Sarah Kuhn didn’t come to horses through family tradition or a lifelong barn background. In fact, she jokes that she found riding almost by accident.

When her parents went on vacation years ago, Sarah asked if she could go ride while they were away. One lesson turned into something much bigger. She was hooked immediately, even though no one else in her family was involved in the horse world. Like many riders, she began in a Western saddle before transitioning to English riding and eventually finding her home in eventing, with some show jumping sprinkled in along the way. Today, that accidental first ride has grown into a career at the highest levels of the sport.

Now a four-star eventing rider, Sarah operates Sarah Kuhn Eventing out of Fair Oak Farm in Aiken, S.C., where she offers boarding, training and coaching for riders at every stage of development. While competing at the upper levels herself, she also brings along a talented string of horses she has started and developed through the ranks. Her program is known for balancing ambition with practicality making it a rewarding but sensible environment for both horses and riders.

Ask Sarah about the biggest influence on her career, and she quickly points to one of her early trainers, Alice McNeil of Concord, Mass. Sarah describes Alice as “old-school” in the best sense of the term: direct, disciplined and deeply committed to fundamentals.

That relationship proved especially meaningful because Sarah grew up with a learning disability. Alice helped build confidence in the saddle, but the impact extended far beyond riding. She made Sarah believe she could accomplish whatever she set her mind to. That lesson still shapes the way Sarah approaches training, business and competition today. Alice was also by her side when Sarah contested her first major FEI competition.

If confidence became an early foundation, resilience became a defining trait.

Not long ago, Sarah suffered a devastating fall from a young horse at home, shattering both her knee and foot. It was the kind of injury that can alter careers, and some medical professionals doubted whether she would fully recover. For a short time, she allowed herself to feel the weight of it all. Then she made a decision.

Sarah adjusted her mindset and committed fully to the recovery process. After five months of being non-weight-bearing, she had to relearn how to walk — and later, how to ride. Many athletes would have simply stepped away. Sarah came back stronger and more determined.

That determination fuels an exciting season ahead. Her top competitive goal is to contest a five-star event with a horse she has developed since he was young — a partnership now spanning 10 years. Just as importantly, she wants to continue bringing up the younger horses in her barn while improving as a rider and trainer throughout the year.

Sarah’s definition of success is refreshingly personal. Before each competition, she sets goals for herself and for the horse she is riding. Placings matter less than execution. Did they meet the standard they prepared for? Did they improve? Did they perform to expectation or beyond it? That internal benchmark keeps progress front and center.

As a sponsored rider, Sarah values working with LEGIS because of the people behind the brand. She appreciates a team that understands both horses and the unique insurance needs of equestrian businesses, facilities and owners. Their responsiveness and personal attention, she says, stand out in a crowded field.

And because no great rider profile is complete without a little personality: Sarah is unapologetically superstitious. She refuses to use brand-new tack at a horse show, and her helmet cover? It’s pushing 20 years old. Replacing it is not under consideration. Some traditions, apparently, are just too valuable to risk.