Caroline Rehoff Pedersen: Finding Her Stride Among Europe’s Elite

For Danish show jumper Caroline Rehoff Pedersen, the 2025 season has been a defining chapter — a year of firsts, fast growth, and the realization of long-held dreams. From representing Denmark at the Senior FEI European Championships in La Coruña to making her debut in the Global Champions League, the young rider has proven that determination, patience, and belief can turn ambition into reality.

A Championship Debut in La Coruña

Caroline’s season began with a major milestone — her first Senior European Championships in La Coruña.
“It was a big goal for me,” she recalls. “I’m still young, and I haven’t been riding at this level for many years, so just being selected was already a huge honor. I was super, super proud.”

She entered the championship with an older but relatively inexperienced horse who had only recently moved up to the 1.60m level.
“He had just jumped one 1.60 class a few weeks before,” she says. “So my main goal was to give him confidence and do our best together.”

The pair exceeded expectations, delivering two clear rounds out of three.
“After those rounds, it was actually hard to believe what we’d achieved,” she admits. “Even when we had two fences down in the third round, I was still so proud of how we performed. I left La Coruña feeling like I had proven to myself that I could ride at this level — and that gave me even more motivation for the next shows.”

A Dream Realized on the Global Stage

Only a few months later, another dream came true — a debut in the Global Champions League.
“For as long as I can remember, the Global Champions League has been one of my biggest dreams,” Caroline says. “I used to watch almost every show on TV and imagine what it would be like to ride there one day.”

That dream became reality in London, where she rode her first GCL round — a moment she describes as surreal.
“Honestly, the most memorable part was seeing myself in the GCL team clothes. They’re so iconic, and suddenly I was the one wearing them. That’s when it really hit me — I was part of it now.”

The step up to that level came with new challenges. Competing among the sport’s elite demanded precision and mental resilience.
“It made me realize how small the margins are at the top. You have to be sharp in every single detail. But it also gave me huge motivation — it showed me that I could belong there if I kept pushing myself.”

Building a Bond with Golden Eye

A key part of Caroline’s success story this season has been her partnership with Golden Eye, a 13-year-old gelding with whom she’s developed a strong connection in a short time. The horse was previously ridden by her trainer, Lars Bak Andersen, which gave her a unique advantage.

“Because Lars knew him so well, we could go straight into the deeper work,” she explains. “At first, I didn’t know what to expect. He hadn’t done that much, but I could feel very quickly that he had more potential than he had shown before — and I was right.”

The pair began the year competing successfully at three-star level, moved up to four-star shows, and then made their major debut together at the European Championships.
“I never pushed him too hard; I waited for the right moment,” Caroline says. “La Coruña was perfect timing. He’s getting better and better with every show, and our partnership feels really special.”

A New Home, A New Routine

Another major turning point for Caroline came when she decided to move her training base from Denmark to Elmshorn, Germany, to work more closely with Lars Bak Andersen.
“Before, I was based in Denmark, and I had to drive four hours every time I wanted to train with Lars,” she explains. “It was a long trip, so I could only go maybe every second week. Now, I live just a hundred meters from him — it’s made a huge difference.”

The change has transformed her daily routine.
“We train together several times a week now. If there’s something we want to work on or a horse that needs a different approach, we can do it right away. I also have access to a great farrier, a good vet, and other top riders who train at the same place. When you ride next to people who are also doing well, it pushes you to do even better.”

Adapting to Every Horse

Throughout her career, Caroline has ridden a variety of horses, from powerful, scopey types to lighter, blood horses. That range has taught her adaptability.
“Of course, I have my own riding style,” she says, “but I always try to make it work for the horse. Some horses need you to fit into their rhythm first before you can slowly adapt them to your style. In the end, it’s about finding a balance — it has to work for both of you.”

Lessons in Progress and Perspective

Looking back on the season, Caroline sees every high and low as part of her evolution.
“Competing at the Europeans and the GCL showed me that I am good enough to be part of this level of sport,” she says. “But I also know it will go up and down — that’s part of learning. Every round, even the bad ones, teaches me something. Maybe one year is hard, and the next one is amazing — you just have to keep working and stay patient.”

That balance of confidence and humility will serve her well as she continues her journey among the sport’s best.
“This year gave me so much motivation,” she reflects. “Now I just can’t wait for the next shows — to keep building my horses, improving, and proving that I belong at this level.”

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