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Few riders have matched the longevity of Margie Goldstein-Engle’s show jumping career. With decades of Grand Prix victories, team medals, and Hall of Fame honors, she’s seen nearly every phase of the sport. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: her willingness to learn from every horse she’s ever ridden.
“The sport is ever evolving,” Margie said. “You have to try and keep knowledgeable and keep evolving with it. Every new horse teaches me something.”
Built to Last
Longevity at the top level doesn’t happen by accident. Margie’s trademark grit has become legendary. Throughout her career, she’s ridden through injuries that might sideline most athletes. “As I’ve gotten older, you don’t heal quite as quickly,” she admitted. “I try to have a little more self-preservation than I did in the past. I don’t ride as many of the young or difficult ones as I used to.”
It’s a more measured approach, but not a less passionate one. “You bounce back differently than when you’re younger,” she said. “I’ve cut way back on the numbers and how many hours I do a day, but I still love it.”
At the height of her career, Margie once completed seventy-plus rounds in a single day—a mix of hunters, jumpers, and young horses. “I don’t think my back would hold up to that now,” she said with a laugh. But even in scaling back, her enthusiasm hasn’t dimmed. “Your ideas and goals change over time,” she reflected. “At this point, I’m focused on being as competitive as I can with the horses I have.”
Lessons From the Greats
Margie has worked with some of the most iconic horses in U.S. show jumping history. Each one, she said, left a distinct imprint on her riding.
Saluut, the clever stallion who helped define her early career, was known for his intelligence. “He was so intuitive,” she recalled. “If I even thought about turning, he was already turning. If I thought about slowing up, I didn’t even have to pull on the reins. He’d back himself up.”
Then there was Royce, her powerful partner known for his strength and temperament. “Royce is one of the most powerful horses I’ve ever ridden,” she said. “He’s got a great temperament, and his offspring seem to have quite a bit of jump.”
Even now, retired and in his twenties, Royce remains sound, a testament to the care and patience Margie invests in her horses. “He’s still perfectly sound and probably could do it easier than some, but he’s too old now,” she said.
Her current string includes Jack of Hearts, a horse she almost didn’t try. “He was built like a giraffe,” she said with a laugh. “But once I got on, I realized he really wanted to figure it out. He’s careful and has a big heart.”
Different as they are, her horses all share a defining quality: try. “They give you that unconditional try,” she said. “As long as you don’t break their trust, they’ll keep fighting for you.”
The Drive That Doesn’t Fade
Margie has watched the sport evolve from big galloping courses to technical, time-sensitive tests. She credits her adaptability to years spent riding every type of horse. “The more time you can spend with different horses and horses of all ages, the more knowledge you gain,” she said. “It gives you a lot more tools in your toolbox.”
What keeps her showing after so many years? “It’s the passion for the horses and the connection you get with them,” Margie said. “The challenge of finding another one that can do the top level. It’s getting more difficult, but it’s what keeps me going.”
Margie’s goals may have evolved, but her motivation hasn’t. She continues to seek that next special partner that loves the job as much as she does. “At this stage, I just want to stay as competitive as possible with the horses I have,” she said. “They keep me learning, and they keep me young.”
Want more insight from Margie Engle? Listen to episode 456 of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
