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At just 23 years old, professional show jumper Trent McGee has already learned one of the hardest lessons in riding: success in this sport is about resilience. As a member of the Road to the Top program, McGee trains under some of the biggest names in American show jumping, including Katie and Henri Prudent and Beezie Madden. But even with access to that level of mentorship, his most valuable takeaway has come from showing up—again and again—on the hard days.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as showing up the next day, brushing off the dust, and going forward,” McGee said. “That’s resilience, and I think that’s the most important thing for any young athlete like myself.”
The Lesson Beneath the Pressure
When McGee joined the Road to the Top program, he knew it would test him. Riders in the initiative are paired with elite mentors, given three horses to ride and show, and fully immersed in the professional world. They learn things from managing grooms to traveling on the FEI circuit. “Katie purposely paired me with hot horses, cold horses, and ones she knew I’d be uncomfortable with,” McGee said. “It’s a little sink or swim. It takes guts, it takes courage.”
Each horse came with a new set of challenges. Some required careful management of energy; others demanded a quiet seat and patience. McGee credits the program with forcing him to develop adaptability. “Katie set me up for challenges she knew I could succeed at, but also ones she knew I’d struggle with,” he said. “That’s on you as a rider to decide how much you want it and how hard you’re willing to work.”
The early months were intense. Moving across the country from California to Virginia meant adjusting not just to a new barn, but a new mindset. “There were growing pains,” he admitted. “It’s a little bit of culture shock, moving away from family and into such a demanding program. But once you reach that point where you become calm but focused, Katie respects your grit and confidence. That’s when the details start to matter.”
The Value of Showing Up
McGee credits Prudent’s mentorship with teaching him that resilience is more important than short-term perfection. “In this sport, you experience failure more than success,” he said. “When the bad days hit, you have to tell yourself to forget about perception and focus on reality. They’re still giving you horses to ride, they’re still giving you opportunities. So you keep showing up.”
He remembers feeling immense pressure during his first year in the program. “When you start out, all you can think about is wanting to be perfect—wanting to be perceived as a great student and respectful,” he said. “But bad days are inevitable. That’s when you realize it’s not about what they think of you. It’s about what you do next.”
For McGee, that realization changed everything. “Once you stop obsessing over perception and start focusing on your job, things fall into place,” he said. “Then your energy goes back into the horse and back into the program.” That mindset, he adds, is what defines success at Plain Bay Farm. “Katie values resilience. That’s what this program is all about, riders who keep showing up, no matter what.”
Lessons From Tough Days
When McGee talks about resilience, he’s not speaking in generalities. His first few months in Virginia were filled with mistakes, self-doubt, and lessons learned the hard way. “The good days are easy. You can look ahead and celebrate progress,” he said. “But it’s the tough days that define you.”
He credits the structure of the Road to the Top program for helping him build mental endurance. “Katie is tough, but she believes in you,” he said. “She sets you up for success, but she also tests whether you’ll still fight for it when things get difficult.” For McGee, that challenge has been transformative. “Once she sees that you’re going to show up every day, no matter how tired, no matter how frustrated, then the partnership grows. That’s when you start to see results.”
That mindset aligns closely with the program’s larger goal: preparing young riders to represent the United States on the world stage. “We want resilient riders to one day represent our country,” McGee said. “That’s what I’m hoping to do one day.”
Learning From the Best
Beyond grit, McGee says the biggest gift of the Road to the Top program is perspective. Working alongside accomplished professionals has shown him that even elite riders face failure. “Everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “Even the best in the world have tough rounds. The difference is how quickly they learn and move forward.”
At Plain Bay, resilience is about adaptability and humility. “Katie expects your A game every time you go in the ring,” McGee said. “But she also expects you to listen, reflect, and improve. That’s how you earn her respect.”
McGee says those lessons extend beyond riding. “Part of it is learning social skills, learning creativity, learning how to navigate this industry in a respectful, effective way,” he explained. “It’s not just about the jumps. It’s about being a complete professional.”
A Road Worth Taking
When McGee reflects on his time in the program, he doesn’t talk about ribbons or rankings. He talks about mindset. “Resilience doesn’t mean you never fall apart,” he said. “It means you get up faster every time you do.”
That philosophy carries through his daily work, whether he’s riding young horses, helping manage the barn, or developing his own mental game. “You can’t control when opportunities come,” he said. “But you can control how prepared you are when they do.”
Today, he approaches every challenge as a chance to improve. “The program has taught me so much about myself,” he said. “How to handle pressure, how to keep learning, and how to stay calm even when things don’t go to plan. Those are lessons I’ll carry for the rest of my career.”
At the heart of it all is one message he wants every young rider to hear: “Don’t chase perfection. Chase progress. If you keep showing up, everything else will fall into place.”
Want more insight from Trent McGee? Listen to episode 457 of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
