Clay Maier?

[CERT]

I found his driving training DVD when I was starting my filly at the time in harness almost four years ago and really enjoyed it. I recently acquired the rest of his DVDs by a small miracle and have found lots of good information (haven’t watched the tandem riding one yet), though have little parts I agree with less than others. For one he is very talkative to the horses, the opposite extreme of Nate Bowers who is almost completely silent. Take what works for you from whoever you meet!

Anyway, last year I started another horse in harness and tried to look him up as I really liked the big cotton traces he uses and he has disappeared from the Internet it seems! I did find the person who made the traces, long lines, and whips he promoted (MCR Whips). I must say I really like the traces for introducing horses to work in harness and I’m glad the company was still making them! They’ve come in quite handy.

Is Clay Maier still out there doing clinics and training horses? The newest video I found on Youtube was from a clinic and is almost a year old and another of him competing. A large part of it is pure curiosity. He had something that seemed pretty good going and poof! it has vanished. I guess the driving community isn’t big enough to support a clinician like that unlike the general horse people population where they seem to be a dime a dozen?

[buck22]

I haven’t looked him up in years, but I too had his DVDs and really enjoyed using some of his methods as I was preparing my Morgan for driving. I’ll have to look up the cotton traces as I’m getting ready to introduce another one to driving.

[goodhors]

I think he was a full time trainer for a Fresian farm family in CA when he was visible. I believe he is Dutch, where the cotton web stuff is used traditionally. I never saw him, being so far away from CA. Lots of folks really admired his Tandem work, ridden and driven. He did very well showing the Farms Fresians on various hitches. DeBoer Farm is the name that sticks in my head.

I never saw the videos, just a clip from some shows. Hard to make a living as a horse trainer without consIstant support by a well off owner. The public is fickle to independent trainers, even the best ones.

[CERT]

@buck22 I really liked his process and how it introduces the horse to all the parts with as little stress as possible. I’ve used the rope traces with a half dozen horses over the past year and they have held up quite well. I believe she makes smaller ones for ponies and minis as well, you just have to ask.

@goodhors I agree with your assessment on the fickle public. It seems if you don’t have a huge personality and a salesman’s pitch you fade into the background.

[KBEquine]

As I’m looking through old threads, this one caught my eye - here is a link to one of his 2017 clinics - http://www.sargentequest.com/driving-clinic-series.html

[CERT]

If only it weren’t so far away! Good to see he is still out there and working.

[perfectequine]

Clay Maier retired a few years ago. His last home barn was Sargent Equestrian Center in Lodi, CA, which is where I knew him. He is currently happy, healthy, and living in Southern Mexico.

[2DogsFarm]

@CERT

he is very talkative to the horses, the opposite extreme of Nate Bowers who is almost completely silent. Take what works

@perfectequine Interesting revival of a 7yo zombie thread.
But glad you did, as the line I quoted piqued my interest.
Driving Aids are solely hands & voice.
I’ve volunteered at CDEs & nearly every Whip is talking to their horse(s) through Cones & Marathon.
Less, but still some spoken in Dressage.
Interesting comparison of the two mentioned.

[goodhors]

Husband has a hard time NOT talking to the horses, though he tries hard in the Dressage in CDEs. Talking was a BIG DEAL when we started driving, you were encouraged to give vocal cues back then. Not a constant jabbering, but well timed directions. Whistle commands were used with one well-known, upper level horse for turns and speed.

As a rider I used some vocal cues, words for slowing and halt that we transferred to driving with that horse. Came in handy on a couple occasions with her when we needed an emergency stop NOW!!

Glad to hear Clay is having a nice retirement!