THEY CAME LOOKING FOR A CLYDESDALE. THEY FOUND A WHOLE LOT MORE...

How a young JFP Clydesdale named Bentley found his forever home, two best friends, and a pretty good life in Kansas City.

He came to JFP Equine as Bristol. He left as Bentley. And somewhere along the way, he found himself a pretty incredible family.

When Andrew and his wife, Anna, bought their farm near Kansas City, he had a pretty simple announcement.

He wanted a horse.

Not just any horse, either. A Clydesdale.

Like the famous Budweiser horses he'd admired for years.

There was just one small detail.

Andrew had never been around horses in his life.

Anna, on the other hand, had been riding and working with horses since she was nine years old. So naturally, she had a few questions.

"Oh, you want a horse, sweetheart? What kind? Have you ever even been around horses?"

His response?

"Nope! But I want a Clydesdale"

And just like that, the search was on.

What neither of them knew was that a young Clydesdale named Bristol, living a few hours away at JFP Equine, was about to become a pretty important part of their lives.

Or that Bristol would eventually become Bentley.

Or that Andrew would soon be making homemade horse popsicles.

A ROAD TRIP TO JFP EQUINE

After getting married in May on the beaches of St. Thomas, Anna and Andrew returned home and began looking for their first horse together.

Andrew was still determined to have his Clydesdale.

Anna, with decades of horse experience, had a slightly more practical approach.

She wanted a seasoned, dependable horse that would be safe for her husband to learn around.

One morning, while searching online for Clydesdales near St. Louis, Anna discovered JFP Equine.

After learning about our horses and operation, she informed Andrew that they were taking a road trip the following day.

There was just one small problem.

Actually, three.

They didn't have a horse trailer. They didn't have a pasture ready. And they didn't have any horse facilities built on their farm.

Minor details, apparently.

They joked on the drive that if they found the right horse, Anna would just have to ride him all the way back to Kansas City.

Fortunately, that wouldn't be necessary.

ENTER BRISTOL

When they arrived at JFP Equine, we introduced them to a young Clydesdale gelding named Bristol.

At just two and a half years old, Bristol was already standing an impressive 18 hands tall.

He was a beautiful young horse with a whole lot of personality.

But he was also young, still learning, and certainly not the seasoned, finished horse Anna had originally set out to find.

Jim and I made sure they understood that.

Bristol would need additional training, continued handling, and an owner willing to invest time in his development.

With Andrew being completely new to horses, we wanted to make sure everyone understood what they were getting into.

But then something happened.

While we were standing in the barn talking, Anna started scratching Bristol's neck and chest.

He loved it.

In fact, he loved it so much that when she stopped scratching him to join the conversation, he made it pretty clear he wasn't finished.

"The moment I turned around and started scratching him again, he was back on cloud nine!" Anna recalled.

It was a small moment, but one Anna remembers vividly.

After spending a lifetime around horses, she recognized something special in this young gelding.

His affectionate personality, his curiosity, and the way he seemed to genuinely enjoy being around people.

And apparently, Bristol had decided Anna was pretty special, too.

It wasn't the horse they'd originally planned to buy. But sometimes the right horse isn't necessarily the one you went looking for.

A few weeks later, after getting their farm ready, Bristol headed to Kansas City in July.

And somewhere along the way, he got a new name.

Bentley.

TWO PEOPLE. ONE VERY SPOILED CLYDESDALE.

It didn't take Bentley long to settle into his new home.

Or to figure out that he had two people who were completely smitten with him.

Anna, with her years of horse experience, began spending time with Bentley every day, working on his handling, introducing him to new experiences, and continuing to build the trust that started back in our barn.

But what she hadn't necessarily anticipated was just how affectionate and involved Bentley would want to be.

"He's like a giant, affectionate, mischievous puppy who just happens to weigh as much as a small car!" Anna says.

If she's working around the farm, Bentley wants to be involved. If she's spending too much time on her phone, he'll occasionally help himself to it.

Apparently, texting is not an acceptable excuse for neglecting Clydesdale scratches.

And then there's Andrew.

Remember the guy who had never been around horses?

Well, things have escalated.

He and Bentley now play hide-and-seek around the trees.

Andrew plays horse-neighing sounds on his phone, and Bentley responds with a neigh of his own.

Naturally, treats are expected for these performances.

Andrew has also purchased Bentley a giant yoga ball, an assortment of toys, and just about anything else he thinks a Clydesdale might enjoy.

During the summer, he even started making homemade horse popsicles.

Yes. Horse popsicles.

And within days of Bentley arriving, Andrew installed a hitching post next to the deck so Bentley could spend more time hanging out with the family.

Anna finds the whole thing pretty entertaining.

"I thought I was going to be teaching Andrew about horses. Instead, Bentley has been teaching both of us about love, patience, trust, and the joy of life's simplest moments."

