Jim and Pam Bowman came from Aiken on Saturday to see a number of horses strut their stuff on the floor of the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

Chad Green takes bid for Cats Olena during the Augusta Futurity Horse Sale. Forty-six horses were sold Saturday. PATRICK KING/STAFF

The Bowmans joined at least 3,500 spectators who watched as auctioneers administered the bidding process to sell cutting horses at the Augusta Futurity Horse Sale.

"We came over to see what's going on," said Mr. Bowman, who with his wife owns a small horse farm.

Of 62 horses, 46 were sold, for a total of $213,000, according to the Ben Emison Sale Co.

The most expensive horse sold was Nacho Ordinary, a 2-year-old colt bought by Jim Bilbrey of Conyers, Ga., for $15,000. Tim and Terri Williford of Ailey, Ga., purchased a 2-year-old colt for $10,800. The third highest purchase price, $10,000, was for Site Built, a 1996 gelding owned by Philip Authenot of Cataula, Ga. The average price for all horses sold was $3,436, according to the Emison group.

Pete May, theshow manager since the Futurity's inception in 1980, said the horse sale provides a refreshing twist before the nine-day event ends with its championship finals Saturday night.

"We found there was a need to have a horse sale because it gives people something to do while they're still in town," Mr. May said.

This year, spectators came from 32 states to be a part of the Futurity which has placed Augusta as one of the premier cutting horse sites in the nation, he said.

Cutting originated in the late 1800s when ranchers used the technique to separate, or cut, individual cattle from the herd, usually for branding.

"We love all horses. For the people that don't - they just don't understand," Mrs. Bowman said.

Reach Timothy Cox at (706) 823-3217 or tim.cox@augustachronicle.com.