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ew people ever watched Clementine in action without coveting that mare something ferce. Regarded by her “fan club” as the horse of a lifetime for any rider, Clementine hunted and competed on the fat and over fences, equally at home astride and aside, with her primary partner, Tracey Cover.

Partnership is a buzzword around horses, but foxhunting requires a very special horse to handle the exhilaration of many horses galloping together when hounds are in full cry. Watch a small herd frolic and play: this would be life-threatening to riders during a chase. Field hunters go from standing like statues to fat-out gallop and back to a “hold hard” – the great hunters, like Clementine, carve a niche of their own in the hearts of enthusiasts.

While turned out with her usual pasture mate on February 8th, Clementine (1997-2011) suffered a catastrophic injury that ended her short, but brilliant life.

correct leads, she wasn’t schooled or trained, but she was always agreeable and she had a fabulous demeanor from day one. That, and she was stunning.”

Finding the horse of her dreams took place under the stately oaks at Upperville Horse Show when Tracey ran into Elise and said: “This is what I need – a horse that will hunt superbly for me, a horse that my husband can ride – who is a non-rider, who is a surgeon, who can not break his hands. And I would like to have my hunt horse be able to show sidesaddle at Upperville. Elise told me, ‘come tomorrow, I’ve got a horse for you to ride.’ ”

The minute Tracey sat on the big (1600-pound) dark steel gray, Percheron Warmblood, she knew that this was the right horse for many reasons. She handed Elise a deposit and said, “don’t let anybody else sit on this horse!” The next day Tracey’s trainer Kim Keppick rode Clementine. Sold! Tracey had her hunt horse and a safe and reliable ride for her husband, Alan Speir: from the start, they enjoyed a partnership made in horse heaven.

“Clementine took care of me out hunting, she took care of my husband the one time he rode to hounds, she took care of everyone who ever rode her,” said Tracey, who started before she was four and showed hunters in central and eastern Pennsylvania.

Clementine and Tracey en route to winning the 2006 Orange County Hunt Team Chase Championship: “Clementine was wonderful to photograph. She was beautiful and a fawless performer with lots of personality. She was like a willing model always posing and engaging the camera. She was a big sweetheart always checking my pockets for horse treats. I will miss her very much.” Accolade & Photo Courtesy of Laura Cotterman