Max Amaya
Max Amaya established Stonehenge Stables in order to share his passion for horses and the sport of show jumping. Max helps his students to reach their maximum potential by developing personalized programs for both horse and rider. His love of teaching fosters an environment that enables students to grow, not only as riders but also as individuals. Max believes that success comes as a result of hard work, a dedicated team, and a little bit of luck. Grateful for his own good fortune in his riding career, Max tries to create opportunities for those who exhibit the same passion that helped him to build and maintain a successful career as a rider and trainer. Max continues to bring the same enthusiasm and passion for each lesson, course walk, and student that he did when he started the business in 2006.
Max Amaya began his career in his native country of Argentina. Introduced to showjumping at age nine by his grandfather, who served in the Argentine Cavalry, Max learned to ride a variety of horses under his grandfather’s tutelage. After moving through the junior ranks and onto the South American grand prix circuit, Max decided to further advance his professional career by moving to North America to work for prestigious Canadian grand prix rider, Mario Deslauriers in 1992.
In 2000, Max made the decision to relocate permanently to the United States. With the help of his friend, Joe Fargis, he was introduced to Stacia Klein Madden and Frank Madden of Beacon Hill Stables in Colts Neck, New Jersey, a premier competition barn focusing on the development of equitation champions and young show jumping talent. Max joined the Beacon Hill team to bring his international show jumping experience to the Beacon Hill students of all levels from the children’s and adult jumpers through to international grand prix.
During this time, Max earned the ride on Church Road, an Irish Sport Horse, owned by Sarah Becker and B & B Saddlery, that would become his horse of a lifetime. With Church Road, lovingly nicknamed “Goldie,” Max placed in over 50 grand prix competitions. Max and Goldie went on to compete in the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, where he holds the record for the highest placed Argentine in history. In 2007, Max finished his successful career with Goldie by participating in the Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In addition to their individual success, Max and “Goldie” had the honor of competing in Nations Cup competitions on behalf of Argentina on 15 occasions. Max has shared his remarkable success with his students, many of whom are ranked among the USA’s top riders in the junior, amateur, and professional divisions.
