Laura Kraut's Road to the Top and the Future of American Show Jumping
Podcast: The NOËLLE FLOYD PodcastPublished On: Tue Mar 03 2026
Description: There is a whole generation of insanely talented young riders who feel like the system is not built for them. You want the top sport, you want the big moments in show jumping, you want to know what it actually takes to get there, yet the pathway feels gated and the access feels invisible. That is exactly why this conversation with Laura Kraut hits so hard. Laura is a legit icon in show jumping and she shows up here with zero ego, full transparency, and a real blueprint for what it takes to rise in a sport that can feel impossible to break into. Laura brings us inside Road to the Top, the program she created with Katie Prudent to give hungry riders the mentorship, horsepower, and behind the scenes education they never get access to. She talks openly about the emotional and financial pressure of show jumping, how real horsemanship gets built, and what separates riders who make it from riders who burn out. This episode is equal parts wisdom, reality check, and hype. If you're dreaming big, this one will light a fire under you. In this episode, you will learn: How Road to the Top actually works and why it gives overlooked riders a real shot in show jumping The mindset mistakes that hold promising riders back and how to avoid them How to think about horse management, horse picking, and building real feel What mentorship looks like at the absolute top and how it shaped Laura's Olympic career How to stay grounded when social media makes everyone else look perfect How owners and supporters can get involved and genuinely move the sport forward The book that Laura would read to the Horse World - The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts This episode is brought to you by: Connaway & Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance. Visit www.connaway.net | @connawayassociates | facebook.com/connawayassociatesequine and YETI Made for early mornings in the barn and long days in the saddle. Whether you're hauling feed, chasing daylight on the trail, or loading up for a weekend on the road, YETI coolers and drinkware are built to handle it. No shortcuts. No compromise. Just gear that works as hard as you do. Explore more at YETI.com | @YETI | facebook.com/YETI Chapters: 00:00 Why Riders Feel Stuck 00:24 Meet Laura Kraut 01:47 Road to the Top Explained 04:12 Horsemanship and Horse Sense 05:53 Funding Model and First Riders 11:38 Owners and Horse Rotation 16:47 Beyond the Highlight Reel 19:07 Building Community Support 25:41 Keeping US Talent Competitive 35:26 Mentorship Versus Teaching 42:30 Passing the Torch 44:04 Scarcity vs Sharing 45:55 Road to the Top Vision 47:53 Mentorship and Independence 49:00 Applying Like Harvard 52:52 Grit and Handling Failure 57:41 Mentors Who Shaped Laura 01:05:13 Love of the Horse 01:06:29 Pay It Forward Chain 01:10:33 Rapid Fire and Wrap And for even more expert-led workshops, in-depth courses, and exclusive lectures designed to elevate your riding and horsemanship, visit NoelleFloydPlus.com NF+ brings you direct access to top equestrian professionals, training insights, and a passionate community of riders dedicated to learning and improving. And you can follow us on instagram too! Click here 👉 www.instagram.com/dearhorseworld
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