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With Ludger Beerbaum’s former ride Mila (Monte Bellini x Linton), Eoin McMahon helped Ireland to team silver at the FEI Jumping European Championship 2023 in Milan, Italy, and placed 9th individually. 

Taking over the reins on a mare known to be extremely sensitive from one of the best in the business was not an easy task though. “There was pressure and I felt it,” the 28-year-old Irish rider tells World of Showjumping about the process of getting to know the talented mare. “However, Ludger was always there with me, and he never once made me feel like he had any pressure on me. I have been lucky because he knew her so well and he shared everything with me; he told me what would happen in certain situations, he knew exactly how to help us as a partnership. Him being there every step of the way gave me a great sense of comfort in the whole situation.”

Eoin, who grew up surrounded by horses, always wanted to be a professional rider. As soon as he was finished with school in Ireland, he left for Germany and started to work for Carl Hanley – also Irish. “I worked for Carl for four years and then I had a bit of an injury in 2016 and we did not know how long it would take, so I took some time out, left Carl and for about a year and a half I did not know what to do or where I was going.” 

Before his injury in 2016, Eoin was part of the Young Riders Academy and through their program he got to go to Marco Kutscher. “It was a real privilege to see him up-close and get to work with him,” he tells about the experience. “I think Marco is one of the best in the world. It is incredible how much of an emphasis he puts on the basics, and on rideability. How easy riding looks for him is ridiculous, but it does not happen by accident; he works so hard and is such a pure horseman. He never rushes the horses; you never see him in a competition with a horse that is not ready. The time I spent with Marco opened my eyes to what it takes to get to the top.” 

In 2018, after some time off and unsure of which direction to take in his career, Eoin asked Ludger Beerbaum if he could start working in Riesenbeck – and got a ‘no’ as an answer. “However, I asked if I could just come over for a month, and he agreed to that,” Eoin recalls. “And five years later, I am still here. I had the mindset that whatever happens, I will just do my best,” he tells about his first days in Riesenbeck.

“I knew everyone starts at the bottom here, so I wasn’t surprised. I was really lucky when I first started, because Christian (Kukuk) gave me the best advice I have ever gotten. He told me that the young horses are the most important for Ludger, and if I would do a good job with them and if I worked hard, I would always get a chance. And I think that has proven to be right, until now – if you do your job well and are passionate about what you do, you will get a chance. When I first came to Riesenbeck, I worked in Ludger’s stable, and then when Richie (Vogel) left, I was moved over to Philipp to be his assistant rider and after a year in this role, I got my own stable. Now, I have about 13 horses on my list.” 

“I was quite lucky when I first started because I had one horse from a previous owner, Nabab’s Atlanto, that I could bring with me,” Eoin continues. “I was lucky to be a part of the Young Riders Academy as well and that got me invitations to some good shows, like Münster and Geneva. When I got to ride in Geneva, Ludger told me to take Chacon 2 (Chacco-Blue x Aventyno) with me rather than only going with one horse. I was very fortunate how everything worked out from the very beginning, as one thing led to another. For me, Chacon was the best horse I had; I loved him and I really wanted to make it work. I think with a sensitive horse like him it made a big difference that he was my number one.” 

In 2021, Eoin was part of the Irish team for the European Championship in Riesenbeck. “After a few of the Irish horses got injured, I managed to get into the team, but there wasn’t a lot of expectation on us,” he tells about his senior championship debut. “However, Chacon jumped so good that week, every round he got better and we managed to finish 8th individually –  which I was so happy with.” 

The road from the 2021 Europeans in Riesenbeck to the 2023-edition in Milan was far from straight-forward for Eoin. “Last year, was my first on our GCL-team – with Chakra 9 (Casall x Quidam de Revel) and Chacon. That was the focus and I did quite a few of those shows, and we had a good year with the team as we managed to win the GCL – which was our goal. This year, I spent the winter in Wellington. I went there with some sales horses and after Chakra got sold and Chacon retired, I just had young horses when I came back.”

