Michael Blake: Building the Irish Team, Building a Generation of Champion

⚠️ Important ⚠️This episode has been translated into English using AI for our international audience. Please note that all voices heard in this translated version are AI-generated and not the real voices of Antoine, Olivia, or Alysée.In this new episode of Beyond The Stables, we welcome one of the brightest rising stars of French show jumping: Antoine Ermann.Recorded at Equita Lyon, just before a weekend that would see him finish on the podium of the World Cup Grand Prix, this conversation offers a deep dive into the journey of a rider as talented as he is authentic.At just 24 years old, Antoine delivered the best French performance at the 2025 Senior European Championships in A Coruña. In this episode, he opens up about his family, his journey in the sport, daily life at Écurie Chevel, his first steps at the highest level, and the vision he has for his career.But as always on Beyond The Stables, what matters most to us is discovering the person behind the rider; and in Antoine we meet someone humble, grounded, sincere, and deeply devoted to his horses.A genuine, inspiring and unfiltered conversation with one of the names to watch in international show jumping.

Dans ce nouvel épisode de Beyond The Stables, nous recevons l’un des plus grands espoirs du saut d’obstacles français : Antoine Ermann.Enregistré à Equita Lyon, juste avant un week-end qui le verra monter sur le podium du Grand Prix Coupe du Monde, cet échange nous plonge dans le parcours d’un cavalier aussi talentueux qu’authentique.À seulement 24 ans, Antoine a signé la meilleure performance française aux Championnats d’Europe Seniors 2025 à A Coruña. Dans cet épisode, il revient sur son histoire, sa famille, son quotidien aux Écuries Cheval, ses débuts au plus haut niveau et la vision qu’il porte sur son sport.Mais surtout, derrière le cavalier de haut niveau, on découvre une personnalité humble, sincère et profondément passionnée par ses chevaux.Un épisode vrai, inspirant et sans filtre avec l’un des noms à suivre de près dans le jumping français.Bonne écoute!

In this episode of Beyond the Stables, we sit down with former Irish Chef d’Équipe Michael Blake, the man who helped shape one of the most dominant Nations Cup teams in modern showjumping.This episode is a little different from our usual ones. It’s the kind of story we don’t hear enough anymore.From earning his very first pony by milking a cow every day for a year, to breaking the world record in bareback high jump, to winning almost every Nations Cup there is, Michael’s journey through the sport is anything but ordinary. He takes us inside what it really means to build a winning team, how you develop riders, create depth, manage pressure, and ultimately bring a nation to the very top of the sport.We dive into the mindset behind Irish showjumping and the system that has shaped an entire generation of riders.This is a conversation full of insight, honesty, and experience from someone who has truly seen it all.A very, very special episode, and one you won’t want to miss!

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 !