I like the way you move

no win :/ Congrats ~HoofHaven

AUCTION BID: Import 16 -> [link]

Music that was played


Gabriel Delacroix had been sick and tired of the endless meetings and on top of that he missed one special person, very, very much. But Lillian was far, far away at this point, still in the United States while he was here in Australia. Most of all he would have wanted to bring her with him, but with Craig and Alayna gone right now he knew couldn’t take more of Hathien Rhun’s staff just because he wanted one of them by his side. After the scare that might just as well could have costed him his life he had taken it easy but this was one of those meetings he had to go to. His father and Tristan were here too. He had to admit that Tristan was ok…despite being born a Lachapelle. Gabriel could tell his father was coming to terms with it too, that his oldest daughter was going to marry a son of a family that had been their own family’s rivals for over a hundred years. Lillian just sighed and smiled saying it was like a modern Romeo and Juliet – just with a better ending.

It was actually thanks to Tristan he was here at the KhanCohban farm now, he had come and picked him up not telling him more than he would like where they would go. Of that he had been right; it was nothing that picked up his mood the same way as the fresh country air and the smell and sounds of horses. He eyed the other man that sat next to him. Ten years his sister had kept their romance a secret from the world, afraid what it would do to their families. Sure…he had been mad…knowing that she hadn’t told him and they would suppose to be close. They had talked some, just the two of them. His sister Justine didn’t want to worry him because she knew about the feud but, she told him, love…true love didn’t care about things like that. True love was stronger than anything else. Besides…he wasn’t really a Lachapelle anymore…he had given his name up for his sister as well as his family, not that his family was much to have, not before and not now after the way they treated their own… Now it was only six months left til the wedding and it kept his mother busy – for now. He knew she would return to pester him and Lillian and he knew Lillian’s mother would back her up. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to…but he didn’t want her to think she was forced into something.

The frenchman shook his head and loosened his tie a little bit. Lillian would have his neck if he worried. She had even wiggled her finger at him before he left like he had been a small boy. In a very serious voice she had told him that she would find out if he overdid himself. Gabriel guessed her source would be Tristan through his sister. After that first awkward stage Lillian and his sister had found eachother and he guessed that they kept in contact more than he knew. She was talking french better now too, still with a certain ‘american’ accent if there was such a thing but…he had to admit that she was better at it. Deep down it made him happy that she tried so hard.

His eyes turned to the arena where a red chestnut stallion just left. It was a pretty animal, no doubt about that but it didn’t have what he was looking for. He still frowned slightly at the color, even if that wasn’t a real indicator on the horse itself. No…not another chestnut…he had enough of the chestnut that he had at home. The stallion, he could tell he had a brain, a horse that thought on the spot – that was a good thing however. Perhaps it would turn out to be a good eventing material, since one had to be quick in both mind and legs to clear a four star course. Glancing down at his papers he noted that the one horse he actually was interested in was coming up. Previously there had been mares and then the chestnut stallion. Two of the mares were in foal to number sixteen. But he couldn’t bring any of them to the states now…they would need to be foaled out here… the young mares looked promising as well but…he already had a mare. Besides he preferred stallions if he could pick. The memory of Bon Chance was still fresh. Tristan had gotten them here just in time to see number sixteen being ridden and Gabriel liked what he had seen. The stallion would defiantly be able to pick up where Flo had left him disappointed. It wasn’t really the mares fault though…

Tristan smiled at him and nodded as the silver dapple stud entered the arena. With his seven years he was one of the older horses in this auction where most was ranging from four to six years of age. It was just this silver stud and one of the geldings that would be second to last that was seven. The speakers crackled a little and the sound made the stallion snort and shy to the side. He never tried to bolt however and Gabriel nodded. That was a smart horse; he wouldn’t take off if something scared him, react yes…but not like Flo could do… But to the mares account he had to admit she was getting better…but she would never be the star he had hoped for. The vet had found lumps on her ovaries, bad ones but those could also be a reason to her behaviour.

With eyes that had scanned many videos of sale horses as well as auctions he could see the horse had potential, much potential. He really liked the stallion’s movements. It was power and grace all at once. The speaker of the auction continued to talk about the horse and then turned on some music as the poor handler had to run a few laps more to show the stallions trot even if there a few gallop steps in the beginning. The stallion’s powerful yet elegant hindlegs drove him forward in big strides that Gabriel knew would score well in a dressage program. The only thing making the image of beauty fade some had been a sound as the stallion in an excited manner had bolted to the side again as a woman in a white feathery hat had moved close to the fence. For a moment the stallion’s ears had gone from topped forward to flat back before returning. Gabriel didn’t write the stallion off for reacting to things; he had horses that been worse. It was the overall look and besides the stallions gaits there was also a good promise for him as a jumper. A jumper that knew how to move could also be taught to find his legs as you made a narrow turn over a jump or cutting corners. That could be something that would be the difference in the chase of seconds in a jump off final or between winning and losing.

The female handler had now halted the stallion and now made him stand to show off his excellent conformation to the audience. The man nodded to himself again, scribbling down more notes of what he thought of the horse. Money wasn’t really an issue here but that wouldn’t mean he would give ‘too much’ for the horse. It just meant he wasn’t going to give in if it was something he really wanted. He glanced around of the nameless faces he saw around him. Who of these would bid against him? If he had been at home, many would have recognised him and stepped down because of it. Here he was faceless, nameless, a nobody, a foreigner. Perhaps that was a good thing; they would never know what they went up against.

“Are you thinking of bidding on him, Gabriel?”

The darkhaired man turned towards the blonde man that for the day had his long hair in a thick braid and together with the shirt he was wearing was making him look almost like one of those men that figured in Lillian’s historical romantic stories. In the ring the handler had made the horse move again. This time in a brisk walk as the announcer turned the music down and repeated the horses information, and told that the bidding was about to start. With a final look down on his notes, Gabriel nodded slowly and raised his numbered pad.

“Yes….yes I think I will…”

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Import #16

Name: Tighearnach ("TEER-nakh")
Derived from Irish Gaelic "tigern" meaning "lord". This was the name of an Irish saint of the 6th century. In his youth he was kidnapped by Welsh pirates and brought to Wales, but he escaped to Scotland. Eventually he returned to Ireland where he was a bishop of Clogher.
Barn name: Tiger
Gender: Stallion
Breed: Australian Warmblood
Breed Grading: First Premium
Age: 7 years
Height: 16.1hh
Genetics: EE/aa/Zn
Appearance: Silver Dapple with a small star.
Build: Medium. He is a stunning specimen and as well as boasting a beautiful build one of his best features is his head, he has such a noble face and a kind eye he is impossible to pass by both at home and in the show ring.
About this horse: This boy is an old soul. For a younger horse and a stallion especially, he is a perfect gentleman. Honest and patient he will do his best for any level of rider that is placed on him, even beginners have ridden this horse without a misstep or even a sideways glance. He has a natural talent for dressage, but is very careful over jumps and so rarely nocks a rail. He has such a no fuss and willing work ethic that he is ideal as a competition horse for all levels and also makes him ideal as a sire for future generations. When on turn out he rarely plays or interacts with the other horses and prefers to be turned out with only one horse or alone. He does love a good romp when first out though and has a funny habit of farting when excited or when exercising particularly hard, which can be a bit embarrassing when doing a complicated jumping course. Watch him if you have a farm through as he absolutely hates chickens, and will bite or kick if they come near him. So far it is the only thing we have found that discomposes him, so keep the fluffy velociraptor’s of death away from him!


Ref (horse): Google