United States Eventing Association

Just over a month ago, freelancer Mary Jordan interviewed Gina Miles, who won the individual silver medal on Monday night at the Olympics with her longtime partner McKinlaigh. Obviously, we haven’t had the opportunity to chat with Gina since that glorious moment, but we thought our readers would enjoy reading about Gina’s thoughts and goals leading up to the Games. Did she accomplish those goals? I think we’d all agree she most certainly did! Look for this profile, along with many others as well as full Olympic coverage, in the upcoming issue of Eventing USA!

Be sure to check out Gina’s journal from her Olympic experience!

(Photos by Shannon Brinkman)

As told to Mary Jordan

Is this your first time competing in a Olympiad representing the United States? What does that feel like?

This will be my first Olympiad. It was such an honor to stand on the podium in Rio and see the American flag go up with the anthem playing. I can only imagine that experiencing that in an Olympic Games is 100 times more emotional. Just being a part of this process is an honor and an accomplishment, and I am cherishing every bit of it.

Does it get easier preparing for this Olympiad with your cumulative experience (such as going to the Pan Ams?) What have you learned from preparation for prior major competitions that helped you as you moved forward to this event? What mistakes have you made in the past that you would avoid doing this time?

I think having gone through other team experiences (the World Equestrian Games in Spain and the Pan Am’s last year) definitely help preparing for this. You have an idea of what to expect which always make you feel more prepared. Probably the most important thing that I have learned is to be vigilant over every minor detail, but also not to get paranoid and change anything major in your program. Sometimes you can make more trouble by trying too hard. You just have to trust that what you have done up until this point has worked and you should keep doing it.

You have a horse short-listed for the Games. What is the time commitment involved for preparing your horse for this major event and what is your routine? Does your horse require more dressage or jump schooling?

When we were over in England, it was easier to devote more focus and energy to my preparation. Taking care of McKinlaigh and working on my own fitness routine pretty much took all day. Before I left for England, McKinlaigh was walking on the treadmill for one hour each day, and doing a dressage school, and then galloping every five days. He mentally tolerates more dressage work than some horses, so I do more of those schools and fewer trot sets. I prefer to do lots of walking for fitness as I find it keeps the horses sounder. He stays pretty sharp without many jump schools, so I only throw those in every now and again when one of us needs a break from the circles.

What is the most significant trait or quality in your horse that you
admire and makes him a true Olympic caliber partner?

McKinlaigh is the best horse ever!!! Over our 9-year partnership, I have taken him from a 5-year-old up to the four-star level and he has taken me to Advanced, and to all of my firsts- three-star, four-star, World Championships, Pan Ams, Rolex, Badminton, Burghley and now Olympics. He is a very smart horse and LOVES this. There is nothing else he would rather do. His attitude is his number one quality. He really is a pleaser and wants to do the right thing, the only thing that worries him is when he makes a mistake… or when he has to get a shot! He is also fabulously talented and can hold his own in the dressage world, the show jump world and is incredibly brave cross country.

What did you and your horse do during the quarantine period in England?

We pretty much kept up our normal routines. The facility at Barbury Castle was gorgeous with lots of green, beautiful hills with super footing for hacking.

What special considerations do you make for preparing the horses for intercontinental travel?

We want the horses to be at their peak health and fitness. That mean being fanatical about their care, and making sure we are on top of any small changes that come up. McKinlaigh is on Wellpride, APF, Succeed, Platinum, Horse Quencher, Ulcer Gard, Legend and Adequan.

Outside of riding, what do you do to maintain a fitness regime? Do you run, lift weights, or eat any special diets? In general, how many horses do you ride a day?

Being at Barbary Castle earlier with only one horse to ride definitely required that we do something extra for our fitness. There I rode my bike back and forth to the barn, walked, and went to the gym. Mostly the focus is on cardio fitness and core strength.

What is your personal goal for this Olympics?

My goal is to have a personal best performance. Hopefully if we can get that done, it will be beneficial to our team result. (Editor’s note: Gina, congratulations on achieving this personal goal! We were all cheering you and Mac along the whole way!)

