The 12^th Annual Van Norman and friends Production Sale will feature weanlings, yearlings, started two-year olds, broke horses, and broodmares from the reputed Van Norman Ranch of Tuscarora, NV, winner of the 2001 AQHA Best Ranch Remuda Award. In addition to the Van Norman horses, several other breeders will be represented. Rhoads Ranch and Deadwood Quarter Horses (Linda and Randy Bunch) of Tuscarora, NV;  Porath Quarter Horses of Rockland, ID;Y6 Quarter Horses (formerly Martin and Elaine Black) of Homedale, ID; Dennis and Mary Journigan and John and Chris Tueller of Lamoille, NV; were all invited to participate from the beginning based upon their breeding programs which were offshoots of the Van Norman program or for their close association or historical ties to the Van Norman family.

A total of 112 horses, representing most of the working cowhorse families, will be offered for auction. Prospective bidders can view the catalog on the sale website (www.vannormansale.com) beginning in mid-August. Video of the horses and internet audio broadcast of the sale can be accessed at www.superiorlivestock.com  . The sale will be broadcast over RFDTV-DirecTV 379 or DISH 231 beginning at 9:30 a.m. on September 20. Those wishing to bid must register  prior to placing a bid to make financial arrangements. Check the website for further instructions as to how to do this.

Kicking off the sale weekend will be the Van Norman Stockhorse Challenge and the preview of sale horses under saddle on Friday, September 19. The Stockhorse Challenge is a three-event working cowhorse competition in which the contestants execute a reining pattern, work a single cow in the arena, and finally rope and face the animal.   It is open to all horses with special awards to horses purchased in previous Van Norman sales or consigned to the current sale. The Stockhorse Challenge will begin at 11 a.m. with the sale preview to follow at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Van Norman Ranches follows the vaquero tradition of taking a horse through several levels of training beginning with the snaffle bit at age two culminating in a finished bridle horse at seven or eight. The two, threes, and four year olds will have been ridden in the snaffle bit while the older horses will be either in the hackamore, two-rein, or bridle. Older horses will have been used on the ranch in all aspects of ranch work. Weanlings and yearlings will have been broke to lead and load. The philosophy and training methods of renowned horsemen Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt prevail.

The third week-end in September generally promises beautiful early fall weather with deep blue skies and Nevada blue mountains to complement the fellowship of lovers of good horses gathered  to pick out that special addition to their working ranch remuda or to their family's backyard.