As the road to the 2025 Nations Cup and European Championships begins, the focus isn’t just on selecting the strongest riders—it’s about building a pathway that supports young athletes through every stage of development.

Today, we are going to explore how a more structured, athlete-focused approach is shaping Ireland’s youth show jumping programme for long-term impact. 

Some brilliant insights you’ll gain from this episode include:

• Creating structure, support, and a long-term vision for young riders
• A new leadership approach to reshaping Ireland’s youth programme 
• What selectors are really looking for at trials
• The importance of mentorship and team culture
• Preparing to compete on the European stage

With a new leadership team heading the Youth Show Jumping High Performance Programme, newly appointed Lead Consultant, Denis Flannelly and Youth Athlete Liaison, Liz Brennan join us to share the training and team values they’re implementing to reach big ambitions on the national stage. 

GUEST DETAILS
Denis Flannelly is Lead Consultant of the HSI Youth Show Jumping High Performance Programme and a highly respected Level 3 HSI Jumping Coach. Denis has years of experience as Chef d’Équipe and Jumping Manager, with a proven track record of developing medal-winning riders for Ireland on the international stage. 

Liz Brennan is Youth Athlete Liaison of the HSI Youth Show Jumping Programme. A cornerstone of Irish youth show jumping, Liz has a long-standing history of supporting young riders through every stage of their competitive journey. Liz plays a vital role in mentoring athletes, fostering team culture, and ensuring open communication between riders, families, and the performance team. 

https://www.horsesportireland.ie/horse-sport-ireland-announces-new-leadership-for-youth-show-jumping-high-performance-programme/ 

MORE INFORMATION

Check out horsesportireland.ie

QUOTES

If they just want to be better, that's the first thing for me. - Denis Flannelly 

Success breeds success. - Liz Brennan 

We're all about success, and our end game is European Championship podium finishes. - Liz Brennan 

Horse welfare for me is at the top. - Denis Flannelly 

Ireland is punching above its weight at the moment. - Liz Brennan 

There are four elements of success; physical fitness, mental fitness, technical education and tactical awareness. - Denis Flannelly 

KEYWORDS

#youth #showjumping #horse #welfare #coaching #athlete #competition #trainingprogram #equestrian