Over the past few years, Georgina Bloomberg has exercised an admirable degree of patience. She knew the right horse to bring her back to the top levels of the sport was out there, and she wasn’t going to settle until she found him.
“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve really had a top grand prix horse,” Georgina says. “I think any rider will tell you; you really have to have the right horse to give you the confidence and to give you the results. When I am riding, I’m 100 percent focused and I work hard, but I’ve also sort of taken a step back from it in the last couple years knowing that when the right horse did come along I would 100 percent dedicate myself to that again.”
On October 20th, Georgina entered the ring for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Del Mar knowing that just two of 27 riders that had jumped up to that point had been able to put forth faultless efforts over the Marina Azevedo (BRA)-designed track. Moreover, she had only jumped off on her new mount, the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Chameur, once before. By night’s end, she found herself rounding out the podium with a third-place finish as one of just three double clear rounds on the night.
Ask Lindsay Douglass to describe her horse Butterfly Tibri Z, and she is more apt to show than to tell.
“You have to meet her,” she’ll say.
Never has a truer statement been spoken. While the 13-year-old Zangersheide mare may have a nickname reminiscent of an adorable small palomino pony – “Butters” – she has a personality larger than life.
The dynamic duo, who skyrocketed into the spotlight with their performances at the four- and five-star level this year, has a pretty special relationship. Lindsay is often her own groom, and at the Washington International Horse Show, she could be found plaiting Butters’ mane a few hours before jumping in her first indoor World Cup qualifier. When she stepped off her ladder, Butters rested her head on her owner’s shoulder, and her lips quivered in delight while Lindsay scratched her withers. Earlier in the day, they could be found walking the streets of downtown D.C., where Butters eagerly introduced herself to the young children participating in the morning’s “Kid’s Day” event.
Sports, it seems, place a hefty weight on youth. With youth comes strength, energy, vitality. But there’s also something to be said about the wisdom, skill, and excellence that comes with age. There’s nothing like time to produce the kind of calm confidence that sets the seasoned athlete apart from the young guns. When it comes to the Titans of horse sport, there’s a group of dressage horses proving that the distinction age often trumps the sparkle of youth, especially when it comes to topping the podium on the international stage.
Three top riders in the sport – USA’s Laura Graves, Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour, and Germany’s Helen Langenhenenberg – are showing the world that their mature partners, four-legged 'dudes' who have 'been there, done that,’ are nowhere near slowing down. On the contrary, it seems like the reign of these skillful gentlemen is just getting started.
America’s new ‘golden girl,’ Adrienne Sternlicht, has two feet firmly rooted on the ground – a natural groundedness that is increasingly impressive when you look at the lightning-fast trajectory of her professional riding career. There’s something else there too; an excitement that seems to radiate off the 25-year-old rider.
The up-and-comer, a member of the NetJets U.S. Show Jumping Team at this year's World Equestrian Game, is a perfect lesson in juxtaposition – focused and collected while simultaneously wearing her heart on her sleeve. She famously wept tears of joy at the official World Equestrian Games press conference in Tryon, N.C., following Team USA’s thrilling gold medal victory. She candidly shares her experiences and feelings in a way that is exceptionally refreshing in the world of sports. Digging deeper, she seems quite careful to not let all of this newfound stardom go to her head. She’s here to make her mark as an athlete, but she hasn’t forgotten to enjoy the ride – especially when that ride in on board her horse of a lifetime, a gold medal hanging around her neck.