No Free Ride

There is no coat-tail riding for Georgina Bloomberg. Granted, she has been afforded privileges most of us can only dream of, but she has made good use her advantages. She’s written books, the proceeds of which have gone to her charities Friends of Finn and The Riders Closet, she’s raising her son single-handedly, and she jumps big jumps. She’s quite the original girl, and a success story one feels is just starting to be told.

Since interrupting her show jumping career to have her baby, Jasper, in December 2013, she’s come back better than ever, winning grands prix in New York City and on the Florida circuit. Her recent record led to team selection for the Pan Am Games and at age 32 she fulfilled a long-held ambition by contributing to a US team medal in an international championship.

How do you juggle being a single mom with a riding career and all your other commitments?

Time management. It’s very difficult to do with so many distractions, but I’ve learned this as a mother. Now that I have less time for riding, I really appreciate the time in the saddle and I’m more focused. When I’m at the barn I focus on riding, and when I’m at home I completely focus on Jasper.

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It’s also taught me how important it is to deal with failure. In this sport, the bad days vastly outnumber the good. Now when I have a bad day or a bad round or a bad show, I have to shrug it off, put on a smile, and take care of my son. You can’t feel sorry for yourself or stew on your loss; you have to put it behind you and wake up the next day and try just as hard. Having to do that has given me a little kick in the ass that I needed.

You have two barns: one in New York and one in Wellington. Who is where and how does it work?

I have ten competition horses that move back and forth depending on the season, plus some retired horses and rest horses which stay at Gotham North.

What’s your daily schedule like?

It’s different depending on where I am. In Florida we are there to compete and that’s my focus. A lot of mornings I’ll go to the gym, come home, have breakfast with Jasper, and if it’s not a show day I’ll ride and then quit at lunch. Then I’ll do errands and be a mom and take Jasper to gymnastics and swimming lessons; that sort of stuff. I’m lucky that my farm is close to the show grounds, so I can pop back and forth a lot on show days. When I am up north I spend less time riding and more time with family and friends and my charity. Charity work takes up a lot of time, but I really enjoy it. Writing is on hold for a bit now, because I really want to focus on the riding. When you are well and the horses are well, you really have to take advantage of that. I’ve had so many times in my career when I’ve not had either or both and it’s set me back. When you’ve tasted the other side, you really know how to appreciate when everything is going in your favour.

How did you get started?

My mother is British and she always had horses and wanted us to ride. My sister started having lessons and I followed. I was four when I started riding and six when I started competing. I actually didn’t like riding to begin with. I was terrified at first, but I loved competing! I did hunters until I was 18. I did very well in hunters and I loved it, but it was, um, “political.” When I did win it wasn’t because I rode well, it was because the horse was this or that. But you can’t buy victory in jumpers; you really have to work hard and that’s what I love about it. When I was 19 I got together with Jimmy Doyle, who is still my coach today, and he placed a lot of significance on the Young Riders Championships, so NAYRC became the goal. It was the first time anyone had said to me that I needed to stop and think about what it was I wanted to accomplish and then focus on that goal. So we worked our asses off and our team, Zone 2, won gold. The following year I won individual gold.

Was there a turning point in your riding career when you thought ‘I can really do this’?

In 2004 I made the USET’s Developing Rider Tour – it was amazing, a real eye-opener. It was the first time going to a European show and really seeing what the sport could be. Being part of that team and then making my first World Cup Final and then making the senior team was certainly significant for me. Before that I really had never considered myself a good rider. I have no natural talent; I really have to work for it, but it’s given me staying power and a work ethic and taught me how to lose. You see so many kids who have natural talent but no work ethic, and they start winning but can’t handle losing. That happens a lot. I was very lucky I learned to lose early!!

Were there any sacrifices to be made?

Absolutely. I loved team sports and had to give them up. Socially, as a teenager growing up in New York City, no one understood what I was doing or where I was going every weekend. And now sometimes I suffer a bit from “mommy guilt” when I’m out doing what I want to be doing and not spending that time with Jasper.

Other than horsepower, is there another ingredient that gives you an edge?

Knowing that you can’t let failure kill you. I have a quote on my tack room door, so I see it when I leave at the end of every day: “Courage doesn’t always roar; sometimes courage is a small voice at the end of the day saying try again tomorrow.”

How would your family describe you?

Rebellious and outspoken. My father would also call me stubborn, but I get that from him.

What would you have done if riding hadn’t taken over?

It would have been something artistic. I did a lot of painting, drawing, pottery, and photography growing up. I wanted to go to art school, but I decided I couldn’t do both. If I hadn’t been involved with horses, I would have been jewelry designer or a fashion designer. I would like to have my own equestrian fashion line and that’s something I would still consider.

Where’s your favourite place in the world?

Bermuda. My godparents used to live there. I have wonderful childhood memories of summers there. My father has a house there now and I go anytime I can. There’s a beach near the house where hardly anyone goes and the water is always perfect and the sand is always perfect. My happy place is sitting on that beach with a Dark and Stormy (Gosling’s rum and ginger beer) and my best friends.

Where would you like to go that you haven’t been?

Anywhere in Asia. I’ve travelled a lot, but it is one part of the world I haven’t explored.

Do you have a health and beauty regimen?

I’m outside all the time, so sun block is something I am religious about. My mother taught me the value of looking after your skin. I enjoy eating healthily and I genuinely love exercising and going to the gym. I’ll go five times a week, twice for cardio and three times for Pilates. I also do laps in the pool to loosen up after riding.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Celebrity gossip! Manicures and pedicures … but I don’t feel guilty; I’m completely okay with it!

Do you have any advice for young riders?

Work your ass off and learn to put bad days behind you.

A team bronze medal and 11th individually at the Pan Am Games – not bad for your first championship with Lilli!

I got more than I hoped for: I really wanted a medal; we got a medal. I wanted to do well for the team – that’s always the most important aspect for me. Anything that happens other than the Nations Cup is just icing on the cake.