Jon Holling

Having sat on a horse for the first time when he was just a toddler, Ride iQ coach Jon Holling is a lifelong horseman. Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jon spent his early childhood riding and horse showing with his local 4H club. It was here that he discovered his love for competition, and when he was 14, he was introduced to the sport of eventing. He was instantly hooked!

During his senior year of high school, it started to become obvious that Jon wanted his life to revolve around horses somehow. He considered a career as a farrier and even tried it out for a summer. He opted out of going to college and instead got his first Advanced horse and became a working student for Peter Gray (shoutout to another fellow Ride iQ coach!). Jon moved to Toronto and worked for Peter, who at the time was the coach for the Canadian Olympic Team.

After completing his time with Peter, Jon struck out on his own and started his own training and coaching business. Soon after, he moved to Ocala, Florida, where his business continued to grow and thrive, and he found himself sat on some very good horses, mostly of his own making. One of the things Jon loves most about equestrian sport is the time and dedication it takes to build a true partnership with a horse and bring it up the levels.

In 2012, Jon won the Bromont CCI3* (now CCI4*) and was a member of the 2012 Nations Cup Team at Boekelo in the Netherlands. He has continued to rise up the levels, competing at top international events around the world, including Burghley CCI5*, Kentucky CCI5*, and the World Cup Eventing Finals in Malmö, Sweden. Also a successful coach, Jon has led the Area IV Young Rider team to multiple gold medals. In whatever “free time” is left after riding, coaching, running a barn, and raising a family, Jon is dedicated to increasing safety in eventing, acting as Chairman of the USEF Eventing Sport Committee and National Safety Officer.