After 18 years as an equestrian journalist covering World Championship competitions, I’ve now witnessed three U.S. competitors win individual gold medals in endurance riding and in driving. The most recent, Suzy Stafford, a 28-year-old driver from Delaware, earned the single pony title at the FEI World Combined Pony Driving Championship (p. 8) at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England.

It’s a great feeling to watch someone’s dream come true, and I’ve been fortunate to be at the finish line of three World Endurance championships when mother/daughter duo Valerie and Danielle Kanavy galloped to the titles. And at Catton Hall, it was another emotional, nail-biting finish, as Stafford drove Cefn Oak Park Bouncer to victory. As she held the lead going into the cones phase and as the final driver, it was all up to her to win or lose the medal. And it was all the more scripted when she dropped a ball and had time faults before crossing the finish line.

Afterward, Stafford said her achievement really hadn’t sunk in yet. And I suppose that’s a common reaction for young horsemen who win World Championship or Olympic medals early in their careers. Getting to the World Championships was one of her primary goals, but the path there was so full of unexpected twists and turns–including a last-minute replacement of her pony–that winning wasn’t foremost in her mind.

It’s clear that Stafford has remarkable talent, and it was fortuitous that she was able to join forces with an equally talented pony. In addition, she had a huge base of support every step of the way. And many of those supporters, veterans of the sport, know all too well that World Championship individual gold medals are few and far between. Adding this one to the U.S. collection–the first ever for a driver–is a watershed moment for the driving discipline and for the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

What’s wonderful about gold medals too is that they often take on a life of their own long after they’re awarded. After Bruce Davidson’s victory in Kentucky in 1978, eventing took off in this country, and the result today is the Rolex Kentucky CCI, one of the most prestigious three-day events in the world. This was only the second World Championships for pony drivers, and I hope that it’s just the start. And perhaps Stafford’s medal will inspire other young U.S. equestrians to take up the sport and it will grow in popularity.

So, where does this lead Stafford, a driver just starting her career? Just after she won her gold medal, I talked with her as she walked to the barn. I asked her what it means to win the World Championship? She didn’t give the answer I’d expected.

She said: “It means this weekend I did better than everyone else. Next weekend someone else may do better. It’s just a show.

“I just happened to have a good show at the best show,” she added with a smile. “So I think that’s what it means. I won’t be the best at every show–someone else will have a turn.”

So being the World Champion didn’t bring endorsements or fame or sponsors or money to Stafford’s mind. In her eyes, being World Champion means that for one moment in time you are the best, and tomorrow is another day.

Congratulations to all who made this day golden for the United States. For in today’s world where horses are often considered an industry rather than a sport, we saw true sport at Catton Hall.