Gumberg '02 jumps to top of horse riding shows

Politics major Amanda Gumberg '02 may appear to be the typical Princeton junior, busy working on her junior paper and coursework. In her spare time, however, she is a champion horseback rider and show jumper. She recently took time to discuss her hobby with 'Prince' staff writer George Spencer.

'Prince': How long have you been horseback riding? How frequently do you ride competitively?

Gumberg: I began riding at the age of seven, however I was never really interested in riding until I was about 11, the year I began competing. During high school, I rode every day and competed two to three weekends a month, as well as during all breaks from school, especially the summer.

Since I came to Princeton my competition calendar has changed quite a bit. I now only compete once, maybe twice a month, and try to make as many horse shows as possible during school breaks.

P: How did you initially become interested in riding?

G: I began riding because I wanted to do everything my older sister did.

P: What is show jumping?

G: Show jumping is one of the three disciplines of equestrian events, where you compete over — i.e., jump over — a course of obstacles in an enclosed ring. The goal is to complete the course with the least amount of faults in the least amount of time. Faults are incurred when you knock down rails, if you stop at a fence or if you fall off, and unfortunately all of these things happen rather frequently at the top level.

P: What have been your more recent accomplishments and accolades in the area?

G: Within the past few years I have won four team gold medals and one individual silver medal at the North American Young Riders Championships, located in Chicago, Colorado, Harrisburg and Palm Beach.

This past summer I was second and fourth in International Grand Prix's of Italy — in Modena and Ferrania — and was Leading Lady Rider at the Pavarotti International Horse Show in Italy. This winter I competed in Palm Beach, Florida, and finished third in the Amateur Hall of Fame Show Jumping Rankings for the season.

P: There are rankings?

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G: Each age category usually has a ranking at the end of each season, and professional rankings run throughout the course of the year. There are also national and international rankings. I compete in the amateur division on two of my horses, and in the Grand Prix's on two other horses. The Grand Prix is the biggest class of a horseshow, and is conducted more formally than other classes — [with] formal dress, and federally imposed rules.

P: What is your current ranking?

G: I'm not really sure where I rank right now. Before I came to Princeton I was first in my division, but I don't know what's happened since I've tried to keep up with my classes here at Princeton.

P: How have you managed to maintain your riding through college? What does your riding training regime include?

G: I have only been able to maintain my riding through college because I have basically cut out practicing. Unfortunately, I do not have the same daily training routine that I had when I was home, but I still go to horseshows.

Fortunately, however, I compete on multiple horses, and can therefore use the horses that compete in the smaller divisions as practice for the bigger classes.

P: Do you have a part in training the horses you ride?

G: Each time I compete on any of my horses it's a learning experience for both the horse and myself. In a way, I am always training the horses I ride so as to create a compatible partnership. When I am not around, my horses are kept in shape to maintain their level of fitness that is necessary to compete at a certain level.

P: Where do you practice your riding in the Princeton area?

G: When possible, I practice at my trainer's facility located outside of Clinton, New Jersey, or at the United States Equestrian Team site, which is in Gladstone, New Jersey.

P: What kind of horses do you ride?

G: All of the horses I ride are European bred. We bought a horse last year that was named Clint Eastwood. The first time I competed, the announcer said as I came into the ring, "Here is Amanda Gumberg riding Clint Eastwood." Many a head turned in the crowd, and the horse's name was changed that afternoon.

P: What are your goals?

G: I had dreamt of trying out for the Olympics but school stood in the way last year, and this thing called work and the real world has really put a damper on my time to ride. I will always enjoy having the opportunity to compete as an amateur and have athletics to balance out my academic workload, but I think riding will have to wait on the back burner until I have sorted out what profession I'd like to pursue.