Ben O’Connor and Tom Wachman: Growing and Learning Within the Karlswood Team

In international show jumping, developing a successful career takes years of dedication, experience and the right guidance. For young riders, being surrounded by established professionals provides valuable opportunities to learn, gain confidence and understand what it takes to compete at the highest level.Based in County Meath, Ireland, Karlswood has established itself as one of the country’s leading high-performance show jumping operations. Led by Olympic medallist Cian O’Connor, the programme combines professional training, coaching, mentoring and horse management, supporting riders at different stages of their careers. The opportunity to train alongside experienced international athletes also creates an environment where knowledge and experience are shared on a daily basis.

Two riders who have experienced this environment from different perspectives are Tom Wachman and Ben O’Connor.

Tom’s journey with Karlswood began in 2017, when he started training with Cian O’Connor at just 12 years old. Since then, he has progressed through the Pony, Junior and Young Rider categories, collecting three European team gold medals along the way. His transition into senior international competition has brought further success, including appearances in Nations Cups and the Longines League of Nations, as well as a memorable double-clear performance in the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show in 2025. That same year, he received the Longines FEI Rising Star Award. In 2026, he continued his success at the Young Rider European Championships in Hagen, taking both individual and team silver medals.

For Tom, the people behind his development have played an important role. Speaking about his time at Karlswood, he has highlighted the influence of Cian O’Connor, both as a trainer and as someone who oversees the wider operation.

Ben represents the younger generation coming through the Karlswood programme. Having secured the 128cm National Championship title at the 2025 Dublin Horse Show with The Million Dollar Baby, he took another important step in his career in 2026 with his European Championship appearance. Riding Fox Chapel, he helped Ireland secure fourth place in the Children on Horses team competition in Hagen.

With Tom continuing to establish himself at senior international level and Ben beginning to make his mark in international youth competition, we caught up with both riders to discuss their journeys, the importance of the team environment and the people who inspire them along the way.

Learning from the journey

Tom, you have been part of the Karlswood team for several years, progressing from young rider championships to senior Nations Cups and some of the biggest competitions in the sport. How would you describe this journey so far?

“It has been brilliant. I started working with Cian O’Connor in 2017, so it has been quite a long journey now. The experience has been very positive. I have benefited from very good training and have had the opportunity to work with some lovely ponies and horses along the way. It has been a great experience.”

Reflecting on the influence of his trainer, Tom has also spoken about the lessons that extend beyond riding itself. He has highlighted how his time at Karlswood has helped him develop his understanding of horse management and the professional side of the sport.

For a rider making the transition from youth competitions to the senior international circuit, these experiences are an important part of developing a long-term career.

Inspiration within the team

Ben, growing up surrounded by experienced international riders gives you the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the sport. How important has this environment been for your own development, and who do you look up to most?

“Having so many riders around to look up to is great.”

For Ben, being part of Karlswood means having the opportunity to observe riders with different levels of experience, learn from their approaches and see first-hand what is required to compete at the highest level. Having these examples around him provides valuable inspiration as he continues to develop his own riding career.

When asked who his favourite rider is, Ben doesn’t hesitate to name Richard Vogel. However, when the question turns to someone within the Karlswood programme, his answer was with no doubt “Tom Wachman”. It is a reflection of the influence that the riders around him have, particularly those he has the opportunity to train alongside and watch on a daily basis.

What is it about Tom and the other riders around you, including Max and your father, that inspires you as you work towards developing your own career in show jumping?

Ben is surrounded by riders whose experience and achievements offer plenty of inspiration for the future. The opportunity to watch them prepare, compete and work with their horses gives him an insight into the different aspects of building a career in international show jumping.

When asked to explain exactly what he admires about Tom, Ben answered with a smile: “His hard work and dedication with the horses and people around him.”

The exchange between the two riders offered a glimpse into their relationship and the atmosphere within the team, with a combination of mutual respect, shared experience and a little humour.

Looking ahead

With Tom continuing to build his senior international career and Ben gaining valuable experience on the European stage, both riders have important goals ahead.

Their journeys highlight two different stages of development within the same programme. For Tom, the focus is on continuing to establish himself among the leading senior riders, while Ben is gaining the experience that will help shape his own future in the sport.

Within Karlswood, having the opportunity to learn from one another, share experiences and work alongside riders with different levels of experience remains an important part of that process.

Ph Moises Basellote & Helen Cruden

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