Apparently, Andrew has also discovered that owning a Clydesdale comes with a few unexpected expenses.

Shortly after Bentley arrived, he announced that they were officially done spending money on the horse for the remainder of the month.

Anna's dad quickly pointed out that the following day was the first of the next month.

Problem solved.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST FARM SUPERVISOR

Bentley has settled into life on the farm rather nicely.

In fact, he seems to believe he's part of the management team.

If Andrew is mowing, Bentley wants to supervise.

If there's a project happening around the property, Bentley wants to be involved.

Every morning, he watches the house, waiting for the family dog to be let outside. That's his signal that breakfast is coming.

And he's developed a pretty clear understanding of the family dynamics.

Mom is for affection, training, and those all-important scratches.

Dad is for playtime, adventures, and apparently unlimited access to the horse treat budget.

Both are excellent arrangements, as far as Bentley is concerned.

Of course, life with a young Clydesdale isn't always predictable.

Shortly after arriving, Bentley managed to jump out of his pasture.

Yes, jump.

An 18-hand Clydesdale.

Andrew promptly spent the evening improving the fencing, while Bentley watched his newfound freedom come to an abrupt end.

His brief career as a show jumper was officially over.

A MOMENT THEY'LL NEVER FORGET

For all the funny stories, toys, treats, and daily adventures, there's one particular memory Anna treasures above the rest.

One evening, she and Andrew were curious whether Bentley ever lay down to sleep in his pasture.

So they quietly went outside to check on him.

Sure enough, there he was, curled up and resting.

When Bentley noticed them, he got up, and the couple spent some time scratching him and enjoying his company.

Then something special happened.

Bentley lay back down.

And Anna and Andrew stayed with him, sharing a quiet moment under the night sky on their Kansas City farm.

No toys. No treats. No farm projects to supervise.

Just a young Clydesdale and two people who had grown to love him.

"It was one of those rare moments when time seems to stand still," Anna recalled. "No distractions. No rushing. Just the three of us sharing an incredibly peaceful, beautiful moment."

It's a memory she says she'll cherish forever.

And perhaps the best example of what Bentley has brought into their lives.

MORE THAN JUST A HORSE

When Anna and Andrew first began their search, they had a pretty good idea of what they were looking for.

An older, experienced Clydesdale that Andrew could learn around.

Instead, they fell in love with a young gelding who still had plenty of growing up to do.

And while Bentley continues to learn and develop, with additional training and new experiences ahead of him, something else has been growing right alongside him.

The relationship.

For Anna, who's spent a lifetime loving horses, Bentley has become one of those rare individuals who stands out from all the others.

For Andrew, who had never experienced the companionship of a horse before, Bentley has opened the door to an entirely new world.

And for Bentley?

Well, he's got himself a pretty good arrangement.

A beautiful farm, two people who adore him, and a dad who apparently hasn't met a horse accessory he doesn't want to buy.

"Bentley is so much more than a horse to us," Anna says. "He's family. He's part of our love story, part of our home, and part of the life Andrew and I are building together."

For us at JFP Equine, stories like this are particularly rewarding.

We spend a lot of time around some pretty extraordinary Clydesdales. We know their personalities, their quirks, and what makes each of them special.

But one of the best parts of what we do is seeing where their stories go after they leave our farm.

And in Bentley's case, it looks like he's found himself a pretty wonderful home.

As Anna so perfectly put it:

"We thought we were bringing home a Clydesdale. We had no idea we were bringing home so much love."

And Andrew?

Well, he finally got his Clydesdale.

Turns out, they both got a whole lot more than they bargained for.

WANT TO EXPERIENCE A LITTLE CLYDESDALE MAGIC YOURSELF?

Bentley's story began right here at JFP Equine. And while not everyone who visits takes a Clydesdale home, our Ultimate Clydesdale Experience gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with these incredible horses. TWO HOURS OF CLYDESDALE AWESOMENESS.

It's the Little Things: 10 Everyday Moments Around the Clydesdale Barn We Love

Owning Clydesdales gives us some pretty awesome moments.

(Lots of stresses too, but we'll save those for another day.)

Big events. Big crowds. Road trips. Clydesdale appearances. Media. And more than a few experiences we never could have imagined when JFP Equine started.

But here's the funny thing.

Some of the best moments aren't "big" moments at all.

They're the little things.

And they still make us smile.

Here are 10 of my favorites.

1. Walking Out the Door in the Morning... and They're All Waiting

These guys are no dummies.

They know exactly which door we use to come in and out of the house.

So first thing in the morning, you'll often look outside and see them standing near their pasture gates...

Watching that door like hawks.

Waiting.

Then a human finally appears.

Game on.

They know breakfast is near.

