Succinct Biography
Clay Maier recently moved his operation to the Kentucky Horse Park as an in-house trainer, consultant, and performer. He will continue to take his Friesian Spectacular show on the road across the country along with his long-reining and driving clinics.
Before he moved to bluegrass country, Clay lived near the small central Oregon town of Sisters, where he was the full-time trainer of the Knapp Friesians. He trained those horses for equine entertainment performances using the techniques and philosophy he shares in his DVDs and clinics. And Clay had a successful competitive carriage driving career prior to his arrival in Sisters 17 years ago.
He spent his youth gaining an ideal horse experience. The Maier family operated Riata Ranch, one of California's largest and most diverse youth riding programs. Top instructors of the day taught a wide variety of equine disciplines. Summers spent at a camp in the Sierra Mountains included clinics with these instructors, as well as Wild West Shows put on by the students. Clay learned to ride with discipline, and he also learned how to have fun with his horses and the people around him.
With this solid grounding, Clay spent his life traveling the world of horses. Stops along the way include professional saddle bronc riding, performing in Wild West Shows in Europe and Asia, and stagecoach driving in Yosemite National Park. The latter led to the years of competitive carriage driving. Eventually, he left that to concentrate on what he does today — The Friesian Spectacular.
In The Friesian Spectacular, Clay draws from the many styles of horsemanship he's learned. One horse is ridden while the other, or two are driven on long reins, performing a variety of movements to music. Advanced dressage, jumping, speed and timing are all elements of the performance.
But it all starts on the long reins, on the ground. And even the most advanced horses return there periodically for refreshers.
Clay conducts clinics on long reining and driving privately, and at various venues around the country.
Before he moved to bluegrass country, Clay lived near the small central Oregon town of Sisters, where he was the full-time trainer of the Knapp Friesians. He trained those horses for equine entertainment performances using the techniques and philosophy he shares in his DVDs and clinics. And Clay had a successful competitive carriage driving career prior to his arrival in Sisters 17 years ago.
He spent his youth gaining an ideal horse experience. The Maier family operated Riata Ranch, one of California's largest and most diverse youth riding programs. Top instructors of the day taught a wide variety of equine disciplines. Summers spent at a camp in the Sierra Mountains included clinics with these instructors, as well as Wild West Shows put on by the students. Clay learned to ride with discipline, and he also learned how to have fun with his horses and the people around him.
With this solid grounding, Clay spent his life traveling the world of horses. Stops along the way include professional saddle bronc riding, performing in Wild West Shows in Europe and Asia, and stagecoach driving in Yosemite National Park. The latter led to the years of competitive carriage driving. Eventually, he left that to concentrate on what he does today — The Friesian Spectacular.
In The Friesian Spectacular, Clay draws from the many styles of horsemanship he's learned. One horse is ridden while the other, or two are driven on long reins, performing a variety of movements to music. Advanced dressage, jumping, speed and timing are all elements of the performance.
But it all starts on the long reins, on the ground. And even the most advanced horses return there periodically for refreshers.
Clay conducts clinics on long reining and driving privately, and at various venues around the country.
REIN DANCE | www.claymaier.com