Glitz and Glam (Killian's Tam Lin / OPEN)

[Forte]

The stallion was certainly turned out well, with his hooves oiled and shining like obsidian and his coat groomed until it gleamed. His mane had been trimmed and lay properly on the right side, shining and place, and his tail had been braided and hung around his hocks nicely. He was obviously one of the finer horses here, and people came to stare at him in his glory and then walked away when they saw the price. Of course he wasn't cheap - he was a quality horse and he deserved a good price, because he could win someone a lot of money some day. Time and again the hand who was watching him was asked to show off his paces and he would trot up and down, throwing out his legs and holding his head high and proud as he went, but as the day went on fewer and fewer people showed that kind of interest. Tam Lin had been in this stupid sale for three days, now, and he was becoming bored.

Now, whenever someone passed he would follow them along the fence line, tossing his head and bucking as he went along out of sheer boredom. He needed to get out of here! He needed a good jump and some exercise! Tam Lin had considered jumping the sides of the pen he was in, but he'd never tried to go over anything that big before, and besides the pen was only four lengths at its widest point. So he grew increasingly unruly, and whenever the hand took him out for a trot he would go as fast as he could, sloppy and extended and puffing like a steam engine for frustration. He wished someone would at least come along and try him out! It would be so nice to show what he could do for once...

Tossing his head, Tam Lin stopped pacing and came to stand near the little sign on the paddock, which read:

KILLIAN'S TAM LIN
4 y/o Irish Sport Horse Stallion
16.1 HH
Jumps 5' or higher, excellent eventing prospect - BRAVE!
VERY energetic, experienced rider only.
Selling because of owner injury - $12,000 OBO

It was a lot of money, to be sure, but Tam Lin was worth every penny in his owner's opinion. He was out of excellent jumping lines and had racing blood on his Thoroughbred side, and when he was well-exercised he was courteous and honest, not at all like most stallions. His current owner was once regarded as a master trainer of jumpers, but because of a recent injury he was forced to sell off some of his best before they were quite ready. Tam Lin was one of those - he needed some schooling work.