Trail riding is a great break from the ring to develop a young horses mind. A novice and her new horse and Clay on a young trainee about to head out for a long hack.

Clay on a young KWPN gelding, schooling on the outside natural obstacles at Whip-N-Spur farm.

Clay often employs the jumping lane to allow horses the freedom to develop themselves. This is a young son of Olympic Concorde he imported from Holland.                  (1.45m arena wall!)

A late friend "David" always enjoyed it when Clay visited  him with a horse! He always had stories of horse experiences from his younger days!

Given the task to train this ex-dressage mare to jump, Clay is on a young Hanoverian "Lola" also known as "Lolita" (under Megan Jordan) here schooling with a friend, 2012 World Cup Champion rider,  Rich Fellers.

Too hot for the dressage court this little Hanoverian could really jump, Clay schooled her over fences and after carefully bring her along up to the 1.20m and after successful shows, she was sol, moving up to the Grand Prix level, winning many rounds and then awarded top GP horse in the Northwest.



Clay and Larino in the Netherlands

Just one of many stallions at the Dutch facility, TEAM NIJHOF....Clay had the exceptional experience

to hands on with the great stallions Concorde, Lord Z, and Heartbreaker to name a few.



Pictured above is a son of Cicero, a 17.1 hand powerhouse, which was found in a field by chance, the previous owners had made a last effort using Fluphenazine on him for Dressage training, A BAD CHOICE! Not only did it not work,  the horse became a distrustful and "aggressively" defensive.

After "taking the horse off their hands"  it took Clay hours of detox and months re-establishing trust, using effective training.  Ultimately,  he became an outstanding jumper. Clay sold him to an upper level event trainer and he went on to be a amateur/owner competition horse.       

 A world away from that horse left in the pasture with no future!



 Clay riding under Susan Hutchison expert coaching, what a great opportunity and inspiration!

 Susie said "George and Rich would love that forward ride, really flowing, I myself am a forward rider"... (Clay) You did a good job training this horse!"

Schooling a young horse, practice, practice and more practice



This 11 yr old mare had previously raced, worked cows and trail rode before Clay started her as a jumper, she did so well  that Clay took her to Hits Thermal where she did a fine job, "Blues and Reds" everyday! A good solid show rider Erin Burpee-Hornung up.

 

A young Canadian imported gelding working in the free jumping lane. A great way to develop young horses and school going horses too from time to time!

 The greeting party in Holland! 

Schooling a young (problem child) Padinus stallion in Holland, he had become unridable and considered dangerous. Clay was elected to get him "going", which he did, after a bit of a rough start he became a good horse in a few days and months later made it to Clay's farm and with a few years of training he made it into the Grand Prix ring. 

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This 7 yr old imported KWPN daughter of Concorde, came to the barn from a Texas stable a complete mess, she had been jumping 1.20m in Holland, but sadly now she would not approach 30 ft. to a pole on the ground without blowing up. Clay spent a very long time with her as she was hot, very sensitive and lacking confidence. Pictured below, In her first class back in competition, she took second place in a 1.20m class. She is back on her game!

As a challenge from another rider, with only 60 days to train this horse to fences, before the "A"  circuit show "Hood River Classic". Clay took a bet that he would not even get him into the ring, let alone around a course.

Previously raced at 3, but not ridden for years, now 12 yrs old and "green as the grass", he placed sixth out of thirty entries.