“The Babbitt Ranches Community is grateful to be able to host this special and meaningful event every year.”
Some came to buy, many came to watch but most came for the fellowship and experience of this traditional summertime gathering at a Western working ranch in the serenity of Northern Arizona’s vast open landscape, where spirited horses roam the range.
“When you’re out here, you can forget all that’s going on in the world,” said Eddy Babbitt, a fourth generation Arizona Babbitt, about the Annual Hashknife Colt Sale at Spider Web Camp.
The Hashknife brand symbolizes the days of the Wild West in American history. It originally belonged to the Aztec Land & Cattle Company, which operated in Northern Arizona from 1884 to 1902. It later became the property of the Babbitt family. Babbitt Ranches has operated from Flagstaff since 1886.
To ranchers and equestrians, Hashknife horses have come to represent smart, solid horses with cow sense – strong enough to work all day, gentle enough for a youngster to ride and a working cowboy’s choice for navigating rough, rocky territory in the high-desert terrain.
Twenty-four colts and fillies were sold in the lively bidding contest that had auctioneer Reed Flake on his toes and scanning the bleachers. The polite competition to own a highly sought-after “Hashknife” horse had the audience clapping and cheering for each successful bidder.
Alfonzo Begay, owner of White Hill Land and Livestock cattle ranch in Rough Rock was one. The rancher competes in rodeos, including team roping and barrel racing. “Hashknife horses are easy to train. They have a good deposition and work well for the ranch and rodeo competitions.”
The sorrel colt he bought last month is his 12th Babbitt Ranches horse. “The kids use them in kids’ rodeo competitions, too.”
Navajo Police Captain Thomas Yazzie and his wife, Sarah, a Kingman social worker, also bought a foal. “These are the best quarter horses. They are workhorses and the grandkids love to ride them,” said Thomas, who already owns 10 horses from Babbitt Ranches. “She was the last of the Cowboy Drift bloodline,” added Sarah, about their new filly.
“Cowboy Drift is a stallion that carries the Driftwood bloodline, known to take rodeo contestants to world championship titles,” explained Babbitt Ranches Manager Clay Rodgers.
Another successful bidder was 20-year-old rodeo competitor Taylor Girvin of Flagstaff. She comes from a long-time Northern Arizona ranching family; her grandfather owns P & M Trailer Sales. She recently competed in barrel racing and team roping in the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo and has another one coming up in Prescott. She bought a colt last year, too.
“In the last two years, I’ve had a rule not to buy a horse, but it didn’t work out that way. It’s hard to pass up a well-bred horse with good conformation to go with it,” she said. “And I always need another one.”
Jordan, Caleb and Marcus Diehl arrived at the Colt Sale after a road trip from Ohio that included a stop at the O RO Ranch near Prescott. “We’ve been wanting to come out,” said Jordan, who bought a foal over the phone last year. “We’re breeding horses for cutting and different things. The Babbitt horses have a lot better bone.”
Meanwhile, Babbitt Ranches beef was available for those who wanted to name their own price. Donations from the fundraiser will support a scholarship at Central Arizona College in honor of Victor Howell, Babbitt Ranches’ longtime ranch manager, who died Jan. 3, 2021.
General Manager and President Billy Cordasco shared the Babbitt Ranches tradition of the Yellow Rose as a symbol of remembrance for loved ones who have passed on. He and the auction ringmen handed out yellow roses to Colt Sale spectators.
Cordasco has long said the Colt Sale is not about buying horses, but about bringing people together. “The Babbitt Ranches Community is grateful to be able to host this special and meaningful event every year. The horses and colts have a gentle way of reminding us of the seasons on the ranch and in life.” QCBN
By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN
Photos by Kay Lyons: The Annual Hashknife Colt Sale offers a journey back to the Old West.
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