# Clint — Smoky the Cowhorse character guide > Clint in Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Clint'd **First appearance:** 0002-i-a-range-colt ## Snapshot A bronc twister with the patience to read a horse's mind, he is the first man Smoky chooses to trust and the one who never stops choosing him back. ## Who they are Clint is the cowboy who gentles Smoky, and he does it less by force than by watching: he notices when the colt stops eating, decides to lay off him for a day, and grins when Smoky finally settles on fighting. Their bond is the emotional spine of the book, and it is tested the moment Smoky is put to real work on the roundup. Clint's instinct for when to push and when to wait is what makes him the right man for this particular horse. ## Relationships ### [Smoky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/smoky) _friendship_ Clint and Smoky share a deep bond of trust and companionship, with Clint as the devoted owner and trainer. ### [Jeff Nicks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/jeff_nicks) _friendship_ Clint and Jeff Nicks are close friends and fellow cowboys, working together on the range. ### [Old Tom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/old_tom) _professional_ Clint and Old Tom have a working relationship as cowhands, with Old Tom being an experienced mentor figure. ### [The Cougar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/the_cougar) _rivalry_ Clint views the cougar as a dangerous predator to be eliminated for the safety of his livestock. ### [Cloudy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/cloudy) _friendship_ Clint cares for Cloudy as a gentle mare on his ranch. ### [Pecos](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/pecos) _professional_ Clint manages Pecos as a working horse, though with less affection than for Smoky. ### [Tom Jarvis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/tom_jarvis) _professional_ Clint and Tom Jarvis have a brief, transactional interaction as horse trader and buyer. ### [Smoky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/smoky) _friendship_ Clint and Smoky share a deep bond of trust and companionship, with Clint as the devoted owner and trainer. ### [Old Tom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/old_tom) _professional_ Clint and Old Tom have a working relationship as cowhands, with Old Tom being an experienced mentor figure. ### [Old Tom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/old_tom) _professional_ Clint and Old Tom have a working relationship as cowhands, with Old Tom being an experienced mentor figure. ### [Jeff Nicks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/jeff_nicks) _friendship_ Clint and Jeff Nicks are close friends and fellow cowboys, working together on the range. ### [Jeff Nicks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/jeff_nicks) _friendship_ Clint and Jeff Nicks are close friends and fellow cowboys, working together on the range. ## In the story ### [Smoky the Cowhorse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/smoky-the-cowhorse) The cowboy who will eventually capture and break Smoky, first seen observing the colt. ### [II: Smoky Meets the Human](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/ii-smoky-meets-the-human) Clint is the human rider who drives the horses into the corral, ropes a pony, and demonstrates riding and bucking, leaving a strong impression on Smoky. ### [IV: The End of a Rope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/iv-the-end-of-a-rope) The long-legged cowboy who ropes and begins gentling Smoky; shows patience and skill. ### [The Bronc Twister Steps Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/v-the-bronc-twister-steps-up) A skilled cowboy who understands horses. He uses gentle persuasion and firmness to earn Smoky's trust, believing in preserving the horse's spirit. ### [VI: “The Squeak of Leather”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/vi-the-squeak-of-leather) Patiently trains Smoky, using understanding and firmness to win the horse's trust and cooperation. ### [Smoky Shows His Feelings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/vii-smoky-shows-his-feelings) Recovers from injury, joins the roundup, but is thrown again. Decides to quit bronc-breaking to keep Smoky, showing his deep bond with the horse. ### [Smoky Starts Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/viii-smoky-starts-out) Clint coaches Smoky through the roundup, switches his work to give him variety, and comforts him when he is frightened in the corral. ### [IX: Fights for Rights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/ix-fights-for-rights) Provokes Old Tom into trying to ride Smoky, then recaptures and reacquaints Smoky after winter. ### [Amongst the Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/x-amongst-the-missing) Clint has been Smoky's sole rider for five years, and their bond deepens as he reads Smoky's moods and relies on his skill. He becomes peeved and later scared by outside offers to buy Smoky. ### [XI: “The Feel of a Strange Hand”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/xi-the-feel-of-a-strange-hand) Spends weeks searching for Smoky after the winter, eventually concluding the horse has been stolen. ### [XII: “When the Good Leaves”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/xii-when-the-good-leaves) Mentioned indirectly through the heart of the halfbreed; Clint's earlier influence is contrasted with Smoky's transformation. ### [A Many-Men Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/xiii-a-many-men-horse) Mentioned as the one who named Smoky and worked with him on the Rocking R range. ### [Dark Clouds, Then Tall Grass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/chapters/xiv-dark-clouds-then-tall-grass) Devoted to nursing Smoky back to health, Clint patiently waits for the horse to remember him and is rewarded when Smoky finally nickers at his approach. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters/clint - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/smoky_the_cowhorse_se/characters