OBS Equine Artwork Auction to Benefit Charity

Florida Thoroughbred Charities and the Marion Cultural Alliance are the beneficiaries of the proceeds of the auction of a one-of-a-kind equine artwork, Clockwork Fury, at Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale to be held March 16-17.

Clockwork Fury will be the last hip on March 16, the first day of the March sale. Clockwork Fury will be on view in the lobby at Ocala Breeders' Sales starting Thursday, March 11, from noon to 4:00 p.m. ET, and each day throughout the auction from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through March 16. The piece then moves to the auction ring after the last horse leaves where he will be brought to life with smoke, sound, and movement on the obssales.com live video feed.

Brent and Crystal Fernung, owners of Journeyman Stud, were lucky enough to be the winning bidders of Clockwork Fury at the 2010 Horse Fever auction held in Ocala to raise awareness for public art and bring together the business, equine, and arts communities. Since then, the life-size model horse has been standing as an ambassador for the Fernung's Thoroughbred farm and has been photographed by visitors and clients from all over the world.

In recognition of the difficulties for non-profits right now, Journeyman Stud is offering Clockwork Fury for this unique auction at the March Ocala Breeders' Sales Select Two-Year-Olds in training sale.

"Clockwork Fury came to life originally in a dream, or maybe it was a nightmare," Clockwork Fury artist Mark Hershberger said. "I had acquired a copy of the book The Steampunk Bible with fantastic images of turn-of-the-last-century styled creations by talented artists worldwide (and) it inspired my subconscious, as that night a steam-powered horse automaton was loose and on a rampage through a fictional Victorian dream town in my head. I planned it out, drew it up, and submitted it for the Horse Fever 10th-anniversary herd."

Prior to donating the horse to benefit the two charities, Hershberger was commissioned by the Fernungs to update CWF from 2010 technology to 2020 technology with LED lighting and animations. The piece is truly one-of-a-kind.

Florida Thoroughbred Charities is the non-profit organization and the charitable arm of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association and supports the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Second Chance farm at the Lowell Correctional Institution, located just outside Ocala. It is the only program in the nation partnering women inmates and Thoroughbreds creating life-changing growth. FTC also funds impactful youth education programs.

Marion Cultural Alliance provides leadership, funding, and professional development for artists and nonprofits arts organizations with the mission to champion arts, artists, and arts organizations.

Prospective bidders can attend in person or send an agent/proxy.