The Natural Horsemanship Program, which educates students to work with horses as part of a broad range of equine and academic studies, is a joint program between the University of Montana Western and the Montana Center for Horsemanship. Each year, as part of the Colt Sale course, UMW students train young horses to be sold at a live auction the following spring. All of the horses are donated by respected regional ranches and feature strong bloodlines. The event attracts buyers from across the country, with proceeds supporting scholarships, facility improvements, and other program needs.
The sale again included the Alumni Horse Sale, where past Colt Sale students showcased their horsemanship skills and post-graduation success. Alumni participants included Jacob Christenson, whose two horses—ZIPPO LIL BUDDY and GEMS SECRET CODE—each sold for $20,000, and Nicole Forbes, whose horse JAYCEE DONE DUNNIT sold for $5,500.
The two-day event began with the Colt Challenge on Friday, March 27. Students demonstrated their training through a variety of ranch tasks. Vivian Mayers earned first place riding SLD SKIPPA BET, donated by Roaring Springs Ranch.
Mayers was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from CHS; a custom saddle from Stockman Bank and Frecker’s Saddlery; a saddle rack from Ken and Linda Farms; a buckle from Nancy Chesterfield of ASA Publications; a mohair cinch from AH Cinches; a wild rag from Cowgirl Dreamin’; a halter from Steele Halters; and 40 lbs. of HorsLic from New Generation Supplements.
Top Five Colt Challenge Placings:
- 1st – Vivian Mayers and SLD SKIPPA BET, Roaring Springs Ranch
- 2nd – Brooklynn Voigt and HQH SNIP O FROST, Erb Ranch
- 3rd – Elise Brann and A LAST VIBRANT MOON, Nelson Quarter Horses
- 4th – Kat Hansen and WEAVER PERKS ECHO, Weaver Quarter Horses
- 5th – Isabelle Friesen and PEPTO DASH OF LEROY, Harrington and Hirschy Quarter Horses
The colt sale, held the following day on March 28, generated a total of $291,900, with an average sale price of $10,722 per horse.
Top Five Highest-Selling Colts:
- $21,000 – Lot 8, PEPTO DASH OF LEROY, ridden by Isabelle Friesen, donated by Harrington and Hirschy Quarter Horses
- $19,000 – Lot 9, DOCS GO N ROAN, ridden by Taylor Peck, donated by Holland Quarter Horses
- $17,000 – Lot 25, WEAVERS SMART GUY, ridden by Everett Richins, donated by Weaver Quarter Horses
- $14,000 – Lot 16, A LAST VIBRANT MOON, ridden by Elise Brann, donated by Nelson Quarter Horses
- $14,000 – Lot 15, MRI CATCH ME BLUE, ridden by Addison Gillentine, donated by Mahlstedt Ranch
The University of Montana Western Natural Horsemanship Program would like to thank its generous donors for making this year’s event so successful: Erb Ranch, Jacob Christenson, Harrington and Hirschy Quarter Horses, Holland Quarter Horses, Hollenbeck Ranch, Mahlstedt Ranch, Nelson Quarter Horses, Roaring Springs Ranch, Tash Ranch, and Weaver Quarter Horses.
Special thanks to Reminisce Angus, Weaver Quarter Horses, Bray Leather Studio, and Montana Mad Hatters for donating special auction items, and to Beaverhead Motors, Reminisce Angus, Engine 18, and Harrington Pepsi for providing lunch on the day of the sale.
For more information about Montana Western and the nation’s only Natural Horsemanship degree program, please visit www.umwestern.edu or call 1-877-683-7331.
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UM-Western – 2026
