Hi! I’m Brian Moggre, a 21-year-old professional U.S. jumping athlete competing at the 64th Annual Washington International Horse Show this week.

What say you to the argument that the horse does all the work and gets none of the credit?

I give my horses all the credit and treat them like the athletes they are. It takes a connection between the horse and athlete absolutely, but the horses are the ones that put their heart out there for us and I'm so thankful for that.

What do you weigh? Is horse jumping dominated by small athletes like horse racing?

I myself am much taller than the average equestrian athlete and on the skinnier side, but I don't think that it gives me an advantage or disadvantage in a competitive space. Our sport is different from racing in that it's is inclusive of all body types and everyone can stay on a level playing field.

How do you bring your horses internationally?

We fly the horses on a cargo plane with Dutta Horse Transport. The horses are so used to traveling and Dutta does an amazing job to make sure everything is handled perfectly. They travel really well on flights. Once they're loaded, they get snacks and water throughout the flight and there's always a groom on the flight with them too to make sure they're taken care of and looked after.

How did you become interested in horses at such a young age? What would you recommend to parents whose kids are interested in the sport?

I was raised in a house down the street from a barn. I instantly fell in love with the horses so my parents were really supportive of me starting to ride. It was also convenient because we lived so close. I think that it's important for parents to get connected with someone reputable in the industry to get kids started in the sport. You don't have to have aspirations to show, but just beginning at basic level can bring kids a lot of enjoyment, like me, and teaches you really important life skills like responsibility and accountability at a young age.

What is your training schedule like? Do you mainly ride/jump or do you spend a lot of time in the gym cross training?

For me it's both. There's a balance that's subjective to each athlete. I spend most of my day in the stable and then fit in as many personal workout outside of the barn as I can. I really enjoy running and think that it's important that the athletes are as fit as their horses in order to be competitive.

If you have free time, what do you like to do in your free time?

I love to be with my friends and family when I can. I also love cooking and got really into trying to learn more recipes during COVID so that's been a fun new thing that I enjoy when I have some down time.

What are your goals for this year’s horse show and have you competed in DC area before?

I really want to put in solid, competitive rounds with both of the horses I'm bringing. I've shown at WIHS three times before and this will be my fourth time at the show. I'm so excited!

How many horses are currently on your string right now?

I have two horses here for WIHS and the rest are coming over to meet me in Florida for the winter season.

Hi Brian! Congrats on all of your wonderful accomplishments, and good luck with your upcoming events! We've recently learned horseback riding/caring for horses is a helpful tool in supporting children with anxiety. As a childhood rider, will you please share if horses had a calming effect on you as a child? Or do you prefer horseback riding in its more competitive forms?

Absolutely both. Riding has definitely helped bring me peace in some of the more stressful times of my life. A way that I'm able to manage the competitive aspect is that I have a sports psychologist/mental coach that I heavily rely on who helps me understand how I'm feeling and how to manage that in a competitive setting. I think that horses naturally are very calming and surely give people an outlet to feel like they can express themselves and relax.

I see your answer that you love cooking, what is your favorite new recipe you've found?

I love this caesar salad I created - it's not traditional, but so delicious. The recipe is actually on my TikTok! My handle is @brianmoggre

Signing off for the day here on Reddit but thank you for dropping your questions to to me! I hope to see you at WIHS if you're around and please always come up and say hi! You can follow me on social at @brianmoggre on IG and TikTok!

What social media are you most active on?

IG @brianmoggre and TikTok @brianmoggre. Follow me to keep up with my life and the horses!