A Day In The Life At Will Coleman Equestrian
Fresh off an incredible win at the 2025 Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S in Kentucky this spring, American three-day eventer Will Coleman is busy preparing for his next international upper-level appearance.
Soon, he and Off The Record, or “Timmy,” will jetset to Germany, hoping to clinch a win at CHIO Aachen for a second time. Coleman made history in 2021 when he became the first American to win the CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen with Off The Record.
“Timmy feels great,” Will said of his 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding. “He had a very short break after Kentucky and has been back in work getting ready for Aachen for the last several months. We continue to be surprised at how well Timmy ages. He’s still showing us that he’s enjoying what he’s doing and hopefully has a lot left to do.”
Coleman and Timmy are part of the Defender U.S. Eventing Team competing in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup team event at Aachen, led by Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law and team leader Chrstina Vaughn. His American teammates include Phillip Dutton and Possante, a 213 KWPN gelding; Boyd Martin and Commando 3, a 2013 Holsteiner gelding; and Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding.
“The caliber of the competition and the level of horsemanship on display (at Aachen) is some of the best of the best. It’s an unbelievable horse show. I find it really inspiring to be there for the week,” Coleman said in an interview on Episode 137 of the Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast in June. “It’s motivating for me for the rest of the year.”
Coleman said the horses are looking great in team training events ahead of the flight to Germany.
“We want to serve the squad well,” he said. “Our mentality is to contribute to a Team USA result this year.”
Heels Down caught up with Coleman to learn more about what his daily routine looks like as he manages his horses at the top of the sport, while running the farm in Ocala, Fla., training young horses and teaching clients.
“I wake up early each day and I like having a bit of time to myself. So I spend about an hour in the office scouting horses or watching training videos. Then the dogs and I hop into our Yanmar UTV and cruise down to the barn,” Coleman explained.
In the summer months, he gets an early start on riding, which can last until mid-afternoon.
“I first check in with our staff at the barn and go over the horses, making sure there are no concerns. Once I start riding, that’s really my day. I keep riding until the afternoon, where I’ll teach some,” Coleman said.
“It’s pretty full-on. It’s a long day, but you know the saying, ‘if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life?’ Most days that’s how I feel.”
Coleman also manages several projects going on across the farm, including some excavating to create new cross-country obstacles and maintaining his gallop track in the fields. He credits his fleet of Yanmar equipment as essential for day-to-day farm work and those bigger projects.
“There’s a piece of Yanmar equipment that positively affects every piece of my day,” said Coleman. “From our UTV called The Bull, which we use to move jumps around or take equipment to pack the trailer, or hay to the paddocks or to teach lessons on the cross-country field.”
Coleman described using different tractors for larger jobs, like jump building, and arena and gallop track maintenance.
“My Yanmar tractors are essential for that,” he said. “They support everything we do with our horses.”
This article is brought to you by our partner, Yanmar. From dragging arenas to hauling hay, maintaining pastures and more, Yanmar tractors are built for the demands of equestrian life. Whether you’re caring for a few horses at home or running a busy boarding barn, Yanmar delivers the power, comfort, and reliability you need. Trusted by riders, barn owners, and even a few friends of the podcast—discover why Yanmar is Built Better. Backed Longer.