Cosby Green: the American event rider who has amassed a stunning CV at just 25
Cosby shares how she’s working on her childhood ambition, the wonderful horses who’ve taken her to the top and how she’s had to learn to ride on grass, in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers
A transatlantic move, a base with certified eventing royalty, a double top-10 finish at Luhmühlen, a strong Badminton performance and plenty of top-flight horsepower; if you don’t yet know Cosby Green, prepare to be impressed.
Based in Dorset with Tim and Jonelle Price, Cosby was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. Spending the first chapters of her life in the shadow of Kentucky Horse Park, where eventing’s American spring classic is held, Cosby’s love affair with horses was a foregone conclusion.
Although her sister didn’t take to riding, for Cosby it was akin to breathing.
“When we first started riding, it was a pretty funny comparison,” she recalls. “My sister was terrified and quit instantly. I would fall off and ask for more.”
Although within touching distance of the sport horse industry – and soon swept irrevocably into it – Cosby’s parents were “super-unhorsey”. “They were terrified watching me jump cross-poles,” she laughs.
All the same, Cosby’s personal history is indistinguishable from horses, eventing and the Kentucky Three-Day Event.
“I went there before I knew what was happening; I grew up going to that event. I genuinely didn’t know there were any other horse sports than eventing; I developed this tunnel vision. I would tell everyone that I was going to be an eventer and I was going to be the best at it.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Cosby Green
Age: 25
Based: Chedington, Dorset
Best result: fourth at Luhmühlen CCI5* in 2025 with Highly Suspicious, where she also finished eighth with Jos Ufo De Quidam.
Latest result at five-star: 22nd at Badminton with Jos Ufo De Quidam
As Cosby attests, it’s easy to dream big when you’re young. She kept a tight hold of that dream through high school and on to university.
“I am really happy and thankful that my parents encouraged me to have a normal American life,” Cosby says. “I went to school full-time and balanced the horses around it – that’s a helpful skill. I was even a part of a sorority at university, which was fun.”
When Cosby was in her mid-teens, her family acquired Highly Suspicious, known as Puff at home, then a tricky but talented four-year-old by Russel and out of a mare by Cruising.
“Back then, I was working for Clark Montgomery; he’d just moved to Kentucky,” Cosby recounts. “He and his wife found Puff. I tried him but didn’t think too much of him, if I’m honest. I was pretty naive!
“They kept telling me, ‘This is going to be an amazing horse.’
“So I was like, ‘Really? If you say so!’ They kept reassuring me, although I didn’t really know what I was looking at or feeling.”
The Montgomerys were right – Cosby has had her best results so far with this sensitive grey. However, she had to work for them and make the horse herself.
“At the start, he was pretty green and very weak, and had a lot of developing to do,” she says. “Moving up the levels was hard work. We had a lot of highs and lows, and mistakes and successes.”
As an American high schooler, university student and eventer with mammoth aspirations, Cosby was a youngster with a lot on her plate. Happily, she also had drive, horsepower and was, by her own admission, fortunate in many ways.
“I was lucky enough to grow up in the US Equestrian Federation Pathway Programs and trained with incredible people like Allie Knowles and Buck Davidson,” she says.
But the sport tested her resolve.
“I failed way more times than I ever did well,” she admits, adding that this was especially true in the age range of teenager to early 20s.
It took time for Cosby and Jos Ufo De Quidam to connect, as did mastering the ability to ride on grass: “It’s such a skill and took me a good year to figure out”
“I wasn’t really producing any results, just kind of getting by and I questioned the certainty that I once had: is riding really what I want to do?”
A business and communications graduate, perhaps it was Cosby’s entrepreneurial spirit that shaped her next move – a plunge into the unknown to train with her idols.
“I decided just before I graduated that if I was going to give the sport a go, it only made sense to try to position myself to be with the best.”
The best in question? Jonelle Price.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve been a Jonelle fangirl,” says Cosby. “She has this fearlessness about her. I’m reserved and was refreshed to see a bold, admirable female athlete, so I was drawn to her.”
With no prior connection, Cosby sent an email that landed at the perfect time.
“They had space for me at Chedington, where they were moving. Before I could even really second-guess myself, I sprang things into action.
“Of course, I made sacrifices leaving home. I have such an amazing life in America, so that’s something I occasionally question. But it’s all in the pursuit of excellence.”
Such a pursuit presents itself in Britain by sheer volume of opportunities, says Cosby.
“Once the season’s going, it’s going. You don’t stop and you can do a few different shows in the span of one week.
“After Badminton, there was Aston-le-Walls Wednesday to Friday. That wouldn’t really happen in the US and it’s so beneficial for bringing horses up the grades.”
On the flip side, competing on grass has been something of an adjustment.
