Wind back the clock and imagine yourself asking your parents if you could take a horseback riding lesson. Raise your hand if they gave you that look and said, “No, sweetie. What about soccer?” Coco Fath’s story began in a...

One of the first things you’re taught as an equestrian is that falling off is inevitable, and that it’s not a matter of if, but when it will happen. We come to accept the risk and chance of injury in exchange for the adrenaline and joy we feel when riding. A serious fall nearly cost Hall of Fame race jockey Victor Espinoza everything, but his miraculous recovery and return to riding is a prime example of the resiliency of riders.

On a sunny California morning in the summer of 2018, Victor was going about business exercising Thoroughbreds at the Del Mar Racetrack. That day, the 2015 Triple Crown winner was piloting an up-and-coming colt, Bobby Abu Dhabi, for a training session. Coming down the stretch at a full gallop, Bobby Abu Dhabi suddenly crashed to the ground. Victor was subsequently tossed through the air like a rag doll.

Rick Maynard has spent his life with horses competing internationally in eventing, show jumping, and dressage, and he coaches both Olympic jumpers and pentathletes. Rick was short-listed for the Canadian eventing team for the 1976 and 1984 Olympic Games, but...