2. The Sound of Those Feet Hitting the Barn Floor

Seriously, how many times have I heard someone tell us:

Close view of a Clydesdale (ACE) and its massive feathered hooves inside the JFP Equine barn in Waterloo, Illinois.
Photo Credit: ARK Images

"I LOVE the sound of their feet."

Well, we do too.

There's truly nothing like the sound of a Clydesdale walking down a barn aisle.

One giant hoof after another hitting the floor.

Clop. Clop. Clop.

It's kind of like a 2,000-pound orchestra...

Playing to perfection.

3. Watching ACE Prove He Knows Exactly Where He Lives

ACE knows his stall.

And ACE knows his pasture.

Experiencing him prove it every day is magical.

Open the gate to his pasture and he'll walk toward the barn, come inside, head all the way down the aisle and walk directly into his stall.

Then, when it's time to go back outside?

Open his stall door and he'll head down the aisle, out of the barn and right back to his pasture gate.

No GPS needed.

4. Hearing Them Run Before You Can See Them

If you picture Clydesdales running around the pasture all day like a Goldendoodle with the zoomies... that's not really how it works.

They're generally pretty content conserving their energy, eating grass and hay, and enjoying life.

But every once in a while...

They run.

One of my favorite things is sitting on our back patio and suddenly hearing it in the distance.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

You can't see them yet.

But you know exactly what's coming.

A few seconds later, several thousand pounds of Clydesdale come thundering into sight and right past us.

It can seem completely random.

But they've usually got their reason.

Often they're headed to the water for a quick drink before returning to the extremely important business of nibbling grass or hay.

5. It's Not Mountains Or A Lake But...

Some people have mountains outside their windows.

Some have a beautiful pool.

Some have a pond or a lake.

We have Clydesdales.

And we take advantage of the view, often.

Eating.

Walking.

Standing completely still doing absolutely nothing.

Doesn't really matter.

You glance out the window and there's a 2,000-pound Clydesdale in the pasture.

Sometimes several.

Epic? Yep. That's the word that comes to mind.

6. Watching 2,000 Pounds Get Back Up

A 2,000+-pound Clydesdale rolls on its back in the pasture outside the JFP Equine barn in Waterloo, Illinois.
Photo Credit: Jim Descher Photography

Oh yeah.

2,000-pound animals can—and do—lie down.

Sometimes they're resting.

Sometimes they're sleeping.

Sometimes they're rolling around trying to scratch their side or back.

But one of my favorite parts is watching them get back up.

You'd think moving that much horse from completely horizontal to standing would be a major production.

It is, I guess, but they make it look easy.

And then they're right back to being 2,000 pounds tall again.

7. The Giant Clydesdale Yawn

Big mouth = big yawn.

And those lucky enough to witness it, well, it always seems to bring a giggle.

It kinda humanizes them a bit.

Because they get tired just like we do.

8. Watching the Buddy System in Action

Two Clydesdales walking together through a pasture at JFP Equine in Waterloo, Illinois, illustrating the buddy relationships horses often form.
Photo Credit: Jim Descher Photography

Take FLAME and TORCH, for instance.

In the pasture, they're typically inseparable.

They like to eat together.

Graze together.

Walk from one end of the pasture to the other together.

And sometimes...

They just like to stand in the exact same spot together.

Not doing anything.

Just hangin'.

Spend enough time watching horses and you quickly realize they have relationships just like we do.

FLAME and TORCH?

It's the buddy system.

And they've perfected it.

9. Watching a Clean Clydesdale Stay Clean... Briefly

Yeah. This one is cool, except for that "briefly" part.

There are times when you finish cleaning one of these guys, step back, admire your work and think:

"Why do I even bother?"

Because you know what's coming.

White feather.

Clean legs.

Clean mane.

Clean tail.

Looking spectacular.

And then...

Horse meets dirt.

Sometimes almost immediately.

But whatever amount of time we get with a perfectly clean Clydesdale is pretty spectacular.

And don't get me wrong...

The dirty ones are pretty cool too.

10. Turning the Barn Lights Off

Successful day.

Productive day.

Happy Clydesdales.

Everybody has been fed.

Everybody is where they're supposed to be.

Things get quiet.

You take one last look down the barn aisle...

And turn off the lights.

Around here, barn lights out typically means one thing:

Mission accomplished.

See you tomorrow.

---

The big moments are pretty great.

But there's something special about the ordinary days too.

No crowds. No cameras. No events.

Just Clydesdales being Clydesdales.

And if you'd like to experience a few of these "little things" yourself, that's a big part of what our Ultimate Clydesdale Experience and our Clydesdale ‘Backstage’ Meet N’ Greet is all about.

Getting up close and personal. Spending time in the barn. Meeting the horses. Learning their personalities. And maybe catching one of those giant yawns if you're lucky.

Because a life lesson we all know (but sometimes forget) applies very much to Clydesdales as well...

The little things really are the best things!

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