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, I caught up with 26-year-old event rider, Cole Horn. Cole owns his own business, Will-O-Moor Sporthorses, and focuses on sales, training, and competition. He campaigned his young horse Cooley Permission to Land to the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships in Mondial du Lion in 2021 and won the CCI3*-S at Stable View on the same mount this fall.
Having gone through some serious setbacks, Cole provides valuable insights into the life of a young professional in the industry, so with that, let’s go between the ears…
[To read more Between the Ears interviews, click here]
Cole Horn and MBF Cooley Permission To Land. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Can you tell me a little bit about how you got your start in eventing?
My family has a deep connection to horses, specifically in eventing. My great-grandfather and his father were both heavily involved with the U.S. eventing team back in the 1950s and 60s. My great-grandfather was a bit of a “horse fixer” and a talent scout for the team, so it was always in the family. There was a subtle encouragement that, if I liked horses, this could be a real career path for me.
I started riding young—riding lesson ponies and horses before getting my first pony at 11. We competed through the novice and training levels before I moved up to horses. At 16, I left school with a GED and began working full-time in the industry. I worked for Ryan Wood for over three years, which really launched my career.
My first upper-level horse was a challenge, to say the least. He was brilliant at jumping but a nightmare in dressage. I learned to accept failure repeatedly, which taught me resilience. Those experiences shaped my ability to stay calm under pressure and find ways to thrive in challenging situations.
Can you tell me about a time that you lost your confidence in riding or competing? How did you overcome it?
Cole Horn steps up for team USA at Le Lion with MBF Cooley Permission To Land. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The biggest hit to my confidence was when I broke my leg last year—it was a catastrophic injury. My tibia was shattered into 12 pieces, and I had to have a rod inserted through my kneecap to reconstruct it. It wasn’t just the physical pain; the mental hurdles were even harder.
Coming back from that injury, I had to face fears I thought I’d left behind. Getting back on young horses was nerve-wracking, as was galloping and jumping again. I had to consciously work on not letting my fear define me.
I reminded myself that fear is natural, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. I focused on small wins—getting on horses that I trusted and doing flat schools. Over time, those small victories added up. I also leaned on the belief that my body would tell me when it was ready, and I respected that.
Even still, the first time I was back at a competition, I was on the cross country course at Pine Top and I realized that I didn’t want to go as fast as I used to. That was an awakening because I’ve never been that type of rider before, but I realized that it came down to risk. There was more risk to reinjuring myself at competition than there was riding at home- even more so when I thought about trying to make time. Each time the risk factor increases, so do the fears and the mental skills to remind me of what I need to focus on. Even today, I have to remind myself to not get greedy in terms of pushing boundaries on my physical health and find balance in the ways that I am training my horses.
Have you ever experienced burnout? Why? What tools did you use to get through it?
Cole Horn and Cooley Sligo. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Burnout happens to almost everyone in this sport because it’s so physically and emotionally demanding. For me, it’s often tied to overextending myself. There’s always another horse to ride, another event to prepare for, and it’s easy to lose sight of balance.
What helps me most is staying connected to what originally drew me to horses: the process of training and developing them. Working with young horses is incredibly rewarding for me. It’s a pure, honest process. They don’t come with preconceived notions, so when you get it right, you see immediate, authentic progress.
I also make time to step away occasionally. Whether it’s taking a day off or just finding quiet moments at the barn, I’ve learned that mental rest is just as important as physical recovery.
What was one of the biggest obstacles you had to overcome in the sport, and how did you overcome it?
Cole Horn and MBF Cooley Permission To Land climb 13 places with their solid clear. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Breaking my leg was undoubtedly the hardest. In the beginning stages of my injury, I was in a wheelchair and I couldn’t drive or take care of myself. I was so grateful to have my girlfriend, Lily Barlow who stepped in to support me physically and emotionally through that time.
However, as a young event rider, it wasn’t just the injury but the financial and logistical impact it had on my business I struggled with. As the primary rider, being sidelined meant relying on others to keep things running. I was incredibly lucky to have supportive clients and owners who stuck by me. I also found ways to make it a positive experience for the people around me. For instance, my assistant got to compete with some of the horses, which was a valuable opportunity for her growth.
What got me through was refusing to let the injury define me. I adopted a mantra: “Never fall back, fall forward.” It reminded me to use setbacks as springboards. I focused on rebuilding, both physically and professionally, and trusted the process.
What advice do you have for someone in the sport who is currently facing adversity?
Cole Horn and MBF Cooley Permission To Land finish in 31st on their international debut. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Adversity is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to derail you. My advice is to find the silver lining, no matter how small it seems. If you can reframe a setback as an opportunity to learn or grow, it won’t feel as heavy.
For young professionals, the key is to surround yourself with good people—owners, clients, and mentors who believe in you. Their support can make all the difference. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s financial, emotional, or logistical, leaning on others doesn’t make you weak; it makes you resourceful.
Most importantly, don’t give up. The only way to truly fail is to quit. This sport is as much about mental toughness as it is about physical ability. Stay committed to your goals, even if the path to achieving them looks different than you planned.
Cole’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination required to succeed in eventing. His journey—from riding lesson ponies to running his own business—proves that setbacks are just stepping stones on the path to success. His advice to “never fall back, fall forward” is a powerful reminder that adversity can be the catalyst for growth.
