Press release from Riesenbeck International

Any championship is a special occasion, but for the 26-year-old Irish rider Eoin McMahon the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship 2021 is extra special. Not only is he doing his first ever senior championship – he is doing so as part of the young Irish team, alongside his friends, and it is a championship debut for all of them. And even though Irish, Riesenbeck International feels like home: Since July 2018, McMahon has been working in Riesenbeck for Ludger Beerbaum. 

”It is a great feeling riding here,” he says. ”When I started working with Ludger, the showground was not as it is today. It is really amazing to see the progression! It is a very proud moment for us to hold such an event, and for me, I am really happy that I can compete on the Irish team. It was one of my goals for the year, but it was quite a long shot – so I am lucky that it all fell in to place.” 

”It is special in so many ways,” McMahon explains about his feelings going into his first ever senior championship. ”Some of my best friends are on the team with me, and it is the first championship for all of us. Bertram (Allen) is the reserve rider, and he has done many championships before, but for the rest of us this is the debut. The decision to hold the Europeans despite the Olympics running in the same year, gave many riders like me a chance of a lifetime.”  

McMahon will be riding Chacon 2 (Chacco-Blue x Aventyno) – a 15-year-old gelding that has been previously competed by his boss Ludger Beerbaum as well as his colleague Philipp Weishaupt. ”I began riding Chacon when I started working for Ludger and he has been such a special horse for me,” McMahon tells. ”I did my first World Cup, my first Nations Cup and now my first senior championship with him. He is a once-in-a-lifetime horse for me: He has always been my number one horse and I have taken my time with him – and I think he has appreciated that. He does not have to do a five-star show every weekend; I focus on keeping his confidence up and only jump bigger classes about once a month. I don’t think many people expected we could make it here, but we did – and we will fight for it!”  

McMahon believes that the format of the European Championships will work for Chacon’s advantage. ”His best quality for sure is that he has so much blood, energy and quality,” he explains. ”Consecutive rounds here won’t be a problem for him, he will not get tired but will probably only get better. He has so much power and energy.”  

Chacon is owned by Ludger’s long-time supporter Madeleine Winter-Schulze. ”She has been unbelievable,” McMahon says. ”She owns two of my best horses. She is always watching; it would not matter if we would be jumping at two o’clock in the night, she would be up to see it. There is never any pressure from her, I know she is always there for me. I hope we can get a ribbon or a medal here to repay her.”