Forty years of tradition and horse sales have graced the infamous Kist Livestock Sales ring located in Mandan, North Dakota. The Hermanson-Kist Livestock Sale originator, Dave Hermanson, not only have established one of the largest horse sales in the United States, but also the world.

Opening morning of the sale, September 15, hosted 307 live bidders by 10:00 a.m. and about 150 online bidders. “This is just the beginning of thousands of people that will flock to attend the sale between buying, selling, and bidding online,” said Field Representative for Hermanson-Kist All Breeds Horse Sale Matt Lachenmeier, Mandan.

Changing up the format in its 40th year, the Hermanson-Kist Livestock Sale had ample numbers to add an additional sale day. “Our goal is to run about forty colts an hour through the sale and be done around 7:00 p.m.,” added Lachenmeier.

Historically, the sale has lasted through the night until the early hours of the morning to run into the following sale day.

Nearly 1,000 weanlings and yearlings and roughly 200 of two- to three-year-olds, broodmares, stallions, and riding horses will be sold through the weekend.

[Photo: Tisa Peek]

“Our crew is outstanding; we have knowledgeable, horse savvy people on the back end of the stock pens bringing the colts to the bidding block. Every stage of the sale is organized and streamlined and has evolved to the process this has come to be,” explained Lachenmeier.

“We have a system that works to keep the sale flowing efficiently and productively – from the pre-assigned pens for sellers and volume buyers to the thirty-plus employee crew,” Lachenmeier added.

Volume buyers attend the sale from Mexico, Texas, Iowa, and many other states. Sellers and buyers come from around 45 U.S. states.

Lachenmeier explained in detail from the check-in and paperwork process and location for sellers to the care and handling throughout the sale and placement of weanlings and yearling horses.

Pressley Dunford, 6, of Dunford Ranch, Baldwin, N.D., selling her weanling by Ain’t Seen Nothin Yet [Photo: Tisa Peek]

The field representative also mentioned the benefit of volume buyer pens. These are established pens where the sold horses go to their allotted buyer pens. Pens are bedded and ready for the horses that have been acquired. When buyers come to load out, they need paperwork, receipt from the office, and the rest is part of the streamlined method.

[Photo: Tisa Peek]

“I like the cutter horses, horses with good bone and with so many horses to select from are the reasons I come to this sale and buy every year,” explained Alex Custaneda, Laredo, Texas. “I attend horse sales all over the country and this one has the widest selection and I enjoy it.”

Custaneda, along with many other buyers from around the United States and other parts of the world, attend the horse sale year after year. He said he takes the weanlings or yearlings he purchases down to Texas and sells them individually to various clients.

[Photo: Tisa Peek]

“This sale never ends. With paperwork, breeders’ certificates, etc. that come in, we are always working on this. As of three years ago, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) is on-site to make transfer paperwork easily accessible. Having the AQHA staff fly in to assist with on-site registration, breeders’ certificates and any questions or corrections that are needed can be accommodated has been incredible,” Lachenmeier stated.

“For the future, as the horse market and pedigrees have evolved so rapidly, we look at what horses do we need to breed to? We evaluate what people are wanting. With so many variances, we ask, how can we keep accommodating and keeping up with the horse market. That’s our job,” confirmed Lachenmeier.