World Cup Toronto Reflections: Conor Swail Reminds Riders that the Path to the Top of the Sport is Far From Linear
- Catie Staszak
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
One of my favorite views in all of show jumping: the ingate of the Coca-Cola Colisseum at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, Canada. Photo by Mackenzie Clark
It's hard to believe I'm nearly halfway through my eighth full season on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League.I'm Catie Staszak, and if you've watched a World Cup show jumping event in the last decade, you may have heard my voice. I was 24 years old when I first spoke into a microphone with an FEI mic flag on it. It changed my life. I'm now the NAL's color commentator, lead journalist, and social media manager. I also run the media management company Catie Staszak Media and was the head of equestrian research for NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which somehow earned me an Emmy Award. In between events, I'm riding and caring for my horses, and I jumped my first FEI Grand Prix earlier this year. Everything I do, I do with the aim of becoming the best horsewoman I can be and helping to grow the mainstream exposure of equestrian sport.
Throughout my travels, I'm incredibly fortunate to often see the sport through a lens that many don't have access to. I wake up after a late night on the NAL and on many occasions think of something I wish that I could have included in my press release but didn't quite have the right space. So, I've decided to create such a space. Welcome to Sound Bites, where I make a rollback (See what I did there?) to my greatest reflections from events around North America (and occasionally elsewhere).
I'm kicking off the Newsletter with one of my very favorite stops on the tour: Toronto's Royal Horse Show.
Conor Swail (IRL) and Casturano - winners of the 2025 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto (CAN). Photo ©FEI/Mackenzie Clark
This photo by Mackenzie Clark perfectly sums the prevailing theme of this year's World Cup qualifier at the Royal: Conor Swail (IRL) is still as hungry as ever. His reaction encapsulated the reward of developing a talented horse and having it all (finally) come together.
Swail and Casturano ("Stan") were brilliant in topping a three-horse jump-off over Olaf Petersen, Jr.'s (GER) short course. The round was trademark "Swailer," with Swail maintaining perfect balance in the saddle as he tossed his reins away over a (very) long distance to the jump-off's second fence. In the first round, he managed to jump the final—and most technical—line of the course without his right stirrup iron. There are few riders with as much natural ability in the saddle as Swail.
I've gotten to know Swail over my eight years on the North American League, during which time he's won other qualifiers at Vancouver, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Fort Worth, and Washington (!!!!!). He's become easy to root for in many ways: He always takes the time to say hello, and when he asks how you are doing, he also takes the time to listen and have a real conversation with you. He gives honest answers to questions. He usually has his dog Ralph in close proximity. And in a sport where it's so easy to compare yourself to others, Swail is a reminder that everyone's path to success is different, and it's never too late to achieve your goals. After all, his best season didn't come until he was 51 years old, when he was the World's fourth ranked jumping athlete in 2022.
In Toronto, Swail was flanked by two extremely talented 21-year-old athletes: Skylar Wireman and Mimi Gochman. These two young riders' trajectories differ greatly from Swail.
"Not many people know this, but when I was 24, 25, I was still jumping in 1.30m and 1.40m [classes], so I had never jumped at the higher level at all until I was a little bit later in my career. It was slow coming for me. I suppose my major successes have came over the last three or four years, and I'm just into my fifties.
I feel that I'm still very relevant, even though these guys might think I'm a little older. I'm still very passionate about [the sport] and still very hungry. I really enjoy what I'm doing. It's all about experience. You learn every day."
-Conor Swail
Maybe Swail just makes this 33-year-old late bloomer feel like she's perfectly on time to reach her own goals in this sport.
Stat of the Class: Gemma W's Longevity
The field for the 2025 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto remarkably featured three previous winners of the class. I am not talking about riders here: I mean horse and rider combinations.
Alex Matz & Ikigai: 2024
Daniel Bluman & Gemma W: 2023
Daniel Coyle & Legacy: 2022
Bluman's partner Gemma W had the most impressive statistic. This incredible mare has finished among the top 10 of the class in each of the last four years. What a horse!
Gemma W in Toronto
2025: 6th
2024: 7th
2023: 1st
2022: 2nd
If the North American League Finished Today...
Here's who would earn a ticket to Fort Worth for the Finals:
Where I'm Stopping: The Library Bar
Within the confines of the Fairmont Royal York hotel is the Library Bar, Toronto's famed "cocktail den." The first year I commentated at The Royal, my dear friend and co-commentator Adam Cromarty brought me here, and I've made a point to stop in for a drink every year. The bartenders have worked the venue for more than two decades and always have great conversation and a libation concoction to serve up. In the midst of a chaotic fall season of travel, I've come to associate the Library Bar with a rare opportunity to enjoy a moment of calm and reflection, whether on my own or with friends. This year, the bartender brought me this magical nightcap before I departed. I wish I knew what it was called to order it again. Until next time!
Next Stop: LA
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League continues with Leg 4 in Los Angels at Santa Anita Park, host of equestrian sport at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Tune in live on FEI.tv on Saturday, November 22 at 6pm PT.
What I'm Reading
From World of Showjumping - Todd Hinde: "More Engagement From Our Community is Vital to Our Sport"
From Chronicle of the Horse - At 60, Laura Kraut's Love of Horses Never Gets Old
From The Horse - Managing Insulin Dysregulation and Preventing Laminitis in Metabolically Comprised Horses: the Latest Research-based Recommendations from Experts
From The Plaid Horse - Rethinking Retirement: What a "Good Life" Means for Horses