Clancey was a gift to me. Clancey was owned by Greenbriar, but I had the privilege of riding/training him. Really we learned together. If I could figure out how to ask him, or could without words explain what I wanted, he was willing to try. He had such a big personality, seemed to always be the center of attention. He made me feel special, he was talented and a joy to ride and we needed each other. I needed him to fulfill my dreams and make me feel like I could fly. He needed me to patch him back together after he managed to hurt himself again. We were partners, and I loved him.

As Clancey got older it became hard to do all the hard things in riding, so he became a lesson horse. It was a hard transition for both of us. Eventually I got better with sharing him and started finding the blessings he had to offer my students. Maybe you wanted to learn canter, or shoulder in, maybe ride in a frame. He could still do a little of everything we use to do. He carried the scared riders and the beginner riders, together we made riders that believed they could. As time moved on he started giving my older generation of riders lessons. I could count on him to stand still while being groomed and to never spook while carrying his most precious cargo.

Some of my favorite memories of Clancey are from the riding lessons I took on him. It was so fun to be the student and learn new, hard things. I used the things I learned in my lessons to teach my students and I can't imagine being the riding instructor I am today without Clancey. He was so much fun.

How would I like Clancey to be remembered? I believe Clancey loved to be ridden, almost as much as he loved Glider. He never complained about work. He was always excited to come down from the pony barn for a ride. It was hard to keep up to his fast walk! He never hesitated to go where he was asked. He never stepped away from the mounting block so the rider couldn't get on. He wasn't always patient once you were on, he really wanted to get going with the ride.

I remember riding one time working on something hard for us. Feeling frustrated not sure how to ask him different. I felt the biggest big breath from Clancey, kind of like his way of letting me know to try again. From that ride on I would often feel the big breath & always took it as a sign to keep going. Maybe it was all in my head, but I believe he loved his life. Most of all he loved Glider. Yes they were "buddy sour" but Clancey needed Glider to protect him, and Glider took that job very seriously. My heart breaks for Glider. I'm sure he doesn't understand. Even days later, Glider is still calling for Clancey, that's love.