Jill Medinger
PHOTOS BY George Kamper
With grit, grace, and big-picture perspective, Mimi Gochman is charting a thoughtful course through the highest levels of international show jumping.
It was one of those days when all the elements of a successful interview and photoshoot came together. The Florida sun was warm but not withering—a slight breeze wafted by periodically, a soft reminder of the home’s proximity to the Intracoastal. And inside, a team of professionals had meticulously staged the home.
Punctual and poised, Mimi Gochman greeted us at her family’s West Palm Beach home, eager to work through the array of fashion options and scouted photo locations with grace and humor on a rare day off.
Like the other art-lush Gochman homes EQ Living has visited, this Spanish Colonial Revival home, fusing elements from several cultures, including Spanish, Mediterranean, and Mission Revival, offered a rich and textured backdrop. Among the hallmark architectural details, striking pieces from the Gochman Family Collection of Contemporary Art added further depth and intrigue to the setting—an apt complement to the multi-faceted 5-star show jumper making her mark on the international stage.
Anyone familiar with Mimi’s schedule of juggling her time as a full-time college student and competing at the highest levels of world-class show jumping would recognize that a few hours of lighthearted spontaneity in front of the camera were well deserved.
The Early Years: A Family Affair
Now 20, Mimi has been riding horses in some fashion since she was 2. She attributes that to her mom, Becky, a lifelong horse lover who signed up Mimi and her sister Sophie for riding lessons early on. While Mimi also ice skated, played tennis, and participated in other sports growing up, riding was a constant activity that the three of them could enjoy as a family. Their dad opted to cheer from the sidelines.
Mimi and Sophie progressed at a similar pace and frequently competed against each other. “We were competitive with each other but also very supportive of each other,” Mimi says. “We both definitely wanted to win, but we never needed to spend a lot of time thinking about it.”
The Importance of Horsemanship and Connection
As a junior rider, Mimi worked closely with Ken Berkley and Amanda Derbyshire, who significantly impacted her performance. A vital part of their training emphasized horsemanship, specifically the importance of forging strong bonds with your horses.
“I think one of the most important things to me as a horse person is to always connect with your horses and spend time with them,” Mimi notes. “I think that’s the key to any type of success you’ll have with a horse at a low level or a high level. Horses are very emotionally intelligent. They can feel certain things and feel the energy you have towards them, and they’ll reciprocate by giving the energy back.” Mimi believes spending time with her horses, apart from training, jumping, or riding, is essential. “Also, communicating with the grooms—who often know the horse’s quirks and preferences more than the riders—will eventually lead to more success than just showing up,” she adds.
Rising Through the Ranks: Accolades and Achievements
Mimi has earned success in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings, amassing an impressive list of accolades that reflect both her talent and dedication. Some of her standout achievements include winning the gold medal at the 2021 North American Young Rider Championships, numerous championships in the junior hunter divisions, and a win in the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Classic at Devon. That same year, she was named Devon’s Leading Junior Jumper Rider, exemplifying the manner of a true sportsman in one of the sport’s most storied venues.
A New Partnership and Training Philosophy
In the spring of 2023, Mimi began training with Irish Olympic show jumper Darragh Kenny of Oakland Stables. Under his guidance, she continues to evolve as a competitor, notching top results and podium finishes. Mimi closed out an impressive 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season with a third-place finish in the 5* Fidelity Investments Grand Prix aboard Inclen BH. Shortly after, the pair repeated that result in the 2025 Kentucky International CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix—solidifying their partnership on the international stage.
“Something I’ve learned from Darragh is patience with the horses,” Mimi says. “He’s very good at working through things when it’s not going perfectly—sticking to it and trying different approaches.”
That mindset has become central to her own riding style. Being patient is something she has implemented in her riding, giving her horses time to adjust to new things. “In the end, you’ll have more success. I don’t think giving up is the answer,” she adds.
Darragh is also a proponent of asking for help. “If I can’t figure out how to get the result that I want on a horse on the flat or even jumping, I ask for help from Darragh or someone on the team around me,” Mimi comments. “It’s about stepping back and asking for help, whether from Darragh or a flat rider we work with very closely.”
Mimi admires Darragh’s long-term approach, especially with more complicated horses. He’s willing to spend a year or two patiently developing them before going on to win major grand-prix events. Inspired by his approach, she now incorporates his techniques and keeps the big picture in mind when building a new partnership with a horse, resisting the urge to make quick judgments. “It’s not always easy or simple,” she muses.
A Holistic Approach to Performance
To support her progress, Mimi has added a variety of exercises to her program that are improving her riding, including gymnastics, pole exercises, and working with a dressage rider, which she admits has significantly helped her flat work. Additionally, she works with a Pilates instructor when she’s in Florida, works out at her college gym, and periodically consults with a sports psychologist.
“I’ve never been someone who gets extremely nervous when I ride, which is a blessing,” Mimi says. “But when I do, I like to stay active or be alone, empty my head, and concentrate on the task at hand. Before a big competition, I’ll sit on my own, focus on the course, and think about my horse.”
That focus is paired with genuine affection and gratitude for the horses that make it all possible. Scroll through Mimi’s social media, and her appreciation is evident—not only for her equine partners but also for the team of trainers, grooms, and family who support her every step of the way.
Meet Her Equine Partners: Cosmos BH and Inclen BH
She’s currently riding two standout horses: Cosmos BH, a 12-year-old Zangersheide stallion she’s been working with for a while, and Inclen BH (also known as Alfie), a 10-year-old Austrian warmblood gelding. Both horses have become integral to her journey.
