Cosby Green still says it feels a little surreal. After a season defined not by one big win, but by unwavering consistency across her string of horses, Green has broken into the top 10 in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings for the first time in her career.
“It came as a bit of a positive shock,” Green said. “I’ve not necessarily been winning, but it makes me proud of how consistent all my horses have been. They love their job and want to do their best for me, which means the most as a horse person. It really inspires me for next year to keep working harder and dream bigger.”
Dreaming bigger has been a constant in Green’s story from local shows in Kentucky to living and training in the U.K. with two of the sport’s best. But this year, that dream took on new shape and substance thanks to strong results and Green’s growth into a rider who not only belongs at the top but plans to stay there.
The 25-year-old Lexington, Ky., native has spent 2025 steadily building momentum across a demanding competition schedule in Europe. From young horse championships to elite 5* events, she demonstrated a level of reliability and professionalism that few riders can match. A highlight came at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championship for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers, where she finished fifth aboard MBF Party Time. “Just being there was such a privilege. It was my first time, so I was excited to be able to pull off that result having never been there before,” she said. “It felt like going into the unknown, but I was really happy that my horse was able to rise to the occasion.”
MBF Party Time, a 2018 KWPN gelding (Emir R x Jaloma), owned by Edie and Clay Green, affectionately called “Tiga” at the barn, has been a revelation for Green. She discovered him in June of last year, describing him as “The sweetest and cutest horse. He was very small and looked a bit like a chubby pony, but I just fell in love with him at first sight. His technique was so consistent, and he had a great head and a great brain. Every time he rises to the occasion and impresses me.”
Fitness and preparation were key to their success at Le Lion. Green focused on building Tigga’s stamina with water treadmill work, gallops, and versatile hacking to ensure he could handle the intensity of competition. “If they are going to gallop around an eight- or nine-minute course, they have to be fit and keep thinking,” she said. Beyond physical conditioning, Green emphasized careful planning, confidence-building runs, and methodical approaches to each event.
What makes Tigga such a special event horse, according to Green, is his intelligence and mindset. “He always wants to do the right thing. Sometimes I feel like a passenger. He loves when people are watching and is always his best self at a competition. He doesn’t totally understand what winning is yet, but there is this underlying sense that he knows something important is happening. He just feels like a competitor.”
Green’s consistency extends beyond Tigga. She began the year with promising results and carried that momentum forward. At Luhmühlen, she placed fourth with Highly Suspicious with a score of 35.0 and earned eighth with Jos UFO de Quidam. From there, she continued to refine her string by producing competitive results in 2*, 3*, 4*, and 5* classes. MBF Party Time stood out early in the season with a ninth place in the CCI2*-L at Chaumont en Vexin and later delivered a fifth-place finish at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championship for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers on a score of 33.9. Highly Suspicious proved to be one of her most consistent horses of the year. The 2010 Irish Sport Horse (Russel II x Unknown) gelding, owned by Clay and Edie Green, delivered top 15 finishes at nearly every major appearance, including 13th at Bicton, 10th at Little Downham, and a strong run at Pau to finish in 11th place with a score of 39.7, to mark one of their most successful 5* results together. Jos UFO de Quidam, a 2008 Argentine Silla (Lobby Des Fortes x Remonta Guinea) gelding owned by Heather Morris, also maintained a steady form with top 25 placings at Luhmühlen, Bicton, and Pau.
Her other developing horses gained mileage at key venues with strong results, which included Libero D, a 2016 KWPN gelding (VDL Harley x Wiedora) owned by Belinda Horne, earned top 10 placings at both Alnwick and Chaumont en Vexin and completed multiple 3* events. Illico de l’Esques AA, a 2018 Anglo-Arabian gelding (King Size x Karoleva) owned by Alida O’Connor and Gotz Bechtolsheimer, and Clever Louis, a 2010 Holsteiner gelding (Cyrkon x Latifa 6) owned by the Chedington Estate, added depth to the string with mid-placing results that showed progress and promise for future seasons. Even when conditions were tough, such as at Blenheim and Belsay, where a few withdrawals occurred, her ability to make decisions in the best interest of her horses stood out.
Her approach to planning and developing a strong string of horses has been reinforced by her participation in the USEF Eventing Development 25 program. “The training sessions [with Leslie Law and Karyn Shuter] focused on planning our string, targeting senior teams, and thinking about when horses are going to peak,” she said. “It has helped me shift my mindset from just individual results to incorporating the team aspect as well, which has been really helpful.”
This season also included invaluable experience training with New Zealand’s Tim and Jonelle Price. “They are amazing people, and I feel like I owe them everything. Riding around people who inspire you every day is one of the biggest privileges. They set the standard in every way, and they push me to be better. I couldn’t be luckier to be with them,” Green said.
Despite competing across Europe, Green’s Kentucky roots remain central to her identity. She grew up riding at Lexington’s Champagne Run and started eventing at local shows. “Kentucky is the stomping ground of everything that got me going. I get nostalgic whenever the Kentucky Horse Park shows are going on,” she said.
Looking ahead, her goals are clear. “The number one goal is to make Tigga the best horse he can be, to his fullest capacity. There are a lot of great results ahead of me. It’s about giving him time to get stronger, consolidate at the level, build muscle and strength, and learn which tracks suit him,” she said. Her season-long consistency and careful horse management have laid a solid foundation for even greater success.
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