Andre McClain
Exotic Animal Trainer
Andre McClain is not only an accomplished animal trainer, but a real-life cowboy, rodeo star, country singer and songwriter, and above all, an admired dad. This rancher has been around horses and rodeos since he was a baby, and is a descendant from a long, distinguished African-American cowboy heritage that dates back to the early 1900’s.
Raised on a ranch in Kansas City, Missouri, Andre began riding bucking ponies and steers at the age of five. A rodeo competitor himself, Andre’s father, Lu, founded the Bill Pickett Rodeo in 1984, which was America’s first all-black touring rodeo, which is where Andre made his competitive debut at just seven-years-old.
Andre took pride in his cowboy heritage; he even rode his horse to high school every day! Andre “parked” his steed on the soccer field, and tended to him between classes. Andre’s college days were spent more conservatively at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and although initially a vocal music major, Andre received a degree in Business Management in 2000.
After school, Andre joined the International Professional Rodeo Association, and continued to compete in rodeo circuits. He taught himself a variety of “Wild West Arts” and took his one man show on tour with his father’s rodeo. In 2002, Andre visited the 132nd Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® to conduct research on stilts for a new routine he was considering for his show. During a behind-the scenes chat with some of the clowns who used stilts in their acts, his animal training background caught the attention of show personnel. In a twist of fate, he was offered a job working with the show’s exotic animal staff.
At the end of the tour, Andre auditioned his one man act for Ringling Bros®. producer Kenneth Feld and landed a job as the host of the 133rd Edition’s Three Ring Adventure now known as the All Access Pre-show. As host, Andre sang, performed rope tricks and showed off his horse Jonah. Andre and Jonah returned once again to host the 135th Edition, but instead of demonstrating his cowboy skills he focused more on demonstrating Jonah’s training and the bond that he had with his beloved animal, as well as presenting six camels during the show’s animal manage act.
An audience favorite, Andre joins the 140th Edition of Ringling Bros. demonstrate his exceptional training skills and the bond that he possesses with animals. “I love the rodeo, but in the circus you get to interact with the audience. I’m out there with the people, I can tell how they’re feeling and that gives me more energy than anything. That’s my drive,” he explains.
Traveling with Andre as he embarks on his two year tour is his daughter Justice and son Miguel.