Five Horse Sales Worth Checking Out
If you’re horse shopping, spending a few days at a sale can be a good way to see several horses, meet the people who ride them, and ask questions in person.
Different sales offer different kinds of horses, so it helps to know a little about each one before planning a trip. These five are worth a look, especially if you’re shopping for a ranch horse, a trail partner, or a horse you can use both at home and in the arena.
WYO Ranch Horse Sale
Meeteetse, Wyoming
Held at the Pitchfork Ranch, the WYO Ranch Horse & Stock Dog Sale was formerly known as the Pitchfork Ranch Horse Sale. Its focus is on ranch horses and working stock dogs, with opportunities to watch horses do more than make a lap around an arena.
The sale’s horse requirements include a trail course and head-and-heel branding. The trail course includes practical tasks such as crossing water, opening gates, and loading into a trailer. For someone who wants a horse to use outside, those are useful things to watch.
Buyers are encouraged to inspect and ride horses before purchasing. Plan enough time to talk with consignors and see how the horses handle the work being asked of them. Visit the WYO Ranch Horse Sale website.
Colorado Horse Sales
Multiple sales in Colorado
Colorado Horse Sale offers horses ranging from prospects to finished riding and performance horses. That variety makes it worth checking if you’re still comparing options or shopping for more than one kind of horse.
The company holds multiple sales, so check the location and catalog for the particular event you’re considering. Its October 2026 Western Slope sale is in Montrose and includes a “Tried and True” special session. See the Colorado Horse Sale schedule.
For 2026, catalog horses at live auctions are required to have videos showing their advertised abilities and receive an on-site veterinary screening. Use that information to narrow your list, then talk with the sellers and try the horses that interest you. Read the sale’s consignment requirements.
Cody Horse Sale
Cody, Wyoming
The Best of the Rockies Cody Horse Sale combines a downtown Cody auction with a ranch horse competition. If you enjoy watching horses work and want to make a trip out of horse shopping, this one has a setting that’s hard to overlook.
The sale publishes consignor history and past sale prices, which can help you learn about the sellers and get an idea of what horses have brought in previous years. That’s useful homework before you arrive with a budget in mind.
The organizers also make a point of telling buyers to ride the horse and speak with its consignor before purchasing. Give yourself time for both instead of arriving just as bidding starts. Visit the Cody Horse Sale website.
Fall Round Up Sale
Utah
The Fall Round Up Horse Sale focuses on trail, ranch, and performance horses from a selected group of consignors. It’s worth following if you want a horse with riding experience and are interested in comparing horses from several different programs.
Its 2026 sale was held October 2–3 at Reinmakers Equine Park in St. George, Utah. If you remember this sale being in Heber City, check the current location before making travel plans.
Start with the catalog and look closely at what each horse has actually done. A horse with plenty of arena experience may suit a different buyer than one that has spent its days on the ranch or in the mountains. Visit the Fall Round Up Sale website.
Art of the Cowgirl Sale
Wickenburg, Arizona
The Art of the Cowgirl Invitational Horse Sale takes place at Rancho Rio as part of the larger Art of the Cowgirl event. The sale highlights women consignors and includes an Elite Horses section and a Cowkid Selects section featuring horses offered by young horsemen and horsewomen.
The offering is intended to serve a range of buyers, from recreational riders to people looking for ranch and competition horses. The Cowkid Selects section also gives buyers a chance to learn about the kids and the work they’ve put into their horses. Read about the Art of the Cowgirl Horse Sale.
There’s more to the trip than the auction. The larger event includes horsemanship, competitions, artists, makers, and shopping, so it may appeal to friends or family who want to come along even if they aren’t buying a horse. See the Art of the Cowgirl event details.
Always Try the Horse
Whatever sale you choose, always try a riding horse before you buy. Contact the seller ahead of time to arrange a visit or find out when trial rides are available during the preview.
Have the seller ride first, and bring someone who knows your ability and what you need. If a horse feels unsafe or beyond your experience, you don’t need to get on to prove anything. You can pass.
Read the sale terms, know the full cost of buying, and set your budget before bidding begins. Check each organizer’s website for current dates, locations, and preview arrangements before booking your trip.
A sale can be a fun weekend and a useful way to shop. Just make sure the horse you bring home suits the riding you’ll actually do.