You first visited Spruce Meadows at 15 and have described it as the moment you realised you wanted to pursue the highest level of the sport. Having now competed at the ‘Masters’ and represented the United States here, how has your relationship with this venue evolved?

EH: I think Spruce Meadows will always hold an incredibly special place in my heart. It is funny, I was actually just talking to my dad about this the other day. When I got my top horse Claude, my big dream was to be able to jump on the USA Nations Cup team at the ‘Masters’. The fact that we were able to do that last year and come away with a clear round still gives me goosebumps to this day.

It is the place that inspired so much for me, so to have actually been able to accomplish that goal makes me incredibly happy. Now, getting the chance to be here again as an individual feels amazing, and obviously, I am still trying to be the best that I can be, and it would be great to qualify for the CPKC International ‘Grand Prix’, presented by Rolex on Sunday. I have plenty left that I would like to accomplish, but everything else that I now get to do here feels like the cherry on top.

You have already won in the International Ring and achieved some impressive five-star results at Spruce Meadows. What have those experiences taught you about the bravery, stamina and confidence a horse and rider need to succeed here?

EH: I think Spruce Meadows has made me believe in myself a lot more than I otherwise would have. It is evidence over affirmation. You walk the courses and everything is big and technical. It takes bravery, a lot of trust in yourself and a lot of trust in your horse to be able to go out there and succeed.

It has shown me just how much the relationship with your horse matters and the importance of continuing to nurture and work at it. When you are able to go out and succeed, the best rounds here feel easy. I think that comes from the level of trust and happiness you have with your horse. I definitely feel that with Claude. When you leave here on a high note, it gives you the opportunity to build yourself up. When you are able to do that, it leaves you with so much confidence and, for me, so much happiness as well.

Claude has played an important role in your progression to five-star sport and senior Nations Cup teams. How has your partnership developed, and what gives you confidence in him on a stage of this magnitude?

EH: I always say that Claude is my best friend, and I really do mean it. I think we really needed each other. At the time he came into my life, I was not doing so well, and I needed someone to believe in me. He did that, and I think he also needed someone to believe in him.

He gave me the most incredible feeling from the first day I tried him. We are both a little anxious and we both get nervous, but when we are given the chance to step up and focus, we can always deliver. Getting to do as much as we have together has only strengthened that and proved the level of trust we have in each other.

When we go out there and everything clicks, it feels as though I am simply cantering in the park with my best friend. Being able to enter such big events, which are very nerve-racking, with a horse I trust so much is a very special feeling. I know that no matter what, he is always going to try his heart out for me.

It gives you that extra confidence that, when we go out there, it does not matter what else is happening. It is just the two of us. As long as I do my job well, I trust that he is going to do the best he can for me.

You have spoken openly about developing your confidence and mental strength. How have you learned to manage pressure and trust yourself when competing on the sport’s greatest stages?

EH: Confidence is something that, unfortunately in this sport, goes up and down in waves. However, I have always said that pressure is a privilege. You can find small ways to help yourself grow and in the biggest situations, when you can rise above the pressure, it gives you that much more confidence.

That is why I think Spruce Meadows is so incredible. It is evidence over affirmation. When you actually go out there and do it, you can say: “Okay, I can do this.”

That confidence does not always exist, and we all experience ups and downs. For me, the most important thing is reminding myself why I started: that I love my horse so much and trust him so much, and I am lucky to feel that he loves me too. Building that as the basis of your confidence is the most important thing because the sport is so full of ups and downs. You are never going to have great results all the time.

As much as the experience can help you get there, you then have to remember what got you there in the first place. It is all the hard work. You know how much time you have put in and how much you have given up and sacrificed. At the end of the day, I know that I have done everything I can to put myself in a good position to be here. When I go into the ring, it is all about the love and trust between my horse and me.

Alongside your riding career, you have studied environmental sustainability and explored how it can be applied within the equestrian industry. How important is it to you that the sport continues to develop in a more sustainable way?

EH: It is very important to me that the sport continues to develop in a sustainable way. Spruce Meadows is a great example of that. It is probably an international leader in adopting more sustainable initiatives, which is really great to see.

I think it is a responsibility that we all share. We all have one planet, and we are very privileged to be able to do this. I think that when we have the means, we also have a responsibility to make the sport as sustainable as possible.

That is how I feel about my education. Not everyone gets the opportunity to ride horses and not everyone gets the opportunity to go to university. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to do both, so I feel a responsibility to take what I have learnt and apply it to the world that I love.

As one of an exciting generation of young American riders, how ambitious are you about representing your country at the highest level and ultimately establishing yourself across the four Majors of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping?

EH: It is very daunting, but it is also incredibly exciting. I am very motivated to try to establish myself across the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors.

Coming to the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament for the first time last year was a dream come true and, if anything, it lit even more of a fire under me. There is so much more to this sport. Competing here was always a very big goal that I had set for myself, but I am nowhere close to being done. I still have a lot that I want to accomplish.

As daunting as that may be, it is also amazing to be here this week, to see so many of my idols and to ride alongside them. I hope and believe that, if I continue working hard and doing everything the right way, one day my name can be alongside theirs.