Tommy Greengard - Practical Horseman Podcast

In this episode of the Practical Horseman podcast, host Kathleen Landwehr sits down with eventer Tommy Greengard to discuss his journey in the sport, his training philosophy, and how he navigates the highs and lows of competition. Greengard, a full-time trainer at Andrea Pfeiffer's Chocolate Horse Farm, shares insights from his recent top finishes at Galway Downs, including a 1-2 placing in the CCI 4-Star Short with That's Me Zee and Balladeer Kilbrickenslad. He reflects on the emotional and logistical challenges of competing at the international level, including his 2024 trip to England for the FEI Eventing World Championships for Young Horses, which became a transformative four-month training experience. Greengard emphasizes the importance of humility, continuous learning, and maintaining confidence through setbacks, often using his own horses—like Joshua MBF and That's Me Z—as catalysts for growth. His training philosophy centers on the basics, routine, and mental resilience, with a focus on building confidence in both horses and riders. He also discusses the bittersweet reality of retirement and the deep bonds formed over years with competition horses. The conversation closes with Greengard’s outlook on the future, including upcoming goals at Kentucky and other major events. Key takeaways include: (1) Treat every competition as your day to win, but remain flexible and resilient when results don’t go as planned; (2) Prioritize consistency and fundamentals in training—especially walk-trot-canter transitions and corner-to-corner combinations—because they build confidence and technical precision; (3) Use setbacks as feedback, not failure, and maintain a long-term perspective; (4) Confidence is a trainable skill—coaches must instill belief in riders and horses; (5) Long-term horse relationships require patience and emotional investment, and retirement should be celebrated as a success, not a loss; (6) Success in eventing is a process—take your time, enjoy the journey, and trust the preparation. The overall tone is reflective, encouraging, and deeply grounded in the values of perseverance, humility, and joy in the sport.