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

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!