“Riding on grass is such a skill and it took me a good year to figure out,” Cosby laughs. “In America, every event has a championship feel, which is amazing to experience. And it would all be on a surface; I never rode on grass in dressage or showjumping until I came to England.”
Did you know?
Cosby’s family history is steeped in Kentucky horse lore. Her grandfather bred racehorses and her father, Clay, is president of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, an organisation her grandmother was also involved in.
“Jonelle really has instilled in me to be completely professional”
Cosby landed in the UK in 2023, planning loosely to stay for eight months, although she’s still here and making her mark on the European circuit.
Among her breakthrough moments is her step up to five-star with schoolmaster Copper Beach (Sean), whom Cosby’s family acquired from Buck Davidson.
“Producing younger horses is not always the easiest. Sean was the horse that picked me up and showed me the world.”
Sean took Cosby to her first four-star long and her first five-stars.
“He held my hand during the whole thing,” Cosby recalls. “It felt like he was telling me, ‘Come on, kid, you can do this yourself as well.’”
Cosby says that Sean being her family’s horse took the pressure off – and they’ve never missed one of her five-stars.
“I’m beyond spoilt with my parents. They’re the sweetest and most supportive – there’s no one else I’d rather have around me at a five-star.”
That said, it doesn’t hurt to have Team Price in your corner, either.
“Jonelle really has instilled in me to be completely professional; not to let anything affect you except the task at hand. She’s very much ‘be an ice maiden, stay fierce’.
“The Prices’ whole mindset is amazing and I’ve tried to use it as much as I can. And I really am thankful for the added confidence that comes with their influence.”
After shepherding Cosby through her first Pau, Badminton and Burghley, Sean – now 20 – has returned to the Cosby farm for an idyllic retirement.
“He’s as fat as a house and the happiest horse you’ll see,” laughs Cosby. “My dad visits him every day after work to give him treats.”
Cosby has enjoyed her best results so far, namely fourth at Luhmühlen last year, with Highly Suspicious
Two years after Cosby and Sean’s Badminton debut, it was Jos Ufo De Quidam’s turn at the Gloucestershire five-star. They bettered the 2024 result by nine places to finish 22nd with a dressage score of 34.9 and a double clear, just adding time-faults.
“He was unreal,” says Cosby of Ufo. “To be second out in the cross-country was tough, but there was no better horse to do it on than him. He gave me such an amazing ride.
“I wish I’d been quicker and had a little bit more confidence, but that’s how it goes being so early on.”
Cosby says 18-year-old Ufo finished the cross-country phase as fit and well as ever he had.
“Jonelle and I were talking about how these older horses can just keep improving. Ufo’s not built conventionally for the sport, but this year he’s come out jumping on another level. He really throws his heart out there.”
Finishing on a clear showjumping round fractionally over the time was the cherry on top.
“Two years ago with Sean, the showjumping was catastrophic,” recalls Cosby – the pair had 28 jumping faults. “This time, I was very determined. It was some track. For Ufo to go clear was unbelievably special.”
“Once he’s on your side, you could conquer the world,” says Cosby of Jos Ufo De Quidam, with whom she finished eighth at Luhmühlen last year
Cosby is exceedingly likeable with an infectious passion for her home, her sport and her horses. There’s still one five-star she’d like to tick off: the one in her backyard.
“I’m desperate to do Kentucky,” she says, “Considering I grew up on the doorstep, it’s pretty funny that it’s the only five-star in the northern hemisphere I haven’t done.
“I grew up dreaming of riding around there, so I hope to one day make that dream come true.”
Cosby has Kentucky and much more in mind for the future.
“Around the beginning of 2025, I became focused on LA 2028,” she says. “I’m sure it’s on everyone’s mind, but it’s something that I’m really dedicated to. I want to give it my 110% best.”
It was a chance email that led “Jonelle fangirl” Cosby to move from the US to train in the UK
There’s something of a fairytale in the notion of Cosby and the tricky youngster she got as a teen completing the world’s toughest five-stars – and even having an eye on riding for the USA on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
As her voice wavers just a little, it is obvious that this ambitious young rider’s heart swells with gratitude every time she talks about Puff.
“I have grown up with him,” she says. “I probably had no business riding him when I was 16. But ever since I decided to fly over here, we’ve grown together. Not everyone gets a horse at that age and is still running them, getting to the highest level of eventing and doing really well today. That’s something I do not take for granted and will always be grateful for.”
- For more exclusive interviews with top riders, producers and trainers, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
A horse owner and rider with more than 20 years experience, Bethany has been writing for equestrian publications since 2017. Over the course of her career, she has reported from major British Riding Clubs and British Dressage championships, covered Badminton Horse Trials and interviewed equestrian sport’s best athletes. Her work can also be found in Country Life, The Field and Breathe magazine.