A Legendary Tribute: When Ace the Clydesdale Led a Final Farewell
There are moments that remind us why we do what we do — moments that rise above the ordinary and touch something deeper.
We experience them seemingly every week with our Ultimate Clydesdale Experience. But, this one ... well, it went even a little deeper.
A few weeks ago, JFP Equine received a call unlike any we’d ever had before.
A family had just lost their father — a man who, as his daughter told us, was a huge fan of the Clydesdales.
His love for the breed was well known among friends and neighbors. So when it came time to plan his farewell, his children wanted to honor that lifelong admiration in a way that was both personal and unforgettable.
They didn’t just want a Clydesdale present. They wanted one to lead the procession.
A Gentle Giant for a Gentle Goodbye
With only six days’ notice, plans came together.
The morning of the service was an early one for us, having to drive nearly six hours to the event location. Ace, our 2,300-pound legend, got the call for the event, prepared with the same care and pride that goes into every grand event he’s ever attended.
But this time, there was just a little extra twinkle in his eye.
He was hitched to a Leon carriage, dressed in his polished show harness, and waited calmly as family and friends gathered outside the church.
When the time came, the bagpipes began to play, the church bells rang, and Ace stepped forward — leading the hearse and procession on a slow, symbolic loop around the city block and back to the family home.
And in that moment, something remarkable happened.
Every face — from the attendees at the church to the people who stopped along the street — carried the same expression: pride, emotion, and awe. The sound of hooves echoed like a heartbeat through the town.
Ace was steady. Focused. Purposeful. Not even the many planes flying overhead or the noise of the bells/bagpipes broke his calm. He was there for a special duty, and he knew it.
A Final Delivery
When the carriage reached the home, the family fulfilled the last part of their plan — a symbolic delivery of a case of their father’s favorite beer. It was a gesture that perfectly captured who he was and what he loved.
For everyone there, it was more than a farewell. It was a tribute. A reminder that legacy isn’t just about the years we live, but the memories we leave behind — and the love that carries forward.
The Legend Lives On
For Ace, it was another chapter in a life filled with big moments — parades, weddings, and now, something far more profound.
He represented strength, tradition, and grace — and he carried that responsibility with the quiet confidence that makes Clydesdales such extraordinary animals.
It was an honor for our team at JFP Equine to be part of something so deeply personal and meaningful.
Because sometimes, the most powerful moments aren’t the loudest ones — they’re the ones that come from the heart, carried on four enormous hooves.
Thank you to the family for allowing us to be part of such a special and memorable tribute. And thank you to Ace — for simply being Ace — and doing what he does best: bringing smiles, chills, and proud, unforgettable moments to everyone around him.