Lillie Keenan: Intelligence and Dedication at the Heart of U.S. Showjumping

In this episode of Beyond the Stables, we sat down with one of the best riders in the world: Nina Mallevaey.At only 26 years old, Nina is already World No. 7 and the highest-ranked woman in the sport. Just 24 hours after recording this conversation, she went on to win her first 5⭐ Grand Prix in Brussels.But as always on Beyond the Stables, this episode is not just about results. It’s about getting to know the person behind the rider.Nina takes us through her entire journey in the sport, her family, from her early years to competing in her first senior European championship, and the experiences that shaped her along the way. She speaks about the importance of the people around her -especially the Rein family, whose support has been instrumental in her career, and her trainer Helena Stormanns, who has played a massive role in her development both as a rider and as a person.What stands out immediately when talking to Nina is her incredible humility and gratitude. She is constantly acknowledging the people who have helped her along the way and the team behind her success. But listening to her story, it becomes clear that while she is surrounded by an amazing support system, her success is also something she has built herself through hard work, determination, and the courage to embrace opportunities.Beyond her achievements, Nina might just be one of the kindest, warmest and most genuine people we have ever met. In a world that often moves too fast, she reminds us that kindness, humility and authenticity are not weaknesses,  they are strengths.This is a conversation about journey, gratitude, ambition, and staying true to who you are.

Recorded in the heart of Rome at the iconic Piazza di Siena, this week’s episode features American showjumper Lillie Keenan - just one day after helping Team USA secure a Nations Cup victory.Lillie takes us through her journey from an early debut in the sport to competing on some of the biggest stages in the world, and shares what it really takes to get there: the confidence, the self-belief, and the doubts along the way. We talk about her partnership with McLain Ward, how she’s balanced elite sport with her studies at Harvard, launching her own show jacket brand, and the mindset that allows her to keep progressing at the highest level.As always on Beyond the Stables, we go beyond the results to get to know the person behind the rider  - and with Lillie, it’s her thoughtfulness and intelligence that make the difference.

Today’s episode comes to you from Rotterdam, during the third leg of the Longines League of Nations™, where we had the chance to sit down with someone whose name has been echoing louder and louder across this circuit.If you watched the World Cup Finals in Basel this year, or have been following Team USA’s journey across Europe, you already know who we’re talking about: the incredibly talented and wonderfully down-to-earth—Alessandra Volpi.From discovering horses in the English countryside as a child, to navigating the California and East Coast circuits, to studying at Stanford all while still chasing the big dream in the jumper ring—her journey has always been driven by heart.What sets Alessandra apart is not just her talent in the ring, but her mindset. She has this remarkable ability to stay grounded, to find confidence, to embrace the learning process (even when it’s a bit messy) and to put her horses first, always. Combine that with a sharp, analytical mind and you see someone who approaches the sport with thoughtfulness, strategy, and insight ! It’s this quiet strength, intelligence, and authenticity that have made her standout ! In this conversation, you’ll hear about the teachers (two-legged and four-legged) who helped her reach the top level. You’ll hear how she navigated setbacks, her story with her incredible mare Gipsy, and manages pressure in a sport where expectations can feel overwhelming. Alessandra also gives us a glimpse into the American showjumping world, a perspective Europeans are always curious about.She is thoughtful, warm, incredibly candid, and so inspiring. We loved getting to know the person behind the red Team USA coat, and we’re sure you will too. So settle in and enjoy meeting Alessandra Volpi.

We’re taking you to La Baule, where we sat down with one of France’s most grounded and quietly determined young riders — Lara Tryba.Lara grew up surrounded by horses on her family’s breeding farm in the north of France, and from a very young age, hard work and horsemanship were part of her DNA. After years balancing studies, work, and riding, she made a bold decision — to go all in on her dream and move to Belgium, where she now trains under Marlon Zanotelli as part of the Ashford Training Program.What stands out about Lara is her calm confidence and her deep love for the process — whether she’s pairing mares and stallions back home, or building her partnership with her horses in the big arenas. She’s a true believer that “slow and steady is what makes you last the longest.”We talked about everything — from her My Lord and Diamant bloodline obsession, to what it’s really like training in one of the sport’s most admire & family-oriented stables, and how she’s embracing the long game of building a career in top sport.Lara is thoughtful, humble, and incredibly driven — a perfect example of the new wave of French riders shaping the future of showjumping. We loved every minute of this conversation, and we can’t wait for you to get to know Lara Tryba.

Today’s episode is a special one, as it’s among the very last we recorded during our time at the Sunshine Tour earlier this year, and it brings this incredible series to an end. We had the chance to sit down with Belgian rider Andres Vereecke, someone whose name you might already know: he’s the son of the renowned show jumper Koen Vereecke, but whose story is very much his own.In our conversation, Andres opens up about the unique balance of running a business while competing at the highest level, the challenges and rewards of working so closely with his family, and the lessons he’s taken from sport and business. At Beyond the Stables what matters is to get to know the person behind the rider and what shines through is his passion and dedication for the sport: qualities that translated into a great conversation! Let's dive in!