How does an Olympic competition feel different, than, say a Rolex, or a Badminton?

There certainly is the team camaraderie, although this is such a great group of people that I think we pull together and support each other in every big event, especially when competing overseas. With a big team competition like the Olympics, there is more personal pressure to deliver a solid performance, as you don’t want to let your team down.

What is the best way that you have found to deal with competitive stress?

Come home and deal with my children. After surviving dinner, baths and bedtime, competing in the Olympics is a cinch!

Is the waiting the hardest part?

Yes and no. The lead up to any three-day involves some stress where anything that can go wrong will. You learn to just ride it out, control the things that you can and don’t let the ones that you can’t get to you.

Tell us about your core support team. Who are they and what special skills, talents and personalities do they bring to your team?

My family is number one. They keep everything in perspective for me and remind me that no matter what happens at the barn, there is always more to life. My mother was with me helping with the children, as well as student Aria Johnson. My husband, Morgan was at home, keeping things running there, until he joined us in Hong Kong along with my good friend Sara Williams, who after attending a legal seminar for work will groom McKinlaigh at the Olympics.

Todd Gregory is here in England doing massage and chiropractic on me and McKinlaigh and keeping us both loose and in peak condition. Also back at home, Jennie Brannigan kept the horses going and Jennifer Wills and Katie Graham along with a couple of other good friends have organized fund raisers, so that I can make this happen.

What kind of music do you like? What was your first rock concert? If you had a theme song, what would it be?

Mostly music from the 80′s and 90′s. My first rock concert was Prince, the Purple Rain tour, that I attended with my sister. I pretty much love any music you can dance to, so give me a competitor’s party, the Grease medley, a table to dance on and I am good to go! So I guess my theme song would have to be “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. (Editor’s note: I saw Gina and her husband dancing at the Annual Meeting this year… I have to say, this girl can BOOGIE. She was so much fun to watch!)

Who motivated or mentored you to ride early on and what did they teach you?

I was a working student for David Adamo right out of high school and I learned so much working for him. He helped me get started with Brian and Lisa Sabo, so that when I started at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo I started working with them. Lisa really helped me move up to the Preliminary and Intermediate levels and encouraged me to try for Young Riders, which I never thought I could do. When I first got McKinlaigh as a 5-year-old, it was Brian who helped lay the foundation for his training to make sure no steps were missed along the way.

If you weren’t the rider you are and horses were not available to you, what would you be doing?

Probably have the time and money to go on a vacation.

What’s your favorite movie? What’s the last book you read?

I love the Lord of the Rings movies. I was hoping to find the time to see a couple of new movies while in England, like Indiana Jones, Sex in the City and Mama Mia. For books, Sophie Kinsella’s “The Undomestic Goddess” and before that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever got?

“Don’t let the highs get too high, or the lows get too low.” -Karen O’Connor

What did your parents encourage you to do growing up? Do you have siblings?

The best gift my Mother gave me was to encourage me to dream big. If you wanted it, you should go for it and not necessarily let reality get in the way. I have a sister, Toni, who is 38 who joined us in Hong Kong along with my Dad, step-Mom, Aunt and Uncle.

What’s the most successful thing outside of riding that you’ve ever done?

My two children, Austin 9 and Taylor 2.

What do your children think about the Olympics and your participation in them?

Taylor only knows that we are going to a horse show, but I think Austin is excited and understands the scope and magnitude of what we are doing.

How do you balance your sport, business and family? How hard is it to do and how do you try to integrate those close to you into that experience?

It certainly is tough to do. Most of the time I feel that I am going 90 miles an hour with my hair on fire. A very supportive family, group of friends, students, clients, owners and sponsors make it all somehow work.

Do you have a “pre-game” ritual prior to a horse show?

Not really. I just make sure I get something to eat like a protein shake so I can stay strong.

What is the first thing you will do after the Olympics?

Go to Disneyland. (Editor’s note: Have a nice trip, Gina…you earned it!)