November 2, 2020 
Coach Stacia Klein-Madden’s advice to Dominic Gibbs as he rode into the Alltech Arena for the 2020 ASPCA Maclay National Championship work off: “Do the freaking test.”
And that’s precisely what the 17-year-old did.
Gibbs and Cent 15 bested a record field of 255 combinations over three gruelling rounds designed by Bobby Murphy to ride away champion of the kingmaker of equitation finals at the National Horse Show. Previous title winners include Bill Steinkraus, Bernie Traurig, Jessica Springsteen and Lillie Keenan. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?
The Colorado Springs-based rider held the lead going into the final four and his composure.
“In the past I have had some issues with nerves, so I was just trying to keep myself calm and keep it under control to have the best round that I could for the second round. I think that really helping myself to calm down with breathing really helps a lot,” said Gibbs.
Watch his final winning ride.
The victory caps a spectacularly consistent season for Gibbs, who logged top-five finishes in all four equitation finals in 2020, including fourth place finishes in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and the WIHS Equitation Finals, and a fifth in the Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East.
Still more impressive, he did aboard an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding with no prior equitation experience.
“You know what impresses me the most is that Dominic took that horse from a stallion in Europe, to being one of the top equitation horses in the country,” said Klein-Madden.
“Other than a couple professionals showing him in some schooling classes here and there, and the kids getting switched onto him, Dominic has been the only one showing him in the equitation, so I really give him kudos for that.”
With still a year left in his junior career, Gibbs has his sights set on still more equitation titles in 2021:
“I will continue to compete in the other three equitation classes that I can and hope for the best next fall.”