We recorded this episode at the Sunshine Tour earlier this year, with a guest who is now a member of Team Great Britain. But you might have known her from before (maybe from her YouTube channel) and followed her journey from the very beginning with her crazy ponies. If you’re like me, you’ve been rooting for her way before her showjumping success. You guessed it: we had the absolute pleasure of spending some time with Jess Hewlett.Jess is now representing her country around the world, but her journey wasn’t easy or straightforward. She built everything from scratch. She didn’t come from a horsey family, bought her first ponies with all her savings, and look at her today.One thing that stands out about Jess is how she always finds the good in a horse and makes it work, no matter what. She knows how to seize every opportunity and turn it into success. It’s her hard work and dedication that brought her to where she is now.Jess has built a community, and today inspires the equestrian world. But as you know, here on Beyond the Stables, we’re all about getting to know the person behind the athlete ,and she is genuine, warm, real and so much fun! We had an amazing time chatting with her, and now it’s your turn to get to know Jessica Hewlett!

Today’s episode was recorded back in February at the Sunshine Tour, and to keep those sunny vibes going, we’re bringing you a brilliant young rider flying the flag for Portugal.She rides for Portugal, but with her deep Irish roots, she’s equally at home in Kilkenny. Today we are bringing you the incredibly talented Molly Hughes Bravo. Growing up surrounded by horses in her family’s Hughes Horse Stud, Molly has lived and breathed this sport from day one. She’s already made her mark in ponies, and now she’s working with a determination that’s impossible to ignore.In this episode, you’ll hear about her journey, her unique Irish-Portuguese identity in the sport, and the family that shaped her. Most importantly, you’ll get to know Molly as the bright, hardworking, and warm person she is - someone we know deserves to be in the spotlight.Trust us, you don’t want to miss this conversation !

Over the past few weeks, one young rider has been turning heads in the world of showjumping. He’s Irish, incredibly talented, and right now he’s shining bright on the 5* stage. We’re talking about none other than Seamus Hughes Kennedy.Since we recorded this episode back in Geneva, Seamus has made his Nations Cup debut at the 5* level — and within just a few weeks, he jumped double clear in the Grand Prix of Rome, double clear in the Nations Cup of La Baule, and followed it up with brilliant rounds in Rotterdam.Thanks to this streak of top performances, he’s officially been selected to represent Ireland at the Senior European Championships. It’s a massive milestone, and such a well-deserved one.In this episode, Seamus takes us back to where it all began — The Irish countryside on his sister’s wild pony — and how that start led to the world’s biggest showjumping arenas. He also shares what’s clearly a huge part of his success: his family and loved ones. If you’ve been to a show, you’ve definitely seen them — warm, passionate, and always by his side.With all the great work Seamus has done recently, we couldn’t resist asking Irish Chef d’Équipe Michael Blake what he thought. As he puts it, “Seamus is intelligent and talented, and Rocky is a freak.” So buckle up — this is just the beginning for this incredible duo.And as we always say on this podcast, our goal is to get to know the person behind the rider. Despite all the recent success, Seamus remains so humble, grounded, and kind. down-to-earth.

We recorded this episode in Geneva with someone we’re really excited about: Jules Orsolini. He’s our first French guest recorded in English, and he just happens to be the reigning European Young Rider Vice-Champion.He’s one of those young riders who are equally driven in and out of the ring. He’s as passionate about basketball as he is about showjumping, he studies business at university alongside his riding, and he’s thinking beyond the arena. In this episode, Jules opens up about what it means to represent France, to join the Young Riders Academy, and to balance sport with studies and other passions. We say this often, but it’s true: we want to meet the person behind the rider. And today, you’ll get to know Jules. He is ambitious, sharp, and not afraid to carve out his own path.Today, we’re kicking off something special. This is the very first episode of our Young Riders Academy series. If you’ve been listening for a while, you know that many of our past guests have come through this prestigious program, supported by Rolex. It’s more than an academy—it’s a launchpad for future champions. So, we thought it was time to turn the spotlight on the newest members of the 2025–2026 class.

This episode marks the first of our special Geneva specials, and who better to kick things off than the future of Swiss show jumping herself? Yes, you heard that right. At just 20 years old, she made her 5* Nations Cup debut in Calgary, arguably the toughest show on the calendar. Today, we're joined by Géraldine Straumann.In this episode, you’ll get to know Géraldine: her incredible journey so far, how she met her dream horse, the iconic Long John Silver, she also shares the important role her family plays in her career, the decision to leave Switzerland and join the Schou Stables, and, of course, a series of memorable anecdotes that have shaped her path.As always, what matters most to us is getting to know the person behind the rider. And Géraldine? She’s truly one of the kindest, most thoughtful people we’ve had the pleasure of speaking with: curious, open-minded, and always eager to learn.We had such a great time recording this episode with her, and we’re sure you’re going to enjoy it just as much.