New Podcast: Devon Kane on Freestyle Magic, Life on the Move, and Why Vamos Wasn’t for Sale After All

From riding bareback in the fields of South Texas to competing on international stages, Devon Kane’s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast, she talks about the rise of her freestyle partner Vamos, what it feels like to represent the U.S., and the unique rituals she shares with her husband, fellow Grand Prix rider Kevin Kohmann, when either of them is about to step into a competition arena.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation below

From Backyard Quarter Horses to Grand Prix Freestyle

Kane grew up in South Texas, where horses were part of daily life but dressage was still a world away.

“I grew up riding in a halter bareback in the field,” she recalled. “Then my best friend started doing hunter-jumpers, and I thought it was the coolest thing.” A bad fall ended her jumping career early, but it led her to a dressage barn and to the discipline that fit her “Type A” personality perfectly.

Her career has since taken her to the biggest stages in the sport, including representing the U.S. in Nations Cups. She calls it “a privilege, not a pressure.”

A Partnership on Horseback and Beyond

Competing at the top level can be isolating, but Kane has the rare experience of sharing the journey with her husband. Kohmann is not only her partner in life but often her first line of support at the barn. 

When both ride on the same team, that support system shifts. “It was different, because I had to get ready, he had to get ready, and we couldn’t always watch each other. That was tough, but it was also really special to be doing it together.” It is a glimpse into how their relationship balances professional pressure with personal connection, and how that bond strengthens both riders in the ring.

Vamos: The Horse Who Almost Wasn’t

When Kane bought Vamos, she knew he was talented but not yet ready for the top tier.

“He was skinny and angular, and even Kevin [Kohmann, her husband] told me, ‘I don’t know if he has what it takes.’”

She refused to sell, trusting the process. That faith paid off with a 75% freestyle in Wellington that ended the debate. 

Under the Lights

Freestyles are Kane’s favorite class, and Vamos thrives on them, especially at night.

“He hears the music and the horse just [exhales],” she said. “Those are his most relaxed tests."

Their newest freestyle blends Enrique Iglesias and Despacito, a nod to Kane’s South Texas roots.

Lessons from a Near Miss

In Hagen this summer, their debut with the new freestyle looked like a win until Kane learned she had accidentally omitted a required element. “Two zeros took me from winning to last place,” she said. 

“Lesson learned. It won’t happen again.”

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