Meet her: Karen Polle

Karen Polle is a world-renowned equestrian specializing in show jumping. She competes internationally as a member of the Japanese National Show Jumping Team and, in 2018, was among the youngest riders to participate in the FEI World Equestrian Games. Karen is now making a determined push toward representing Japan at the 2028 Olympic Games, further solidifying her place among the sport’s elite. Beyond the arena, she has collaborated with luxury brands such as Hermès and Rolex, bringing a sophisticated lifestyle perspective to the equestrian world. She often speaks about the importance of balance and finding tranquility both in and out of the saddle. Once driven by scores and results, Karen now embraces a broader sense of fulfillment, seeing her life and purpose extend well beyond competitive riding.

We sat down with Karen to ask her questions about her career and personal life, emphasizing her new discoveries that success is not linear and balance is the key.

How do you use connection — whether with your team, your horse, or yourself — as a source of strength during high-pressure competitions?

I lean on my connection with my horse the most during high-pressure situations. I’ve been lucky enough to have a very strong bond with several really special horses over the course of my career. These were bonds that we built up over years and years and each time, I started to feel like we could do anything together. That connection, trust, and belief in our partnership helps me believe in myself, and that enables me to stay strong in the face of immense pressure.
How do you sustain your motivation through setbacks, injuries, or tough competition seasons?

It can be really hard, especially in this sport where we all lose a lot more than we win. We’re relying on a living animal who has his or her own opinions, good days and bad days, and who we can’t communicate with through spoken language. My enduring source of motivation is my horse Celine. She’s such an incredible athlete and she has such a big heart. If I’m feeling discouraged, I think about her, how much I care about her, and how lucky I am to have her in my life. That makes me want to show up, work hard, and keep trying to be the very best I can for her.
What role does consistency play in your success and how do you keep showing up even when progress feels slow?

Consistency is about showing up day in and day out and trying your best. I’ve definitely had many days where I feel exhausted, discouraged, and like my hard work isn’t paying off. I get really frustrated with myself when I feel like I didn’t do a perfect job or when I make mistakes. I’m trying to let go of all of that and recognize that as long as I show up and give it my all, whatever that means on that day, that’s what counts and that’s what will lead to success in the end.

How do you balance the intense commitment to your horses and training with your personal life, relationships, and wellbeing?

I’m still trying to figure this out! For a long time, I was very hyper-focused on my horses and my riding, and I didn’t have a lot of balance in my life. While that entailed a lot of hard work, long hours, and difficult sacrifice, it was in some ways an easier way of operating because it was simple. If something was beneficial to my riding, I would do it, and if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t.

I’ve realized, though, that nurturing other parts of my life is important, too. I’ve learned that I actually perform better as an athlete when I have more balance because I show up fresher and more energized and it helps me maintain perspective. This has introduced a new level of complexity, because my decisions aren’t binary anymore. I’m still working on trying to find the right balance. I suspect the answer lies in being intentional about picking times to focus on each, and once I’ve allocated that time, to be extremely present and “in the moment”.

What have your horses taught you about trust, patience, or communication that you’ve carried into other parts of your life?

They’ve definitely taught me to have a lot of patience! They’ve also taught me that patience pays off. I’ve learned through my horses that it’s only through hard work and dedication over long periods of time that true trust and communication are built, and that the end result is so special and completely worth it in the end. Another way they’ve taught me: I think horses are such inspirations and such great models for behavior. They’re so quick to give. They’re so trusting, so generous, and so patient. They can really teach us a lot about how to be better people.