Geoffrey Bloomfield

Born on February 5, 1956, in Echuca, Bloomfield’s passion for horses began early, growing up alongside six siblings on his parents’ dairy farm.

He would ride seven miles to attend the Rochester Pony Club, often arriving on his pony ready to compete.

But it was around the age of 15 — after breaking in a home-bred horse named Prairie Moon and training him to Grand Prix level — that Bloomfield realised showjumping could be more than just a hobby.

It could become his life.

“I knew I wanted to make something of it,” Bloomfield said.

“It just burned inside — I wanted to ride. I’d come home from school, saddle up and go, and the dream just kept growing.

“Once you start winning, there’s no better medicine than a blue ribbon — it hooks you in.”

Prairie Moon was highly successful throughout Victoria and NSW, and placed second in his first World Cup class at Shepparton in 1984.

It was around a year after that result that Bloomfield turned professional and the sport became more serious.

“The game’s changed now. There are wealthy owners, supportive parents — back then, you just had to make it happen,” he said.

“You bred, trained, sold — that’s how we survived.

“I had to start making a living, breaking in horses, doing farrier work, training others. So, I went to work for Ralph Crosby — one of the first to bring warmbloods into Australia — and with Art Uytenndall, they owned Hanburg Warmblood Stud. I did this for 10 years.”

Alongside competing, Bloomfield also managed 600 head of red and black Angus breeding cattle, before moving to Shepparton and continuing similar work for another 10 years.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Bloomfield represented Australia in both the individual and team showjumping events, finishing equal 20th in the individual competition aboard Money Talks and helping the Australian team to a 10th place finish overall.

He said it was a career highlight, alongside participating in more than 100 World Cup qualifiers in Australia and New Zealand.

“The Sydney Olympics was a totally different experience to anything else — the Olympic Village, being with other athletes, the crowds. It was surreal,” Bloomfield said.

“Finishing 20th and being the best-performing Australian — that was probably the highlight.

“Hearing the anthem play when I won in Sweden at the pre-final world cup show, that’s up there too.”

Bloomfield’s consistent performances have made him a prominent figure in the sport, both nationally and internationally.

He has worked tirelessly across Australia managing properties, while breaking in and training hundreds of horses — all while continuing to compete.

From Royal Shows to international competitions, World Championships and World Cup Finals, there’s little he hasn’t done.

Today, Bloomfield resides in Benalla, where he continues to ride and train a team of home-bred horses alongside his daughter Jena.

“If it wasn’t for Jena being so keen, I might’ve hung the boots up after COVID,” Geoff said.

“But she keeps me involved. I still get out there and help her, and that keeps the passion alive.”

After decades in the saddle, Bloomfield says he’s never done it for the recognition — it’s always been about the horses and the sport itself.

“You don’t do it for the glory — it just becomes part of who you are,” he said.

“I’m proud of what we’ve done, sure. But at the end of the day, I’m just still looking for the next good horse.

“When you’re still out there riding, training, living it day to day, you don’t think much about awards. But to be recognised like this, especially by your own community — it means a lot.”