500 and average of $19,184.

The sale grossed $1,093,500.

In 2024, 74 of 117 horses sold for an average of $12,918.

Topping the sale this year was eight-year-old chestnut gelding Oneofakind Idaho, offered by Pete Copping and Jayde Curr, Springsure, that sold to the Bonisch family of Injune.

Idaho was sired by RS Chisum and out of Mentose (ASH-231243) and was purchased by Pete and Jayde when he was five years old.

It's a bittersweet sale," Ms Curr said.

"(Idaho) is a very well-rounded gelding. Pete's had a lot of success on him, finaled and placed in many local drafts."

Ms Curr said they tried to sell a horse at the AG-Grow sale most years.

A total of 28 out of 30 geldings sold, resulting in a $18,911 average.

A total of 29 out of 33 mares were sold for an average of $19,184.

Another branch of the Bonisch family in Injune purchased the top price mare on the day, Chesalon Ivory Mint, offered by Murray and Raelenne Williamson, Rolleston.

It was 14-year-old up-and-coming campdrafter Riley Bonisch, who laid down the successful $44,000 bid to secure the 10-year-old brown mare.

Mr Williamson said Mint was a great combination of her dam, Beaver Doc, a CQ open campdraft winner, and sire, Chevin Ivory, who was a multi-time open campdraft winner.

Mr Williamson said Chesalon Ivory Mint's highest achievement to date was a second at Weetalabah Camp draft in the novice after a tough run off for first place.

She also placed third in the AG-Grow campdraft.

"(Mint) was purchased by Pete Comiskey when she was three year's old and my wife, Raelenne has been riding for a while now," he said.

Ms Bonisch was excited to get the mare back home to Injune, where she'd be used for future campdraft events.

Elders studstock auctioneer Mark Scholes said demand was high for working and performing horses.

"This is our fourth year and the demand in the industry for really good horses, both work and competition horses is pretty strong," he said.

"You only got to look at campdraft numbers, week in, week out, there's plenty of people wanting to do that and that good work horse, there's really good demand for them now too.

"The campdraft on Wednesday gives the vendors a bit of a chance to compete, instead of just the purchaser all the time.

"But not only that, it gives people who are really keen to look at some of those better performing horses, the opportunity to come and see them in the competition environment, and then come and work the pre works yesterday, and then, and then watch them, watch them work a beast and sell today."

Horses sold as far north as Georgetown and down into New South Wales.

Mare sales $25,000 or more included lot 47, Lm Whos Asha, offered by Lance Spannagle and sold to WAG for $30,000; lot 58, Nitas Brandy Rose, offered by Justin and Cassie Scriha and sold to Ere Reality Pty Ltd for $29,000; lot 45, Little Bid O Soda, offered by Lindy Thomson and sold to RL Cox and Co for $28,000; lot 49, Mavis, offered by Peter Arthy and sold to Bonisch Cattle Co for $28,000; lot 16, Sharinaz Feena, offered by Sharinaz Stockhorses and sold to Nakita Smart for $27,000; lot 67, Coolage Symphony, offered by Smokey Creek Contracting and sold to Betdarr Pty Ltd for $27,000; lot 69, Brookston Kitty Cat, offered by Maguire Cattle Co and sold to DC and LJ Dennis for $26,000; lot 32, Magic Queen, offered by Virgo Livestock Pty Ltd and sold to MC and BJ Paine for $26,000; and lot 48, Duplicatt, offered by C.A and M.P Cole and sold to Scona Pastoral Co for $25,000.

Gelding sale highlights included lot 28, Flat Back Jack, offered by Lindy Thomson and sold to Jedburgh Pastoral Co for $33,000; lot 43, Dundees Diceman, offered by Cant Family Trust and sold to P F Breitkreutz for $33,000; lot 39, Rush 'N' Chex, offered by Surbiton Station and sold to RA and PA Rideout for $26,000; lot 41, Justdraftin Cruise Control, offered by Blake Edwards and sold to Scona Pastoral Co for $26,000; and lot 53, Sunburn, offered by Dean Farr and sold to Flur R C Flute for $26,000.