World of Showjumping
World of ShowjumpingWorld of Showjumping
Menu

The Next Generation – Brian Moggre: “Establishing a clear plan helps in reaching your goals”

Sunday, 27 December 2020
The Next Generation

Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography 19-year-old Brian Moggre – here with MTM Vivre le Reve – is one of USA's biggest talents. Despite his young age he has already made his name well-known on the international showjumping scene. Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography.

 

Text © World of Showjumping

 


 

In 2019, Brian Moggre took the victory in the CSI4* World Cup qualifier at the National Horse Show in Lexington aboard MTM Vivre Le Reve (Ustinov x Chello II) and became the youngest rider to win the class in the event’s history. “It was a breakthrough moment for my horse, we had been doing it all together; it was my first time and his first, so it was really special to share that win,” Moggre tells World of Showjumping. “It was a monumental win for me.”

“There is a lot of pressure,” Moggre tells about the battle of breaking through as a young talent in the US. “There are a lot of people who want the same things as you do, and everybody has the horses and the drive to do it. I think it puts pressure on you, but in a good way. I like to think that they could choose anybody, so you have to give them a reason to choose you. You have to prove to yourself and everybody else that you want to be here and you want to do it, that you are serious. For me, it gives more of a competitive edge to fight for the top spot.”

The 19-year-old runs his own business, Major Wager LLC, based out of Wellington, Florida during the winter and Lexington, Kentucky in the summer. “The focus of my business at this moment is competing and climbing the ranks,” Moggre explains. “We have a few sale horses, but to get myself and my horses to the top of the sport is our main goal. We have plans on going to Europe next summer and making that a part of our operation.”

Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography “The focus of my business at this moment is competing and climbing the ranks,” Moggre says, seen here with MTM Vivre le Reve. Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography.

Currently, Moggre runs a small team at Major Wager LLC. “We like to keep it close knit, my thought is always quality over quantity,” he explains. “I want to do things right with a small group of people. Lesley Leeman is my manager and takes care of my horses and Emily Smith trains me. I have known the Smith-family for years, they are like my second parents. They allow me to learn as a professional, and while giving me the freedom to figure things out on my own, they guide me along the way. I am very thankful to them. To have someone like them to reassure me – people that I have always been close and comfortable with – is really important for me.”

“I knew this was something I wanted to do with my life; being a professional rider is what I aimed for since I was a kid,” Moggre continues. “We lived in a house right down the road from a barn, and I have been told that I was always keen to stop and see the horses there. I started to get pony lessons when I was three-years-old, and then picked up riding more when I was five. Right after my junior years ended last year, I turned professional. However, I do not come from a horse-related family – I am the first one to get into it. My parents love horses though and they enjoy the fact that there is something I am so driven and passionate about. They come watch me show all the time, and it means a lot to me. This sport can get into your head a bit and having a good group of people surrounding you, especially family, is really special.”

Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography "As much as my horses are my partners, they are also my friends," Moggre says – pictured here with MTM Los Angeles and MTM Vivre le Reve. Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography.

“I really can’t picture myself doing anything different. There is so much that I enjoy about the sport,” he continues. “I definitely love the horses. I am a horse loving boy from Texas and that is why I do it. As much as my horses are my partners, they are also my friends. The whole competitive atmosphere of it is another thing I love; I am a very competitive person, have been since I was little. Put the two together – these animals that I love so much and being able to have that competitive thrive – it is a combination that is hard to beat.”

“There are a lot of variables when it comes to being a professional rider, but I think one of the biggest challenges is that you have to have a clear head on your shoulders,” Moggre says about the reality of riding for a living. “So much of this sport is mental: You have to focus on your goals and really know what it exactly is that you want to achieve. At the beginning of each year I write a list of goals down on a piece of paper: Short term, long term – a clear path of what I want to accomplish on all areas of the business. I think what most people struggle with is to figure out what they really want, and then how to get there. I believe that establishing a clear path helps a lot.”

Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography “In my opinion, you should always focus on what is best for your horses as well as the partnership between you and your horses," Moggre says, seen here with MTM Los Angeles. Photo © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography.

“However, just like in anything in life, there are always going to be highs and lows,” Moggre continues. “In my opinion, you should always focus on what is best for your horses as well as the partnership between you and your horses. Not everything is going to go your way. You are not going to win every class – because if you did, it would be easy and everyone would do it. There are going to be bumps in the road, but as long as you look forward to the big things you would like to achieve it makes those less fortunate days seem easier.”

Recently, Moggre got the ride on a horse that certainly can help him achieve more of his goals – Ann Thompson’s Balou du Reventon. “It is such an honor to even be considered as a rider to a horse of that caliber,” Moggre says. “Ann cares very deeply for her horses and we will make sure that Balou thrives and is happy with us. It was a surprise, but I could not be more thankful to Ann and her team. I think it will be an exciting journey.”

“For next year, it all really depends on what happens with the coronavirus,” Moggre says about his future plans. “I would love to go to Europe over the summer and compete there with Team US. A big part of my plan is just keeping my horses at the top of their game, keep climbing the ranks. I am not sure what will happen with the World Cup Finals, but it is something I always wanted to do. I think we just need to see what opportunities are available, given the circumstances. Long-term, being a part of the US Olympic team is a big goal of mine, as well as reaching the Top 10 in the world. But most importantly, I simply want to focus on growing the business and doing what is best for my horses, while at the same time enjoying it and having fun. After all, that is why we do it: We love the horses.”

 

No reproduction without written permission, copyright @ World of Showjumping.com // Photos by © Kaitlyn Karssen Photography



This photo has been added to your cart !

Your shopping cart »
This website is using cookies for statistics, site optimization and retargeting purposes. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Read more here.