Maier returns to Sisters for clinic

Former Sisters resident and carriage-horse trainer extraordinaire Clay Maier was in Sisters Country recently to conduct a carriage-driving clinic at the Indian Ford property of Kanoe Godby. Participants from several western states turned up with their horses and carriages to tap into Maier's wealth of experience.

Maier trained the Knapp Friesians a few miles down Indian Ford Road for 15 years, traveling across the country to carriage-horse shows in the early 1990s and later wowing crowds with the Friesians Spectacular, an entertainment act that saw him riding one of the majestic horses while driving the other one on long lines.

Maier and the Knapp Friesian geldings performed at major equine events on both coasts and were the entertainment at Sisters Rodeo on two occasions. In 2007, Maier relocated to the Kentucky Horse Park when the Knapp family downsized the horse operation.

His role at the Kentucky Horse Park, a destination for horse-lovers of all breeds and disciplines, was to coordinate the equine entertainment aspects of some of the various exhibits. The pinnacle of that experience occurred in 2010, when the World Equestrian Games were held at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was the first time the games had been staged outside of Europe. Maier was tasked with developing the equine portion of the glittery opening ceremony.

One hot afternoon during a rehearsal, he heard a refined British voice asking to speak with him. The gentleman was a representative of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, and was inquiring as to Maier's availability to participate in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, due to be held in May 2012. The Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle would be the venue for an equine extravaganza, and they wanted a Western-themed presentation from the United States.

Maier agreed and a contingent of cowboys, Texas longhorn cattle, trick ropers, stagecoach drivers, Pony Express riders and Native Americans represented America in one of the largest equine events in British history. More than 500 horses and 1,100 performers entertained the public and the Queen. Maier counts this experience as the highlight of his career in equine entertainment.

These days he is retired from the entertainment side of things and is back to his first profession as carriage-horse trainer at a large facility in Lodi, California. Sargent Equestrian Center is unique on the West Coast in that the emphasis is on training horses and people in the driving disciplines. From miniature horses to thundering draft animals, from pleasure driving to highly competitive Combined Driving Event (CDE) horses, all are welcomed and cared for.

Maier conducts about 10 clinics each year, some at the facility and some at other locations. His calm and friendly demeanor and formidable skills have garnered a following all across the country. Godby, who sent her young mare, Freedom, to Maier for training, was thrilled to have him conduct the Oregon clinic at her property.

He acknowledges that the opportunities coming his way during his career began in Sisters with the Knapp Friesians.

"From driving carriages to Friesians Spectacular to Kentucky and the World Equestrian Games to the Diamond Jubilee - it was a chain of events that started in Sisters. It's been a wonderful thing and I recognize that," he said.