Sir Clancy: 1989-2021 Sir Clancy was a 16.2, 1200-pound, dark bay thoroughbred with a white blaze and 1 white sock of the build sometimes referred to as the “old school thoroughbred”: burlier and more robust than recent horses. The first thing one noticed about Clancy was that he was extremely good-looking. And he knew it. As all who knew and loved him agreed, he also had an exceptional and vivacious character. His early life is somewhat of a mystery to those of us who knew him from age 15 to 31. We were unable to track him in the TB registry by his current name or what he may have been called previously “Half Moon Bay” or the TB tattoo that was no longer legible. This mysteriousness seemed essential to his character and his legend in some way- perhaps the intrigue of a previous life and he was not spilling the tea about it. We were just about to get his DNA sequenced before he passed away but didn’t get to it, so he kept his mystery in that regard, too, which seems fitting. We do know that he regularly won in hunter/jumper shows. So, he was also extremely talented and had a great deal of education. And he knew it. In 2004, Daria Nordness, marvelous trainer and owner of Stoneridge Equestrians discovered him at age 15 languishing in a pasture despite being such a beautiful animal and in excellent health and as fate would have it, she was able to get him on a care-lease from his owner. Daria was just starting her business at the time, and I recall her telling me she had found an amazing TB that she wanted, and I said, “I’m in!” having no idea at the time that this would come to be my Heart Horse and one of the most treasured, enlightening, inspiring, invigorating and delightful experiences of my life. While getting to know him, Daria came to recognize that this was indeed the horse that used to manage to best her and her horse at shows in the past. Daria guided Clancy to being a wonderful lesson horse for English hunter/jumper. He became a favorite of Daria’s advanced students, who all learned a great deal from this “perfectionist.” He expected a lot from his riders and if you didn’t ask quite right, well- he just didn’t “hear” you. That said, he could also be quite gentle and patient at times and seemed to sense when you needed that…. just don’t get complacent about it! He became something of a legend for his talents as well as his antics including an enormous tantrum the first time he saw a horse in Western tack while in the arena at Cedar Downs. His reputation as being the Fashion Police continued at Stoneridge including his preference for purple, sparkly things, expensive blankets, special shoes, fancy black fly masks that made him look like Batman and spooking at a variety of things that were inappropriate in his book. This included when he saw someone in the parking lot next to the arena wearing a white skirt at the wrong time of year and at a barn, no less (positively shocking!). I was riding him at the time (or attempting to). You’d have thought it was a polar bear. Daria had to ask the women to please put a dark colored blanket over that skirt, which she did and then Sir Fancy Pants was OK. The hilarious and endearing and amazing stories about Clancy are too numerous to recount here, but suffice it to say he had many moods and shenanigans and earned several nicknames as a result including (but not limited to) Gladys Kravitz, Zoolander, Wayne (of Wayne’s world with sidekick Sam as Garth) and the Ladies’ Man. Clancy was particular about his horse friends and had many strong and happy attachments over the years at Stoneridge including other illustrious and wonderful horses there: Red, Rocky, Lys, Chili and Sally and especially Sam and Buddy. His favorite place was the Big Boy paddock at Stoneridge with Sam and Buddy, romping around acting like a 3-year-old even at age 31 and engaging in what many called “The Sam and Clancy Show” which involved extra high-level Thoroughbred silliness. It’s impossible to describe adequately, but it was a combination of squabbling with intervals of friendly lounging, grooming and rolling (don’t forget the dinosaur noises whilst doing that), “bite-me/don’t bite me”, kicks, squeals, seemingly pointless maneuvers, and hilarious, repetitive games. There was no question that Clancy loved and enjoyed his home and friends at Stoneridge to the fullest. Managing to walk those boys out to the paddock was an adventure - they were so excited to go out and play each and every time. I was a student of Daria’s and met Clancy for the first time in 2005. While I was riding other horses including Buddy and Lys, I heard stories about Sir Clancy’s antics and reputation during his first year there and I had certainly observed that this was no ordinary horse. I must admit that I was a little intimidated about the idea of riding him. I only took up horse riding at age 31 after a life of other sports and so did not quite have the fearlessness and skills of those who had been riding since childhood, but I was certainly intrigued. On one very cold, icy day that limited us to doing something in the small area within the barn, Daria decided to use that time to teach Lorna Isenberg and me about natural horsemanship free lunging. After Lorna worked with Lys, I was introduced to the famous Sir Clancy. As with many other aspects of collaborating with horses, Clancy was an expert, and he was teaching me how to do things. For me this was new territory both in terms of the free lunging as well as the horse. I was astonished and delighted to find that he did everything I asked that day, which in retrospect was quite a unique opportunity 😊. He listened and observed and responded immediately to every signal I gave and at the end, he did the “join up” touching his nose to the back of my neck. Then Daria said to just walk around, and he followed! I ran and turned in circles, and he followed right along! I often tell people that it was like in the movie the Black Stallion when the boy and horse bonded and ran around and then rested together. That scene makes me (and other horse lovers) completely verklempt with how it conveys the feelings that are so hard to articulate in words about what it’s like to really connect with these amazing creatures. It is an extraordinary gift that they trust and love us as we do them despite being flight animals and we’re predators. It may not have been on a picturesque tropical beach, but rather a small cold arena in Maple Valley, WA, but still…that was the feeling he brought to me, and it stayed and everything was right with the world. It is interesting that our relationship began with free