Setting A High Bar

She’s a leading equestrian, but her relationship with horses did not have an auspicious start. Georgina Bloomberg talks to Chloe Street about terror, tenacity and the value of a thick skin

- Chloe Street

Georgina bloomberg may be the daughter of the billionaire former mayor of New York, but politics is not her game, nor high finance. She does like an audience, though, and here, in the backstage VIP area of the Longines Masters in Los Angeles, her colour’s up after completing a show jumping course cheered on by an animated crowd. “I hated it at the beginning,” says the 34-year-old equestrian of her introduction to riding as a four-year old. She was “initially terrified,” but her stubbornness—and competitiveness with her older sister—kicked in and she “just kind of stuck with it.”

Her love of the sport—and performing in front of a crowd in particular—grew rapidly after her first equestrian competition at the age of six. “I think that’s what drew me to riding competitively, being in front of a crowd while people clap for you. I’m actually surprised I didn’t go into show business, because I’ve always loved being watched and being the centre of attention,” she says with a rapidity and concision that hints at a razor-sharp mind.

The petite and polished Bloomberg has won more than 50 Grand Prix titles, has competed on 10 Nations Cup teams for the US, and is currently ranked 15th in the US Olympic team. In July 2015, she was a member of the US team that won a bronze show jumping medal at the Pan American Games in Toronto, marking her first time representing Team USA in a major multi sport competition.