With two Olympic medals and a world title, Laura Kraut is a leading figure in top-level sport. The 56-year-old American is as committed to horses as she was when she started out. Exclusive interview.

Laura Kraut, please explain to us what your yearly schedule between the USA and Europe looks like…

For the past 15 years I’ve been lucky enough to split my time between Florida, where the weather is ideal during the winter, and Europe the rest of the year. When I’m in the United States, it’s nice not to have to get on a plane every week to go to a competition, you can be at home in the evening. It’s a comfort that is appreciated. But riders know that the best competitions are here, in Europe.

You used to be based in England, at your partner Nick Skelton’s place, but this is no longer the case. Why?

Since Brexit, it’s no longer possible to enter and leave the UK easily. The costs have become exorbitant, and horses can end up waiting 8 hours at the border. So we have been based in Holland, near Peelbergen, for two years now. It’s a shame as Nick and I are both very attached to our estate in England. Our retired horses, like Cedric, are there, and I don’t see them as often as I would like.

Tell us about the importance of your family…

My younger sister Mary Elizabeth and I grew up riding. She loves it, but unlike me, she has never really been interested in competition: she prefers management and oversees the welfare of the horses, as well as teaching the students to perfection. We complement each other perfectly, and we’ve been working together for over 30 years. It’s great to have someone you can rely on 100%. We also have a very close friend, Viviane, who we’ve known since we were 10 years old. She takes care of the management and travel side. We’re like three sisters.

When you come to Europe, you’re accompanied by several students. How many are there?

There are between 4 and 6, in general. Some ride in 5* events and others in 2*. What is essential for me, is that they are passionate and that they love horses.

Coaching as practiced by the Americans is special. What does it consist of?

It’s basically based on permanent supervision. I work with Mary Elizabeth, my assistant Julie Welles, and of course Nick Skelton. The four of us can be there for everyone, all the time. If I’m at a competition during the weekend with some of the students, the others can train with my sister at home. It works well, everyone feels surrounded. It must be said that when you come from the United States, it’s not easy to make your debut on the European circuit. It’s nice to have someone to lean on.

Not all riders enjoy coaching, but you do. How does this activity feed your practice of the sport?

I started coaching when I was 22 years old. At the time it was simply part of my business model: I rode horses for clients and taught. That’s how I made my living. There were times in my life when I taught less. I was more focused on the sport side. Then very motivated people asked me to support them, and I went back to it. I get a lot of satisfaction when I see riders making progress through hard work.

You’ve been among the world’s elite for over 30 years. How have you seen your sport evolve?

The discipline is becoming more competitive. More expensive, too. It makes you wonder whether the level of sport can go any higher. But we might be surprised: maybe we’ll have the same conversation in 5 years! However, it’s becoming more and more difficult for young riders to reach the top level: competitions where you can earn a lot of ranking points, and where you have to take part in order to climb the world rankings, are simply inaccessible to those who aren’t already among the best. This is a real paradox.

The Nations Cup circuit is still a good way of opening the doors to young riders, isn’t it?

Yes, and our Chef d’équipe Robert Ridland is trying to give our young riders the opportunity to have access to these big competitions. It truly can help them. If it goes well, they get points and the doors to other competitions open up.

You often walk the course with the youngest members of the team. You seem to play an important role for them…

I love the Nations Cups, and I love supporting the young riders who take part. It takes courage to go out there and face the course: these events have a strong public following, and if they make the slightest mistake, they know they will be criticized. The challenge is even greater because we don’t have many Nations Cups in the United States. Our riders don’t have the opportunity to get familiar with this format like the Europeans do.

Let’s come back to you. Do you still ride today for the same reasons as when you started?

I’m pretty sure I do. I still love riding, I love horses, I love training young horses… and I love winning, obviously! I love the top level and I intend to stay there as long as I can physically. I’m as motivated as when I started. Once you’ve had a taste of it, it’s hard to get away from it. Watching the Grand Prix in Aachen from the stands this year was painful. I just wanted to be on course!

The Olympic Games in Paris are a goal for you, right?

Yes. Baloutinue, who I rode in Tokyo, will be 14 years old, an ideal age for a competition like this, while I also have other good young horses coming up. You never know what can happen, but I am very motivated. All the stars, the moon and everything will have to be aligned for this to work, but it’s clearly a goal.

To catch up with Nick, with two Olympic gold medals?

Definitely! I’d like to get one individually too. I always remind him that I won the first gold medal of the two of us. But then he won two in a row (ed.: a team medal in 2012 in London and an individual in Rio in 2016)!

What role has Nick played alongside you since his retirement from sport?

Every piece of advice he gives is good to take. We’ve been a team for over 15 years, and it’s comforting to have him by my side. Sometimes he tells me things I don’t like to hear, but we both have the same goal. He also helps the students a lot. It took him a while to understand our system, but he’s now a key member of our team. The students respect him. Nick also learned to appreciate these relationships, especially with Brian Moggre. He’s a role model for Brian and they work very well together.

Even at the biggest events, the pressure seems to have no effect on you. What are you thinking when you get into the arena?

I’ve been doing this for so long that it’s instinctive. You feel what’s going on underneath you, you concentrate on your strategy… Each course forces you to be at your multitasking best: you may have walked the course and worked out a plan, but not everything goes according to plan. You probably don’t realize it when you’re watching a show from the stands, but in the saddle you’re constantly analyzing data and adapting your reactions. It becomes second nature, a constant capacity for improvisation. You don’t always make the right choices, but you become able to react extremely quickly.

What brings you joy?

When I win! And especially championships, like the World Equestrian Games in Tryon where we won in front of our home audience in 2018. I love these moments because riding for my country gives me an incredible feeling. But deep down, I just love horses. If I listened to myself, I could sleep in the stable just to spend more time with them.

If you had to start your career again today, would you make the same choices?

This is a difficult question. I have never regretted any of the choices I have made. I was lucky enough to have my first Olympic experience when I was 24, but I had no idea what I was doing at the time. It was completely crazy. It wasn’t until I was 35 that I really understood what this sport was all about. If I’d known beforehand what the top level was about, I would probably have gone to Europe sooner to learn. Look at Brian Moggre: he won the Nations Cup in Aachen at 19. When I was his age, I didn’t even know where Aachen was! But I have to admit that I appreciate the successes even more because I came to it late. So I don’t think I would change anything.