lunging, not riding. Maybe there is something to that or maybe it was special and just “meant to be” for many reasons? After that day in 2005, Clancy was the horse I rode in lessons and as I have described it, he totally bamboozled me. Along with everything else, he was an amazing jumper; his Big Show Trot was like smooth flying and you forgot you were two separate individuals but like one with super powers. He taught me and a lot of others how to do flying lead changes. He also did a rather obnoxious, crow-hoppy version of that when you weren’t actually expecting it but just trying to do a regular canter- just to remind you he was in charge and in a mood sometimes. But those bits of uppity stuff were just part of his complexity and it made him so much more interesting to ride than a “push button” horse. He was not into idle flattery and you earned it on the great days. In 2009, he had a foot injury that he recovered from but Dr. Bob DeWard recommended that he retire from jumping given the risk. At that point it would have been difficult for Daria to keep him while also needing to get another horse that could jump for advanced students. Among many other incredible talents as a teacher and equestrian expert, Daria is a great match maker of rider and horse and she asked if I would like to own him. Despite riding for almost 20 years at that point, I was working full time and living in Seattle and could only get out there to ride once a week. I had not planned to own a horse until perhaps I retired. I wasn’t sure I knew enough about horses or if I could be a good owner just once a week, but as noted, I was bamboozled by Clancy and it was own him or say goodbye (unthinkable!) knowing he would have to be returned to his prior owner. He would have to leave his beloved horse and human friends and possibly be put out in a pasture again instead of getting the care attention he would need for this next phase of his life. So of course, I happily became his owner. Thank goodness things worked out for all of us: with Daria’s care and attention to him and the whole Stoneridge village it worked so well. Other students loved to ride him still for flat work during the week, winning in horse shows in the non-jumping events and everyone cared for him. He still loved doing trot poles and supervising the other horses when they were jumping (he was a harsh critic). It was absolutely great and so many things just fell into place: fate. When I bought him, he was 20 years old with some arthritis and the risky foot and already a big life of jumping and showing as well as whatever mystery life he led previously. I remember thinking that as much as I love him now how am I going to be able to handle the heartbreak of having to make that decision someday at the end of his life? And thinking about that, I figured every day would be a gift and it truly was for 11 more years! That wouldn’t have been possible without the extraordinary care of Dr. DeWard proactively making sure he was comfortable with checkups and wellness care and treating an ulcer and a foot abscess and a few other things including the right sort of therapeutics for his arthritis and special food for his special teeth. Dr. Beth Carrothers, another wonderful vet made sure he was getting all the right things and helped me make the decision to switch to just walk trot under saddle and in early 2018 close to age 30 to retire him from being ridden. She loved him too and “got him” and that and her expertise helped a lot in figuring out what was best to keep him happy, comfortable and active as long as possible. We could have gone on riding, but he was telling us he was ready for a life of luxury and less work. Dr. Beth appreciated his character and hijinks including The Sam and Clancy Show. During his retirement, we did lunging and grooming and snacks to compliment his playtime with The Boys so he stayed an active, healthy and thoroughly spoiled horse. He knew he was Entitled to this and made sure everyone else did, too. There were so many people and horse friends that contributed to his Quality of Life. In additional to those already mentioned, particularly Daria and all the Stoneridge friends that lunged him on the days during the week and gave him hugs and care and FOOD and his various pills that got increasingly hard to hide without him being suspicious and demanding a different snack. Dan Vivolo took care of Clancy’s all-important feet and shoes. Dan’s expertise, care and special shoe designs were critical to that quality of life for 15 years. Terry Vincent’s massage therapy made such a beneficial difference to his mobility and comfort. So even during the pandemic while humans got frumpy and missed their grooming Sir Clancy kept getting his massages and pedicures and everything else on time, every time and he made the pandemic a lot easier to take- spending time with him. Although sometimes he seemed to have a List of Grievances for anyone who could read the stall dance variations and body language. He was Complicated and he knew it and made sure everyone else did, too. It made him all the more vivid and lovable. Clancy became part of my family and exactly what I needed at that time in 2009 and he was critical in a way that only animals can be to help you get through difficult times in life as well as celebrating all the good times. There’s no need to ‘splain complicated human goings-on to them. Just be with them and enjoy the day. He was there for me for 15 years and I am forever grateful for it. I’ve heard many descriptions of different individuals’ relationships with their horses and I don’t think any 2 are exactly the same although there are similarities that we can all relate to. I’ve also heard people relate it to human relationships like a best friend or a child or even an eccentric relative or an extraordinary sports team mate. I don’t think any of that quite captures it all; this human-horse bond is different. But whatever you call it, Clancy was my dear, beloved companion and he taught me to live in the moment with zest and authenticity and humor. He was loved and cared for by his Stoneridge family and friends, both horse and human (and some dogs and cats). No matter what was going on, a day with Clancy was a little vacation, restorative and full of life, happiness, laughter and peace and whatever magic horses seem to transmit to us that makes us feel better and be better and frees us of our ruminations for a while, reminding us of what’s important. Even the little things are joyous: a handful of blueberries is a cause for celebration and an interpretive dance. Dr. Lynn Bonham