diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/lib.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/lib.py
index 6d4bda5d2ae..9eaae3e5e72 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/lib.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/lib.py
@@ -3865,9 +3865,11 @@ def create_rig_animation_instance(
         log (logging.Logger, optional): Logger to log to if provided
 
     Returns:
-        None
+        instance (Any)
 
     """
+    subset_name = None
+
     if options is None:
         options = {}
     name = context["representation"]["name"]
@@ -3921,8 +3923,11 @@ def create_rig_animation_instance(
     rig_sets = [s for s in rig_sets if s is not None]
     with maintained_selection():
         cmds.select(rig_sets + roots, noExpand=True)
-        create_context.create(
+        new_context = create_context.create(
             creator_identifier=creator_identifier,
             variant=namespace,
             pre_create_data={"use_selection": True}
         )
+        instance = new_context.get("subset", None)
+
+    return instance
diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py
index a4ab6c79c18..1a2dab2a426 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_reference.py
@@ -240,12 +240,16 @@ def update(self, container, representation):
         self._lock_camera_transforms(members)
 
     def _post_process_rig(self, namespace, context, options):
-
         nodes = self[:]
-        create_rig_animation_instance(
+        animation_instance = create_rig_animation_instance(
             nodes, context, namespace, options=options, log=self.log
         )
 
+        if animation_instance:
+            active_value = options.get("active")
+            if active_value is not None:
+                cmds.setAttr("{}.active".format(animation_instance), active_value)
+
     def _lock_camera_transforms(self, nodes):
         cameras = cmds.ls(nodes, type="camera")
         if not cameras: