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 had the pleasure of catching up with Olympic gold medalist Julia Krajewski. Julia made history as the first female equestrian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics, but her achievements don’t stop there. At 35 years old, she’s currently ranked 12th in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, delivering outstanding results both individually and while representing Germany on the world stage, including at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where she was 11th individually with Nickel 21.
However, as we know, the spotlight only tells part of the story. Despite her incredible accomplishments, Julia has also faced her share of challenges. Her journey offers valuable lessons in resilience and finding balance amidst challenges.
So, with that, let’s go between the ears…
[To read more Between the Ears interviews, click here]
Julia Krajewski and Amande de b’Neville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Can you tell me a little bit about how you got your start in eventing?
I come from a non-horsey family—both of my parents were geophysicists. However, when I was about 5 years old, my dad’s job required us to move, and they ended up buying an old pig farm. My mom had always had a casual interest in horses, even though she didn’t have much exposure to them growing up. She decided it would be nice to have horses around, so we transformed the farm into a small riding school.
One of the first yards I trained at focused primarily on dressage, so we bought a pony for me to compete in that discipline. However, it turned out that the pony wasn’t too keen on it, so we started exploring eventing instead—and that’s when everything clicked. I was probably 9 or 10 when I took that pony, who was 4 and still quite wild, to a scouting day. The coach saw something in us and invited us to regional training, which ultimately led to competing in—and winning—the European Pony Championships. That was a huge turning point for me; it sparked a passion in me that has never faded.
Looking back, especially coming from a non-horsey family, the ponies were essential for my development. They allowed me to learn the entire process of riding and training on my own, without needing an adult’s help.
Have you ever experienced burnout or moments where you lost your motivation?
Julia Krajewski: Your New Eventing Individual Gold Medalist! Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Oh, absolutely. I wouldn’t say I ever lost confidence in my ability, but there have been plenty of times when I felt completely drained. Especially during those tough winter months—cold, rain, mud—it can be miserable. There were days when I thought, I really don’t want to do this anymore. At some point, I got a bit used to it and knew it would get better when the days got warmer and brighter.
As I grew older, the financial reality of what I do also became a factor. I rely on sponsors and owners to run my operation, and if you’re not delivering results, that can quickly spiral into more stress. When you’re facing setbacks like an injured horse or a string of bad performances, you start asking yourself, Why am I even doing this? Having success often really helps, but I’ve learned that I can’t rely on that and I have to control my mindset. At the beginning of my career, not having success would make me doubt a lot of things, so I’ve had to learn to shift my perspective.
Something that I always come back to is the fact that I just love horses- being with them and training them. And no matter what has happened, I always find myself back in the saddle. It may not be a dedicated training ride, but that pull has never left, so I never questioned if I like riding horses, it’s just everything around it that can be difficult.
What would you say has been your toughest setback in the sport?
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It was exactly 20 years between my first double gold at the Pony Championship and my individual gold in Tokyo, and in between, everything happened—great success and total disaster. I’ve lost horses, faced disappointing results at major competitions, and struggled with the day-to-day financial strain of keeping my dreams alive.
One of the hardest challenges I faced was a positive medication case at the European Championships in Strzegom in 2017. We had to return our team medal, and I had to publicly defend myself. As a naturally private person, that was excruciating. I had to learn to speak openly, even at public events. I found myself on stage at the federation’s annual ball, answering tough questions. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s different from just letting yourself down—when I have a bad result, it’s terrible, but at least I can come to terms with my own actions privately.
But going through that ordeal without even solid proof of what happened was devastating. There was also the stress of keeping owners and sponsors through that time. The entire experience shook me to my core. I didn’t know if I could keep going. Still, deep down, I knew I loved this sport too much to quit. It wasn’t easy, but I kept riding. The horses grounded me. Even on my worst days, riding kept me moving forward.
My positive medication was sandwiched between an embarrassing performance at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and having a run-out after being in the lead at the World Games in Tryon in 2018, so it was a lot of adversity sandwiched together. I wouldn’t want to relive any of those experiences, but I recognize now that they made me stronger. I learned what I’m capable of handling, and most things thrown my way now seem like peanuts in comparison.
What advice would you give to someone who is currently facing adversity?
Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
First, take a step back and remind yourself why you started. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of competing, but if you lose sight of your love for the sport, everything starts to feel heavier. Ask yourself, Would I be okay if I stopped riding tomorrow? Do I really want to work an office job? For me, the answer is always no, and that’s how I know I’m still on the right path.
Also, focus on the process, not the outcome. If your happiness depends on winning, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. It’s the small improvements that matter—watching your horse develop, learning something new each day. You need to be happy even when you’re not successful- of course, I do like to win but usually, that’s just the cherry on top of everything else I am working on.
It’s also important to remember that everything you do, you have to take ownership of. You are responsible for your mindset and the choices that you make. Don’t expect someone else to get you out of a hole or solve your problems. Seek help and go to people who can support you, but also take the reins on your situation. When you look into yourself, and take some time to align your thoughts and goals- that’s when things typically come together.
Despite the many challenges Julia has faced — financial uncertainty, public scrutiny, and personal setbacks, to name a few — she remains committed to her path. Her story is a testament to the resilience and mental fortitude required to succeed in eventing. While her journey hasn’t been without hardship, she has learned valuable lessons along the way, both about herself and the sport she loves.
For anyone struggling with their own challenges in the sport, her advice is simple: remember why you started, and keep going.