“I won my first FEI 4* grand prix on Cosmos, and he’s only improved from there. He jumped to the top 12 in a 5* grand prix at Spruce Meadows and was top three in another 5* grand prix two summers ago in Canada for Major League,” Mimi smiles. “He’s just been a very consistent, good partner for me. He’s very opinionated and has a lot of ideas of his own, but he’s probably one of the easiest horses I’ve ever worked with.”
Inclen, or Alfie, is a relatively new partnership that has led Mimi to top finishes in 4* and 5* grand prix over the past two years. “I’ve never worked with a horse that learns as quickly as he does,” she notes. “A lot of the horses that I worked with when I was younger already had the experience, which is what you need when you’re younger and still learning. Something I’ve gotten to see with Alfie is witnessing the training we work on at home being implemented and successful in the ring. He’s figured things out, and it’s fun to see.”
Advocating for Greater Access and Education in Equestrian Sport
Her sense of gratitude carries over into her awareness of the broader equestrian world. Mimi is thoughtful about the privileges that have shaped her path and doesn’t take them for granted. She recognizes there needs to be more access to the sport.
“I had a working student come to work with Baxter Hill [the Gochman family show jumping barn] for six to seven weeks, and he had the opportunity to show one of our hunters and learn from the entire team,” Mimi says. It’s an experience she hopes more riders can have: a meaningful chance to develop skills, gain exposure, and feel supported within an often exclusive sport.
She understands that success in equestrian sport involves more than talent in the saddle. She thinks it would be advantageous to learn the business aspect of the sport, distinguishing the nuances of running a barn and the differences between being a rider at the top of a barn, an assistant, a barn manager, or an owner.
She points to a recent grooms’ clinic at WEF, designed for those interested in learning about that aspect of the business directly from some of the most respected top grooms in the industry. “That type of education is important,” she says. “And it’s something USEF does very well.”
She’d like to see additional programs that educate young riders on how to handle themselves professionally, seek sponsorships, work with brands, and handle press interviews. Even navigating relationships with the owner(s) of the horse they ride.
“If there are kids who can see there’s more to this sport than just competing in 5* grand prix, it will drum up more people’s interest in the sport. There’s a lot of honor in training people to the top of the sport, or training pony kids, or training in the equitation. Riding sales horses and learning how to work with young horses is another aspect of the sport,” she notes. “Overall, our sport needs a lot more open communication and dialogue on different aspects of the sport beyond just the riding portion. There needs to be a way to bridge the gap between people who aren’t already in this world and the people who can help get them into it if that makes sense,” she adds.
She cites the Road to the Top program, spearheaded by Katie Prudent and Laura Kraut (see page 26) and recognizes that the opportunity to participate in that program is about as good as it gets, she says with admiration. “Trying to find people who aren’t already riding at a high level and giving them similar opportunities would be an add-on. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.”
Juggling Academics and Athletics at Brown University
Those values—compassion, humility, and work ethic—run in the Gochman family, and Mimi exudes them. A full-time student at Brown University, studying entrepreneurship and English, she has managed to balance her coursework with her competition schedule through time management, an open dialogue with her professors and trainers, and putting in extra effort to succeed.
She competes on Brown’s equestrian team and notes it’s a different format than what she’s used to. “The jumps are only three feet, but they put you on a random horse you don’t get to school on. You watch the horse with someone else, get on, and go in the ring and try to make it work. And that’s not easy!” she laughs.
Life Beyond the Arena: Downtime and Future Goals
Mimi is ready to salvage the remainder of her day off, so we shift the interview into more casual topics that reassure us that, amid her full schedule, she still takes time to be a 20-year-old.
Before shifting into a chat about her life outside of horses, Mimi wanted to step back and talk about competing at Spruce Meadows in 2023. “It was probably the hardest challenge I’ve ever faced in my riding career, but something I grew from—a ton,” she shares. “I had a lot of success when I went and won my first 5* class. I also had two tough falls there and some setbacks with a few of my horses. I think Spruce Meadows kind of brings that out in you.” Ironically, Mimi had just earned the Rider of the Year award at Spruce Meadows the day before. Looking ahead, Mimi has her sights set on competing at Aachen, Dublin, and Geneva, three other premier competition venues in Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland.
Mimi balances her hectic schedule with relaxing days off, enjoying time with her friends, reading, watching a movie, or grabbing dinner. “That’s kind of the optimal relaxed day for me,” she says. It’s a slight variation of that when
she’s in New York. “If I’m in the city, I’ll walk in the park with a friend, look at new shops, or go to a new restaurant with great reviews that we’ve wanted to try.”
Her biggest indulgence? Broadway. “When I’m in New York and have time, I love seeing musicals with my friends. If I’m going to spend a ton of money on something, it’s going to be tickets to a Broadway show. I am an avid theater geek,” Mimi admits.
Earlier in the spring, she mentioned her plans to take it easier this summer and relax a bit. “I will be at Upperville Horse Show; I’m going to do Old Salem and Saugerties and then the Hamptons. And I’ll do a bunch of the 5* events in the fall, which are sort of connected with major league.”
Relaxing? Her version of slowing down might still involve saddle time and summer circuits, but for this grounded and driven 20-year-old, balance isn’t just a goal—it’s a practice. For Mimi, even a packed schedule leaves room for curiosity and connection. And sometimes, that looks just like a walk in the park.