Íñigo López de la Osa Franco has just ridden in front of a home crowd at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Monaco, one of the most technically demanding stops on the international show jumping calendar. The first Monégasque male rider ever to reach this level of the sport, he spoke to Monaco Life about what competing at home means to him, the bond between horse and rider, and the message he hopes to send to the next generation of Monégasque athletes.
Few show jumping arenas demand as much precision as Monaco’s. Built between the Formula 1 pit lane and Port Hercule beneath the Prince’s Palace, its compact layout leaves little room for error. For Íñigo López de la Osa Franco, however, it also means competing at home.
“Competing in Monaco is always incredibly special because it means representing my country, my home, and the place where I grew up. As a Monegasque athlete, wearing my country’s colours in front of my family, friends, and home crowd is a real source of pride,” said López de la Osa Franco. “I’m also deeply grateful to H.S.H. Prince Albert II for the trust and support he has always shown me. Having the opportunity to represent Monaco at this level is a privilege that motivates me to give my very best every time I step into the arena.”
From Spain’s youth teams to Monaco’s flag
Born in Monaco to a Spanish father and an Italian mother, López de la Osa Franco first rode for Spain in youth Nations Cups before taking up the Monaco Olympic Committee’s invitation to compete under the Principality’s flag. He represented Monaco at junior and young rider European Championships between 2021 and 2024, and trains in France under Simon Delestre, a former world number one, and his father Marcel Delestre. After making his Global Champions League debut in 2025 with the Stockholm Hearts, he joined the Monaco Aces this season as the team’s Under-25 rider, alongside names such as the Swedish Olympic medallist Peder Fredricson.
He points to steady work rather than a single moment as the reason his results have climbed.
“I’ve always given my all in every competition and every training session. I’ve always believed in myself and in my horses. The work we’ve done, and continue to do, is paying off,” said López de la Osa Franco. “Over the past year, I’ve become more aware of my abilities and my potential, and that has helped me achieve some excellent results.”
Chief among them was an eighth place in the Grand Prix at the Mexico City leg in April, riding Nascar Van’t Siamshof, a result that left him the youngest rider in the top ten of the overall standings.
Learning from the best
The Global Champions circuit, often called the Formula 1 of show jumping, puts him among the world’s leading riders week after week.
“I never stop learning. I’m still young, and I know there’s so much I can learn from my more experienced colleagues. That’s an important part of growing,” said López de la Osa Franco. “As an athlete, I try to mature and improve every single day.”
With the Monaco Aces sitting sixth of the seventeen teams in the league, there is plenty still to play for. “We don’t want to give up now, we are looking forward to the future. There are still seven stages left before the Riyadh Super Cup,” he said, referring to the league’s season finale, before adding of his home stop: “Monaco? It’s always a fantastic competition, well organised and full of enthusiasm.”
The bond with his horses
Ask him about the partnership at the heart of the sport and his affection shines through.
“It’s absolutely fundamental. I have a special relationship with each of my horses, and that relationship is different with every one of them. It’s something you feel deep inside—it’s difficult to explain,” said López de la Osa Franco. “It’s a genuine and authentic bond that no one from the outside can influence.”
A World Championship in his sights
The season builds towards a landmark. López de la Osa Franco has qualified for the Show Jumping World Championship at Aachen, in Germany, this August, and is set to become the first Monégasque rider ever to compete at one.
A message to young Monégasques
For a Principality with a proud sporting culture but few athletes at the very top, he hopes his rise can point a way forward.
“I’d love to see more Monegasque athletes representing our country at the highest level in the future, competing in the world’s biggest events. My message is simple: never stop believing in yourself,” said López de la Osa Franco. “The pride of representing your country should be the motivation that never allows you to give up.”
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Main photo credit: VSMedia.Equestrian and Horseframes