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When Margie Goldstein-Engle talks about breeding with the same grounded perspective that defines her career. For one of the most successful riders in U.S. show jumping history, producing young horses is about accepting uncertainty and playing the long game.
“You never know what you’re going to end up with,” she said. “You want Grand Prix horses, and sometimes you end up with hunters, but they’re all good in their own way.”
Margie has spent a lifetime developing horses for every level of the sport. These days, her small breeding program at home is more hobby than business, but her curiosity and care for the process run deep. “I’ve always kind of played with breeding… it’s more of a hobby,” she said. “But it’s fun to see how they turn out.”
The Bloodlines Behind the Breeding
One of her mares, originally purchased by owner Mike Pulaski for Hidden Creek Farm, is “very Thoroughbred type” with “a lot of blood.” “She’s by Numero Uno, and we bred her to both Bachman Zio, which is a stallion I rode for them, and to Royce,” Margie said.
The pairings were intentional. “The mother is very high-strung, and Royce has a great temperament. Hopefully that’ll blend well together,” she added.
That search for balance between blood, brain, and bravery is at the center of her breeding philosophy. “So far they seem very nice, very smart, very well balanced, and great to work with,” she said. “But you never know until you start jumping them.”
Lessons From a Lifetime With Young Horses
Margie’s understanding of bloodlines is earned through decades of breaking and developing young horses. “When I was 12, I started breaking ponies and horses because of my size,” she said. “People would send ponies and horses to the farm for me to break. Later, when I turned professional, breeding farms sent me young horses to bring along and sell.”
She’s been hands-on with every stage of the process ever since. Margie has spent her entire career riding young, green, and sometimes difficult horses—skills that serve her well when evaluating foals and prospects. “You hope they’ll get the best traits from the mother and the sire,” she said. “That doesn’t always work, but it’s what you aim for.”
The Mare Matters Most
For all her admiration of famous sires, Margie believes the mare’s influence is often underestimated. “I really think a lot has to do with the mare… a little more comes from the mother’s side,” Margie said.
That insight stems from watching generations of offspring from her own stallions, like Saluut and Royce. “Saluut’s were very easy to work with. Great temperaments and very well balanced,” she said. “Royce is one of the most powerful horses I’ve ridden, and his offspring seem to have quite a bit of jump, but it’s still early.”
Breeding is rarely predictable, but attention to character and rideability goes a long way. “You want to blend the best traits,” she said. “But you also have to accept what you get.”
Breeding in a Changing Sport
The modern jumper ring looks very different than it did when Margie started. Courses are more technical, often in tighter rings, and those trends influence the traits she values most in a young horse. “You want something that’s adjustable,” she said. “Short-coupled, built a little more upright, lighter type. That’s what seems to do well now.”
She still prioritizes heart and desire above all else. “You need the temperament and the heart to really want to do the job,” she said. “They need to be agile and have enough power to jump the big jumps, but careful enough to handle the technical courses.”
A Gamble Worth Taking
Despite the risks and uncertainty, Margie finds joy in the process. Watching foals grow, learning their personalities, and seeing flashes of familiar traits keeps her invested. “You never know what you’re going to end up with. It’s a big gamble,” Margie said with a laugh. “But it’s exciting when you see pieces of the horses you loved come through in the next generation.”
For Margie, that’s what makes breeding worth it. Every young horse represents both memory and hope. Breeding is a living bridge between the greats she’s ridden and the future stars she might yet discover.
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.