However, in March 2023, Beerbaum broke his hip while competing in Doha. “He expected to be back riding in a matter of weeks, but that did not happen, so he asked me to do a few shows with Mila, just to keep her fit and in competition mode,” Eoin recalls. “I did a two-star in Riesenbeck, then went to Madrid and Balve, and she was always good. When Ludger was fit again, he rode her in Aachen. He didn’t tell any of us that he was going to retire there, and after, he told me that I could have Mila. It was a shock actually, I did not expect that at all. That is one thing that I have learned in Riesenbeck; you never know what is around the corner. Whatever you think is going to happen, there will always be something else – the best thing to do is to simply keep working. And Ludger, he is a sportsman at heart and he always wants his riders to be competitive.” 

After Eoin and Mila were placed in the Grand Prix in Madrid, the Irish Chef d’Equipe Michael Blake called – asking if the two would be available for Nations Cups for Ireland. “Madrid was our first five-star show, so I was more hesitant and thought we should wait and see,” Eoin tells. “And, at the time, I knew Ludger was going to Aachen with her. When Ludger announced his retirement, I was in Aachen, and so was Blake – and he told me directly, ‘we need her on the team now’. A few more weeks passed, and the first show I rode Mila was Riesenbeck. Although she was clear in the Grand Prix, I didn’t feel like I was riding her that well, and I was supposed to go to Hickstead with the Irish team the week after. I spoke with Ludger and we decided not to rush it; we needed a few smaller rounds with her. The change of rider with such a sensitive horse like her was maybe not in her favour, so we needed to take the foot off the gas for a few weeks to make sure she was comfortable with me. That is what we did, so I didn’t think that Blake would put me on the team for the Europeans. Therefore, I was quite surprised when he told me that I could go to Milan. It was a big leap of faith, but it was more about the fact that Mila is so good – you kind of have to take her.”

As the weeks leading up to Milan went smooth, Eoin felt confident going into his second senior championship. “I thought we could do well,” he tells about his expectations ahead of the week that resulted in a team medal. “The first day, Mila jumped great, and I thought the course suited her. She is such a naturally fast horse so I considered that even without taking any risk we could be in the top ten, and that is what happened. The first team round she jumped really good, but I made a mistake after the water. In the individual final she jumped super, I could not believe we had a fence down. I think it was one of our best rounds as a partnership. I had the feeling she knew what to expect from me, we put in three really consistent rounds and even though I had an unlucky rail here and there, I left Milan with the feeling that it is all starting to work for us now.”  

“Mila was a very sensitive young horse,” Eoin continues to speak about the now 11-year-old mare. “I remember when Ludger started with her, I don't think many people could have imagined she would turn out the way she did. He always believed in her though, and he did all the hard work with her when she was seven, eight and nine. He never gave her a negative experience and made her feel comfortable and confident and I think that has made it all easier for me. Mila was ready made when I got her; all the hard work had been done by Ludger. She is still not easy, but the real hard work had been done.” 

Being part of the Beerbaum-team is a huge privilege, Eoin says. “Being in a good environment, surrounded by great riders, it rubs off on you – even unconsciously. It is great to have riders like Ludger, Philipp and Christian around and if I need help, I always get it. However, you have to be self-sufficient. Ludger is always there if you need him, but he is not going to babysit anyone. I would say he more manages from a distance; you have to come up with your own ideas rather than wait to be told what to do.”

Eoin believes that it is possible for anyone to reach the top, but that you have to surround yourself with the right people. “Even if there isn’t an obvious opportunity at first, as long as you are in the right environment and surrounded by good people – that is all that matters in the end. And you have to be willing to go and make it happen,” he points out. “You have to enjoy the day-to-day aspect of it, that has to be the most enjoyable part. What I enjoy the most, is the daily stuff, and I find that winning or achieving something is always kind of an anti-climax. However, the championships are the highlights for me and I do aim for those moments. When I started to ride Mila, Ludger told me she is a horse I can do the Olympics with – and I think Milan has been a stepping-stone towards Paris. That motivates me, trying to do the Olympics next year. It would be a goal of a lifetime, actually, to get there and do well.” 

“It is an exciting time to be an Irish rider,” Eoin concludes. “It is hard to get into the team, but it is exciting and everyone is very ambitious. I think Sweden has kind of set the standard, and that is where we want to get to – even though they are maybe a year or two ahead of us. I really admire Henrik von Eckermann and how much drive and determination he has, and that is what I want to do as well. And as a team, we want to win what the Swedish have won. They are so strong, so united – that is the standard at the moment and where everyone else has to get to. I believe that for us Irish, in a few years, it is achievable.” 

12.10.2023 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.