In today’s world, it often feels like we’re viewing each other’s lives through the filter of a highlight reel. We see the perfect trips, the flawless jumps, and the moments polished enough for social media. What we rarely talk about is the pressure this creates for athletes on both sides of the screen.
Riders — whether professional or amateur — can feel an unspoken obligation to post content that makes them look successful and impressive. Meanwhile, as we scroll through these posts, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the sport is all smooth sailing. This distorted perception can leave riders feeling like if they’re not succeeding all the time, they may not be cut out for the sport.
With “Between the Ears”, I want to peel back that facade and dive into the real, often unspoken challenges riders face in the eventing world. Through these conversations, we’ll explore what it truly means to navigate the ups and downs of the sport.
In this edition of Between the Ears, I got to catch up with 5* event rider Matt Brown. Matt owns and operates his business, East West Training Stables with his wife, FEI dressage rider, Cecily Clark. Despite West Coast roots, and a love for the lifestyle in California, Matt and Cecily moved to Area 2 in 2015 to continue to pursue Olympic dreams. Matt has had the honor of representing the US at several Nations Cup competitions and was also the reserve rider for the Rio Olympics. With top finishes at several FEIs to add to his list of accomplishments, Matt is no stranger to the top level of the sport, yet despite these results, he has not escaped the uncertainty and mental stress that accompany reaching a high level of success. One way that Matt has stayed grounded through his journey is a lifelong connection to martial arts. As a martial artist myself, I’m a big fan of Matt’s philosophies- both in and outside of the saddle.
So, with that, let’s go between the ears…
[To read more Between the Ears interviews, click here]
Matt Brown and Alderwood. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Can you share how you got your start in eventing and how you got to where you are today?
My parents joke that “horse” was my first word, but I think I started taking lessons when I was about 7 years old. When I was 10 or 11, I got my first real coach, Andrea Pfeiffer in California, who was fresh off of her British Horse Society Certificates. At the time, I didn’t know much about eventing—I just loved being around horses and riding.
My first horse was a free, 30-year-old thoroughbred mare named Bullet, and after her, I had a couple of Appaloosas, including one who was a Thoroughbred-Appaloosa cross named Max. He was amazing, and I went advanced on him when I was around 18, even though looking back at those videos now, I can’t believe I did that. He was an amazing horse.
After that, I became a working student for Denny Emerson, but it wasn’t easy. I had to sell Max to finance the trip, and when I arrived, I didn’t have a horse of my own, so I just rode whatever horses were available. That whole experience left me feeling pretty disillusioned, especially when Denny bluntly told me that I wouldn’t make it in the sport because my family didn’t have money. It hit me hard. I grew up riding with Gina Miles who had already been to the Olympics at that time, so getting home and not having a horse made me question the reality of my future. So I quit and got a job at a machine shop for a year- but I hated it. I hated working inside, I hated having a boss, and I realized that wasn’t going to be my path.
I had to get creative for a while, working at a restaurant in the evenings and riding as many horses as I could. At that point, I didn’t have the drive to try to compete at the upper levels. I just knew that I loved horses and I wanted to ride. It was Cecily, who is now my wife, who encouraged me to put myself out there again and start chasing my goals at the upper levels.
I also met a woman named Valerie Fish, and she was the first person I ever told about my dream of going to the Olympics. I was shocked when her response was, “Well, why don’t we do that?” She and her husband, Bob, ended up helping me in ways I never expected. They believed in me and wanted to invest in me—not because they wanted to own a winning horse but because they thought the journey would be fun. Their support made all the difference.
What are some of the biggest obstacles that you’ve faced in your career?
Matthew Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Honestly, the first real obstacle was being told by someone I looked up to that I wasn’t going to make it because of my family’s lack of money. It took me a year to come to terms with that and realize that I loved the sport enough to keep going despite the challenges.
The second obstacle was rebuilding my life and business on the East Coast after moving from California. We uprooted everything to be part of the selection trials, and while we were away, the property we were leasing in California was sold. So, we had to decide whether to stay on the East Coast and reestablish our business or return home and start over. We decided to stay, and thanks to Bob and Valerie’s support, we were able to establish a business in Pennsylvania and start fresh. But that process was incredibly stressful. We loved living in California, but the cost and lack of land for turnout was a reality we had to face. Looking back, I can’t picture a way that we could have made our lives work on the West Coast, which is hard since we consider it home.
I was so lucky to connect with Bob and Valerie. I’m not good at talking myself up or asking for help, and I don’t think I would have made it back to the top of the sport or had the opportunities that I’ve had without them.
Was there ever a time when you lost confidence in your abilities or your place in the sport?
Matt Brown and Alderwood. Photo by Sally Spickard.
I’m the kind of person who is usually pretty confident in myself when it comes to riding and training. However, I have always had a little bit of a confidence issue when it comes to competing at the top levels of the sport. I always felt like I needed to do more to be better. Even when I was an alternate for the Rio Olympics, I felt like I wasn’t good enough. You’d think being an alternate would feel like a huge accomplishment, but for me, it felt like I was close but not good enough. Bob and Valerie were ecstatic; meanwhile, I went into a bit of a mental spiral feeling like I didn’t achieve my goal.
My horse was dealing with soundness issues at the time, and I didn’t see a clear path forward. I started to experience some depression and anxiety, and I ended up seeing a psychiatrist to help me manage it all. That was a tough realization—the stress of moving, chasing a goal, not quite hitting it, and being completely dependent on other people throughout the process made me experience emotions I had never felt before. But I worked through it, and now that my life is more stable, I feel much more confident.
It’s important to talk about mental health, especially in a sport like eventing where there’s so much pressure and unpredictability. Speaking of mental health, I know you have a background in martial arts as well. How has that played a role in your journey?
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Martial arts has been a huge help for me, especially in dealing with frustration and anger. I didn’t realize it then, but part of what martial arts did for me was give me a healthy way to process emotions. As I later learned from my psychiatrist, anger can be a symptom of depression, and I was using martial arts as an outlet before I even understood what was going on emotionally.
It also gave me perspective. The martial arts world isn’t as all-consuming as the equestrian world can be. Being around people outside of the horse industry helped ground me, and the philosophy of martial arts—focused on self-improvement rather than competition—was a refreshing change.
What advice would you give to someone in the sport who is facing adversity, whether it’s financial challenges, losing a horse, or even recovering from an injury?
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
I’d say the biggest thing is to remember why you started in the first place. For me, no matter how tough things got, I always came back to the fact that I loved horses. If you can find that love and passion for what you’re doing, it’ll carry you through the tough times. Separate who you are from your performance and outcomes. If all the competitions went away, I know I’d be happy to do what I am doing on a day-to-day basis.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help—whether that’s financial support, emotional support, or even just advice from people who’ve been there. None of us can do this alone. I would never tell someone that they can’t make it in this sport, knowing how detrimental that advice was to me, but I would always be realistic about the sacrifices that you will have to make along the way.
