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Description
Art entry for Hip #13 of CHS Winter Yearling Sales
Refs used: X

~

After moving to Ireland and becoming part of the team at Feirm Graí Sean-Gaelige, Maeghan had her first big task. She was initially chosen from hundreds of applicants to help on a breeding project - a couple of new specially curated Irish lineages to help circulate strong well-bred Irish horses - and at first she thought her job would just encompass the breeding and training of new foals. However, she'd only been in Ireland for a week and was already tasked with scouting auctions and searching sales for new breeding prospects. Today she was meant to run around to some ongoing auctions in the UK in search of thoroughbreds to be used in the Irish Sport Horse lines, and Finley was meant to tag along to show her what to look for. Though she was mostly looking for the project, she also had a bit of cash stashed aside in case something caught her eye.

Maeghan let out an exhausted sigh as she flopped into the passenger seat of Finley's truck. Five in the morning was not early enough but it was as early as they had managed to be. With an hour and a half to Dublin, almost two hours of flight time, and then another hour to Cambridge, they wouldn't arrive at the first auction until 9am. Hopefully they wouldn't miss too much. Maeghan rode along with earbuds in - Fin's taste in music was a little too heavy for her but she didn't want to inconvenience him on such a long trip as it would probably set him in a mood for the rest of the day. She ended up napping for most of the trip, which Fin didn't mind as Maeghan had a habit of talking a bit too much and he was not keen on keeping her awake in lieu of peace and quiet. Well, as peaceful and quiet as heavy metal can be.

Upon arrival in Cambridge however, Fin's peace sadly dissipated into the thick morning air. He woke Maeghan as they pulled into the designated parking area with the rental car. "WOW look at this place Fin!" Maeghan exclaimed, nearly jumping up and down in the passenger seat as she stared out the window in awe, her excited breath fogging up the glass. She had never been to the UK before, let alone such an esteemed auction facility. The auctions in America were a little less than desirable and frankly quite lack-luster. Unless you had money, they usually took place in converted cow barns with other animals and tractor equipment for sale. And though she worked for a pretty esteemed dressage barn before coming to Ireland, the only American auctions she had been to were when she was a kid searching for the perfect rescue pony. There was always a hidden gem in every auction, but America's "auction houses" just did not compare to Tattersalls. "I mean look at this PLACE Finley, are you serious?" She repeated as they now walked through the doors to the sales floor. Everything in the room was pristine, the white paneling along the interior walls, the bricks along the exterior walls. Even the show floor was spotless, as if they swept between each horse. There was a surprisingly small amount of people in the stands, though it was still quite early. With the catalogues going out beforehand too it would make sense for people just to show up to the specific horses' showtimes to bid, but Maeghan was expecting large crowds. At least this will be better for Fin's anxiety, she thought to herself. Maybe he won't be a grump on the way home after all. Fin was trying his best not to engage with Maeghan as she would only spiral if interacted with. Instead, he turned his attention to the yearling being led into the sales ring and nudged Maeghan's arm to redirect her attention.

She audibly gasped at the grey filly. The movement in her body already at just a year old was astonishing. She had seen a lot of nice horses, especially since moving to the Irish stud, but never a yearling like this one. These were next level. Obviously any of the horses bought at this auction would not go into breeding right away, being so young, but they would be the perfect prospects to start on a new career before entering the breeding world as the harbingers of this new line, and since they already had enough ex-racers these would be perfect thoroughbreds to breed to for other disciplines. The filly went around the ring a few times as the bids increased. Maeghan was not aware of how much money they were given to spend, but these bids were already climbing out of her price range. She sighed and droned out the bidding and filly. Instead she focused on a particularly clumsy man now climbing into one of the seats. Is he... drunk?

Her attention returned to the sales floor as a new filly walked in. Hip #13, she recognized from the pamphlet in her hands. Reading her pedigree Maeghan jabbed Fin hard in the arm. "Sorry that was more aggressive than I thought, but LOOK! This is a filly from that stud that spooked in the gates a couple years back! The one that got stuck in the gate and crushed the jockey." She was nearly jumping with excitement again as she made the connection. She remembered that accident vividly as it was the exact accident that ended her dreams of becoming a jockey. Even with Vendetta creating quite the odd name for himself between his winnings and his forfeits, she was extremely tempted to put a bid in on this filly. She was gorgeous - powerful build and all black with the cutest oversized snip being the only white on her body. She moved nicely and would be unforgettable in any show ring as she already made quite the impression as a yearling. Estimated to be 16hh with beautiful conformation. Fuck it, right? Maeghan thought to herself as she raised her hand to put in the first bid. Fin gave her a questioning look as this filly did not exactly fit the bill for FGSG.

As Fin was about to speak on Maeghan's questionable actions, there was a loud crash from the stands. Maeghan jumped as she and many of the spectators startled and turned their attention toward the commotion. The suspected drunk man had collided with a staff member and they collectively dropped all they were holding as the staff member tumbled into the railing in front of him. Pamphlets, clipboards, and both of their phones had crashed to the ground causing the startling noise. Maeghan's attention returned to the ring as the filly reared up and backwards, nearly flipping over. There was multiple gasps from the audience as people watched the handler struggle to calm the poor yearling. She was escorted out of the ring hurriedly so the new horse coming in didn't get worked up.

Throughout the commotion it was unsure if Maeghan's bid was the last one put in, but she honestly hoped it was. This filly showed promise even if she has her sire's spooky nature. She left the rest of the bidding up to Fin as she now had to save her cash in case she actually won this one, though she wouldn't know until they were back in Ireland and all the horses were set to ship out.

Description
Art entry for Hip #13 of CHS Winter Yearling Sales
Refs used: X

~

After moving to Ireland and becoming part of the team at Feirm Graí Sean-Gaelige, Maeghan had her first big task. She was initially chosen from hundreds of applicants to help on a breeding project - a couple of new specially curated Irish lineages to help circulate strong well-bred Irish horses - and at first she thought her job would just encompass the breeding and training of new foals. However, she'd only been in Ireland for a week and was already tasked with scouting auctions and searching sales for new breeding prospects. Today she was meant to run around to some ongoing auctions in the UK in search of thoroughbreds to be used in the Irish Sport Horse lines, and Finley was meant to tag along to show her what to look for. Though she was mostly looking for the project, she also had a bit of cash stashed aside in case something caught her eye.

Maeghan let out an exhausted sigh as she flopped into the passenger seat of Finley's truck. Five in the morning was not early enough but it was as early as they had managed to be. With an hour and a half to Dublin, almost two hours of flight time, and then another hour to Cambridge, they wouldn't arrive at the first auction until 9am. Hopefully they wouldn't miss too much. Maeghan rode along with earbuds in - Fin's taste in music was a little too heavy for her but she didn't want to inconvenience him on such a long trip as it would probably set him in a mood for the rest of the day. She ended up napping for most of the trip, which Fin didn't mind as Maeghan had a habit of talking a bit too much and he was not keen on keeping her awake in lieu of peace and quiet. Well, as peaceful and quiet as heavy metal can be.

Upon arrival in Cambridge however, Fin's peace sadly dissipated into the thick morning air. He woke Maeghan as they pulled into the designated parking area with the rental car. "WOW look at this place Fin!" Maeghan exclaimed, nearly jumping up and down in the passenger seat as she stared out the window in awe, her excited breath fogging up the glass. She had never been to the UK before, let alone such an esteemed auction facility. The auctions in America were a little less than desirable and frankly quite lack-luster. Unless you had money, they usually took place in converted cow barns with other animals and tractor equipment for sale. And though she worked for a pretty esteemed dressage barn before coming to Ireland, the only American auctions she had been to were when she was a kid searching for the perfect rescue pony. There was always a hidden gem in every auction, but America's "auction houses" just did not compare to Tattersalls. "I mean look at this PLACE Finley, are you serious?" She repeated as they now walked through the doors to the sales floor. Everything in the room was pristine, the white paneling along the interior walls, the bricks along the exterior walls. Even the show floor was spotless, as if they swept between each horse. There was a surprisingly small amount of people in the stands, though it was still quite early. With the catalogues going out beforehand too it would make sense for people just to show up to the specific horses' showtimes to bid, but Maeghan was expecting large crowds. At least this will be better for Fin's anxiety, she thought to herself. Maybe he won't be a grump on the way home after all. Fin was trying his best not to engage with Maeghan as she would only spiral if interacted with. Instead, he turned his attention to the yearling being led into the sales ring and nudged Maeghan's arm to redirect her attention.

She audibly gasped at the grey filly. The movement in her body already at just a year old was astonishing. She had seen a lot of nice horses, especially since moving to the Irish stud, but never a yearling like this one. These were next level. Obviously any of the horses bought at this auction would not go into breeding right away, being so young, but they would be the perfect prospects to start on a new career before entering the breeding world as the harbingers of this new line, and since they already had enough ex-racers these would be perfect thoroughbreds to breed to for other disciplines. The filly went around the ring a few times as the bids increased. Maeghan was not aware of how much money they were given to spend, but these bids were already climbing out of her price range. She sighed and droned out the bidding and filly. Instead she focused on a particularly clumsy man now climbing into one of the seats. Is he... drunk?

Her attention returned to the sales floor as a new filly walked in. Hip #13, she recognized from the pamphlet in her hands. Reading her pedigree Maeghan jabbed Fin hard in the arm. "Sorry that was more aggressive than I thought, but LOOK! This is a filly from that stud that spooked in the gates a couple years back! The one that got stuck in the gate and crushed the jockey." She was nearly jumping with excitement again as she made the connection. She remembered that accident vividly as it was the exact accident that ended her dreams of becoming a jockey. Even with Vendetta creating quite the odd name for himself between his winnings and his forfeits, she was extremely tempted to put a bid in on this filly. She was gorgeous - powerful build and all black with the cutest oversized snip being the only white on her body. She moved nicely and would be unforgettable in any show ring as she already made quite the impression as a yearling. Estimated to be 16hh with beautiful conformation. Fuck it, right? Maeghan thought to herself as she raised her hand to put in the first bid. Fin gave her a questioning look as this filly did not exactly fit the bill for FGSG.

As Fin was about to speak on Maeghan's questionable actions, there was a loud crash from the stands. Maeghan jumped as she and many of the spectators startled and turned their attention toward the commotion. The suspected drunk man had collided with a staff member and they collectively dropped all they were holding as the staff member tumbled into the railing in front of him. Pamphlets, clipboards, and both of their phones had crashed to the ground causing the startling noise. Maeghan's attention returned to the ring as the filly reared up and backwards, nearly flipping over. There was multiple gasps from the audience as people watched the handler struggle to calm the poor yearling. She was escorted out of the ring hurriedly so the new horse coming in didn't get worked up.

Throughout the commotion it was unsure if Maeghan's bid was the last one put in, but she honestly hoped it was. This filly showed promise even if she has her sire's spooky nature. She left the rest of the bidding up to Fin as she now had to save her cash in case she actually won this one, though she wouldn't know until they were back in Ireland and all the horses were set to ship out.