As Ireland’s high-performance show jumping squad heads into one of the busiest periods of its competitive calendar, Performance Director Michael Blake is juggling form, fitness, and future planning with energy, ambition and a twinkle in his eye.
“We’re getting into the thick of it now,” Blake says. “We’ve got Aachen coming up, and we’ve had a really good run over the last few weeks.”
He’s not exaggerating. Ireland recently claimed two Nations Cup victories on two different continents within five days, adding to a five-star win earlier in the year in Abu Dhabi.
“To be able to win in three different continents — that’s a really difficult thing to do in a sport like ours. I’m very proud of this group.”
Depth of Talent
What’s most remarkable is the depth of talent emerging. Blake points out that no single rider featured across all three of those winning teams.
“We have three full teams, maybe more, that can win at the highest level. That’s what I set out to build when I started back in 2012 with the Young Riders Academy.”
His mission has involved more than just riding skills. The Academy includes education in media, veterinary care, finance, and even how to get a lorry licence.
“Being able to ride the horse is only 50% of it. These young people also need to be businesspeople. They’re leaving home at 18 with their knapsacks, mucking out stables, and learning how to succeed in a different pond.”
Cultivating Culture
Blake says the success of younger riders, such as those who helped Ireland win in Rome for the first time this year, stems from a deliberate effort to expand the base and create opportunities.
“Other countries stuck with the same gene pool for too long. We didn’t. That’s why countries like Sweden and Switzerland are struggling now — and we’re not.”
The change hasn’t been without hard conversations.
“When I came in, there was a hierarchy. I had to clear that down. There was no resentment, but I saw things differently. If we didn’t keep adding talent, we’d run out.”
Senior riders, to their credit, have embraced the shift.
“They’ve mentored the younger ones. We sit down at the start of the year and plan the whole calendar. Not everyone can be in Dublin or Aachen, but they all have a role to play.”
Selection Decisions
Blake doesn’t shy away from the pressures of selection, especially with the European Championships looming.
“I have it all planned out, but it doesn’t always go to plan. You make plans and God laughs, right?”
Even the best-laid plans are at the mercy of the unpredictable nature of the sport, especially in the equine world.
“We’re dealing with live animals. A horse can step on a stone and be out. And sometimes you don’t need to have the hard conversation because the decision makes itself.”
The Olympic Drive
The Paris Olympics disappointment still lingers.
“We were in line for a silver medal right until the last horse. And then it just didn’t go our way. We felt like we let the nation down.”
“It’s a strong way to put it, I know. But it’s how I feel.”
Now, all eyes are on Los Angeles 2028, though the venue and the distance poses logistical challenges.
“We’ll have to minimise the time horses spend in the environment. Horses don’t need as much climatisation as people, but the dust and the heat are tough on them. We’ll plan for that.”
“We bring horses away for the winter to get them used to heat and all sorts. At least in Ireland in the winter the frost kills off the bugs. When you’re in a warmer environment though there’s different challenges.”
“There’s bugs in the sand and if your groom doesn’t take the utmost care in washing down a horse, and towel drying them, those bugs can climb up a damp patch on a leg, gets in and causes an infection. There’s a lot that you wouldn’t even think about, until you do.”
Horse or Rider?
When it comes to selection, does Blake favour the best rider or the best horse?
“It’s a very good question. Ideally both. But in pressure situations, I might go with a better rider on a slightly lesser horse. That’s no guarantee either. But we’ve had podium finishes 78% of the time — that’s extraordinary.”
Still, he knows more must be done.
“We’ve been close. We lost the World Championships by 0.6 of a second. That’s an eyelash. But we bounced back — we won Aachen four days later with a completely different team. The depth is there. Now we need to convert more.”
With Nations Cups, European Championships, and the countdown to LA well underway, the mission is clear.
“Consistent winning has to become normal. That’s the level we’re at — and we’ve built the structure to support it.”
For Michael Blake, it’s been a long journey, from the hurling stronghold of St Flannan’s in Clare, to the heights of Olympic participation, but Ireland is now a global force. And as he puts it with a grin:
“I created a monster… and I’m proud of it.”
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