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.