The NOËLLE FLOYD Podcast2 Dec 2025

An Olympian's Approach to Building Horses, Not Breaking Them: Dear Horse World, It's Will Coleman - Sponsored by Yeti

Eventing is equal parts strategy, skill, and mental game, but for many riders it can feel like a constant battle to balance all three phases, keep their horse sound, and make real progress. How do you build a horse's confidence and physical strength without rushing them or burning them out? In this episode, Olympian and 5 star eventer Will Coleman joins us to break down what truly drives elite performance. A lifelong student of the sport, Will shares the mentors who shaped him including David and Karen O'Connor and Anne Kursinski. He talks about his early exposure to natural horsemanship, the lessons he wishes he learned sooner, and the systems he and Katie use to develop sound confident horses who stay happy in their work. We dig into how Will cross trains his horses, how he studies top riders across disciplines, and why rider fitness and honest feedback are essential for anyone who wants to improve. Will also opens up about the heartbreak of preparing two Olympic horses only to watch the Games from the sidelines and what that experience ultimately taught him. This conversation will leave you with a clearer sense of how to build feel, develop your horse with integrity, and make better long term decisions in your training. Tune in to learn: • How Will Coleman approaches training as a lifelong student
• What he learned from David and Karen O'Connor and Anne Kursinski
• Why cross training matters for building sound confident horses
• The role of rider fitness and body awareness
• How to know when to push and when to pause
• What Will learned from the disappointment of missing the Olympic start box

Will's book that he would read to the Horse World - Secrets and Method of a Great Champion - Michel Robert

Learn More About Will Coleman: • Website: https://www.willcolemanequestrian.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willcolemanequestrian
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willcolemanequestrian

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