Caroline Moore: A Legacy That Will Endure
It is with great sadness that we found out yesterday that Caroline Moore has passed away.
Caroline Moore’s name is one that carries weight in the eventing world. A competitor, coach, mentor, and leader, she shaped the careers of many and left a lasting impact on British eventing. Her life was dedicated to horses, to riders, and to the sport she loved. To those who knew her, she wasn’t just a trainer or an elite coach—she was a force, someone who made you believe you were capable of more.
Early Life and Introduction to Eventing
Caroline grew up in Leicestershire, surrounded by horses and the grassroots foundations of British eventing. From a young age, it was clear she had both the talent and the determination to carve out a career in the sport. She wasn’t handed success—she worked for it. Those who knew her back then talk about her relentless drive, her ability to absorb knowledge, and her complete dedication to improving every day.
“She was the one who would stay after everyone else had gone home,” recalled one former coach. “She just wanted to learn, to be better, and that drive never left her.”
Caroline made the most of every opportunity, riding whatever horses she could, and pushing herself to become the best rider she could be. She didn’t come from a privileged background in the sport, and that made her achievements all the more impressive.
Competitive Career: From Pony Club to Five-Star Events
Caroline produced and competed horses up to the highest level of eventing, taking on the challenge of Badminton and Burghley—two of the toughest five-star competitions in the world. Those who watched her ride remember her determination, precision, and deep understanding of her horses. She was the kind of rider who made the most of what she had, never one to rely on flashiness or big money backers. Every success was earned through sheer hard work.
“She could take an ordinary horse and make it extraordinary,” said a fellow competitor. “Not through shortcuts, not through luck, but because she understood them, gave them confidence, and trained them with absolute precision.”
In 2007, she was selected to take part in the Olympic test event in Hong Kong, a nod to the calibre of rider she was. She thrived under pressure, always focused, always determined. Though she eventually transitioned away from competing at the top level, her knowledge and experience in the saddle became the foundation for her next chapter—coaching.
Building Champions: A Coaching Legacy
Coaching became Caroline’s true calling. She earned the highest teaching qualifications in British equestrian sport, becoming a British Horse Society Fellow and later a British Eventing Master Coach. Based at Vale View Equestrian, she became one of the most sought-after trainers in the country.
She took grassroots riders and turned them into professionals. She shaped junior and young rider squads for Great Britain, guiding teams to European medals. And she mentored some of the biggest names in modern eventing, including World Champion and Olympian Ros Canter.
Ros has spoken often about the influence Caroline had on her career—not just in coaching but in guidance, belief, and support.
“She gave me the confidence to believe I belonged at the top,” Ros said in a tribute. “Caroline had this ability to make you see what you were capable of, even when you couldn’t see it yourself.”
Caroline wasn’t just a trainer; she was someone who invested in people, who saw potential where others might not, and who helped riders believe in themselves as much as she believed in them.
A Lasting Impact on Eventing
Caroline was more than a coach. She was an innovator, a mentor, and a driving force behind the future of the sport. She was behind the creation of the Performance Mentoring Programme, which aimed to bridge the gap between young riders and senior-level competition. She was committed to developing not just great riders but great coaches, ensuring that her methods, her approach, and her passion would continue long into the future.
“She never just focused on the top riders,” said a colleague. “She cared just as much about the ones no one had heard of yet. She had this eye for talent, and she knew how to bring it out of people.”
Her impact on British Eventing is undeniable. She was instrumental in shaping the next generation of talent and providing the knowledge and skills riders needed to succeed at the highest level.
Caroline’s Legacy Lives On
The news of Caroline’s passing has left a deep void in the eventing world. Tributes have poured in from every corner of the sport—Olympians, grassroots riders, fellow coaches, and those who were simply inspired by her.
British Eventing has awarded her the Outstanding Achievement Award, a recognition of the impact she made and the influence she will continue to have for years to come.
“She was the backbone of so many careers,” said one of her students. “Not just because of what she taught us, but because of the belief she gave us. She made us stronger.”
Caroline Moore leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten.
The riders she trained, the horses she shaped, and the sport she dedicated her life to will carry her influence forward. Her lessons, her belief in people, and her unwavering dedication to eventing will live on.
Cover photo from #AskAnimalWeb Podcast.
