April 7, 2025
The University of Montana Western’s ninth annual Colt Challenge and Sale, held March 28 and 29 at the Montana Center for Horsemanship, generated $231,500 for the UMW Natural Horsemanship Program.
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. Every 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 have excellent bloodlines and are donated by well-known area ranches. The highly anticipated event attracts buyers from around the country, and the proceeds are donated back to the Natural Horsemanship Program for scholarships, facility updates, and other program needs.
This year’s sale also included the inaugural Alumni Horse Sale, where past Colt Sale students had the opportunity to showcase their horsemanship skills and post-graduation success. Five alumni horses participated and were sold at auction.
The two-day event began with the Colt Challenge on Friday, March 28. Students showcased their colts and the variety of ranch tasks they had been trained to perform. Montana Western student Kat Hansen placed first in the Colt Challenge, riding RSR BET UR GUNS from Roaring Springs Ranch. Hansen was awarded a $2,500 scholarship from CHS, a custom saddle from Stockman Bank and Frecker’s Saddlery, a saddle stand from 3TR Saddle Racks, a buckle from Nancy Chesterfield of ASA Publications, a mohair cinch from AH Cinches, a headstall from Double L Performance Horses, a halter from Steele Halters, and 40 lbs. of HorsLic from New Generation Supplements.
Top Five Colt Challenge Placings:
The colt sale, held the following day on March 29, generated $192,500, with an average sale price of $10,833 per horse. The highest-selling colt was RSR BROS BET, ridden by Keelyn Hall and donated by Roaring Springs Ranch. Proceeds from the Alumni Sale and other donated auction items brought the grand total raised to $231,500 for the event.
Top Five Highest-Selling Colts:
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, Garrison Quarter Horses, Harrington and Hirschy Quarter Horses, Holland Quarter Horses, Hollenbeck Ranch, Roaring Springs Ranch, and Weaver Quarter Horses.
Special thanks to Reminisce Angus, Cubeit Hay Cubes, Weaver Quarter Horses, 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.
Thank you to our corporate sponsors—New Generation Supplements, Zinpro Performance Minerals, Rocky Mountain Supply, CHS Inc., the Montana Center for Horsemanship—and all of the businesses that donated prizes and purchased advertising space for making this event possible.
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
