Olympic eventer Karen O’Connor has been appointed the new coach of the Mexican eventing team and will assume the role immediately. She’ll train the team for major events including the Pan American Games in Toronto this summer and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in 2016.

After suffering a fall and serious back injury in 2012, O’Connor was forced to take a step back in her competitive career.

When her husband, David O’Connor, was named the U.S. eventing chef d’equipe in 2013, Karen had to stand down from her involvement in several high performance committees and decided to pursue other options.

She spent much of 2013 in Europe, developing a horse and rider matching import business with four-star eventer Marilyn Little. She also bought herself a show jumper and has been dabbling in the sport ever since.

“Eighteen months ago, I based myself in Holland and learned a lot about their system and the breeding and at the same time, I was getting back to riding and purchased a jumper myself to compete with,” she said. “I got to see all of the FEI competitions within Europe and became very familiar with their national classes. That was hugely educational for me. My stamina continued to build and my back kept getting better.”

Last year, Karen spent most of her time at her home base in The Plains, Va., and traveling the country teaching lessons and clinics.

This fall, she was approached by Jaguar Land Rover Bromont CCI*** (Quebec) organizer Sue Ockendon, herself a big supporter of eventing in South and Central America, about a job with the Mexican eventing team.

Karen traveled to the country in November and accepted the position, and she’s excited to help the sport in the area.

“There’s been an enormous effort over the past few years to have many of the countries in both Central and South America improve [their] programs for eventing and a lot of work from a lot of people,” she said. “Sue has been very busy down there, John Williams has been very busy down there with site design and course building and design.”

With the support of Mexico’s equestrian federation and army, Karen has begun working with riders, most of whom have ridden to the CCI* level, on gaining their qualifications for the Pan Am Games this year.

“I’ve worked with many of the riders and I’m delighted with their ability and the commitment they have to want to become competitive on the world stage,” she said.

Of the nearly 18 riders who are Pan Am candidates, a handful have purchased more experienced horses and many are planning to compete in the U.S. this spring. Karen explained that some may base themselves near her farm in The Plains this summer to train.

She hopes to gain an invitation for her riders to the new Great Meadow CIC*** (Va.) in June, which is already serving as a Pan Am selection trial for the U.S. and Canadian riders.

Karen was quick to point out that eventing in Central and South America is on an upward tick, with several top riders already coaching some nations. Four-star riders Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Peter Gray are coaching the Venezuelan and Guatemalan teams, respectively, while Olympic gold medalist Mark Todd is chef d’equipe to the Brazilian team.

Karen will travel to Mexico several times between now and March as riders compete in FEI events, including a new CCI** at Perote in Veracruz, Mexico.

“I think one of the biggest things is not just how much of a great opportunity it is for me, but the bigger picture here is the excitement of the possibility of having not just Mexico, but some of the other countries in both Central and South America be able to qualify for the Olympic Games,” she said. “That would be great for eventing and equestrian sport because the more countries we can have represented in the Olympic program, it helps to secure equestrian in the Olympic Games. For me, that’s a really big project and it’s huge for all equestrian.”