At just 22, Íñigo López de la Osa Franco is already rewriting Monaco’s equestrian history, becoming the first male Monegasque rider to compete in the FEI Jumping World Cup and qualifying for the 2026 World Championships. Quietly ambitious and relentlessly disciplined, he has emerged as one of the Principality’s most promising sporting talents. We meet the young champion carving his name into the record books.

When Jan Tops, founder of the Global Champions League, personally selects you for his elite circuit, you know you’ve arrived. For Íñigo López de la Osa Franco, that call represented the culmination of years of discipline, sacrifice and an unwavering focus on reaching show jumping’s highest level.

“I was very happy. It’s always been a dream of mine to be part of the Global Champions League,” Íñigo tells me at his family’s stables in Ventimiglia, Italy, reflecting on his selection for the Stockholm Hearts team. “We’d always had a team in the past, but I was too young to be involved. Two years later, I was jumping in bigger classes and thought it would be a great opportunity. I couldn’t be prouder to be competing at that level.”

The Global Champions League is often called the Formula 1 of equestrian sport, and the comparison is apt. Only the world’s best riders compete across seven stages in some of the planet’s most stunning locations. For Íñigo, the step up from junior competitions has been transformative.

“As Jan Tops said, ‘I want the best for the best,'” Íñigo explains. “You’re competing in the most beautiful places in the world. The shows are amazingly organised, and the level is the highest you can have in the sport today.”

An enfant du pays

Born in Monaco in 2003, Íñigo represents a rare breed in the Principality — a true local who has grown up immersed in the Principality’s culture. When he made history as the first male Monegasque rider to compete in the FEI Jumping World Cup in Verona, the achievement carried extra weight.

“Representing Monaco is amazing, especially because I was born here and grew up here,” he says. “I’m an enfant du pays, as we say in Monaco. That makes a big difference for me. Those of us who were born here, who went to school here, who learned the Monegasque dialect — getting the passport is an incredible opportunity. I’m very happy to be riding for Monaco at this stage.”

His path to representing the Principality wasn’t straightforward. Íñigo’s career began with Italy, then Spain — following his father, Spanish champion Íñigo López de la Osa Escribano. At 17, he switched to Monaco when an opportunity arose to build a team with fellow riders Stazia Nielson and Stena Cabanova.

“At 18, I was lucky enough to get the Monaco passport, so I could represent the Principality at any stage,” he says. The decision has defined his career, allowing him to write new chapters in Monaco’s equestrian history.

Training with the best

Since 2024, Íñigo has been based in Metz, France, training under Simon Delestre, the former world number one who won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The experience of working alongside Olympic medallists daily has shaped his approach to the sport.

“Without hard work, you don’t get anywhere. Simon is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen,” Íñigo says with evident admiration. “He’s always there, trying to achieve perfection, always wanting to do better. For him, every horse is a new story. He studies each one, makes sure he knows every horse inside and out to give us the best chance at every stage. He ensures the horses have the best conditions, and he’ll spend hours at night working on it. That’s what makes him the rider he is today.”

That dedication to excellence has rubbed off. Íñigo’s daily routine reflects the same commitment: mornings spent riding all his horses, afternoons in the gym working on physical conditioning.

“Not many riders actually go to the gym and train. I’m happy to be one of them,” he says. “Since I started training, I’ve definitely improved with the horses. It’s like any sport—if you train, you have a better chance of being successful. You can see the best riders in the world are at the gym, so it’s clearly important.”

The Global Champions League experience

Competing in the Global Champions League has taken Íñigo from Doha to Mexico City, Saint-Tropez to Rome, with each stage presenting new challenges and experiences. His debut in Doha stands out as a particular highlight.

“My debut in Doha was great. Mexico was amazing. Every show had its important moments, but I still think my debut with the team in Doha was the highlight,” he recalls.

But nothing compares to competing at home. When the Global Champions League came to Monaco, Íñigo had the rare privilege of performing not only in front of his home crowd, but also Prince Albert II.

“The day of the team competition, the Prince was there. That was really special. He came to support us, and the Monegasque crowd was fantastic,” he says.

The partnership with horses

With 25 international wins across nine different horses, Íñigo has developed a reputation for adaptability and horsemanship. Building those partnerships, he explains, requires time and genuine connection.

“Spending time with them, getting to know them — it’s important to create a bond,” he says. “Especially when you reach the most critical moment in competition. It’s very stressful for everyone, but if you know your horse, you know it will be okay. You just have to create that bond.”

One partnership stands above the rest. Jade, a mare he’s competed with at the Junior European Championships, holds a special place.

“She’s one of my best horses and has a special place in my heart,” Íñigo says. “We’ve been through a lot together — beautiful moments, but also difficult ones. She’s always been there for me. She was the first of many, so I’d definitely say she’s my favourite.”

His love for working with horses is evident. “They’re amazing, they’re sweet,” he says. “I enjoy being with them, spending time with them. Some are naughtier than others, but you always appreciate the sweeter ones.”

The reality of elite sport

Show jumping, Íñigo is quick to point out, is not a sport for those seeking constant validation. Success is rare, and failure is frequent.

“It’s a sport where you fail more than you succeed,” he says candidly. “Sometimes you have weekends you just want to forget. But when you have a good weekend, enjoy it — because you never know when the next one will come. It’s a very difficult sport. We’re always humble, calm and focused. And these are animals, they have feelings too. We’re two beings working together, which is perhaps the most difficult part.”

His biggest challenge thus far has been maintaining consistency at the top level. “I had a bit of bad luck this year. It was a good year, but there were some difficult moments. Staying at the top is the challenge,” he reflects.

Yet he’s quick to credit the team around him. “I have an incredible team, they’re the real people behind all of this, they take care of the horses. They’re the most important ones, because without them I wouldn’t be here.”

Engineering and show jumping

Between competitions, Íñigo is studying Industrial Engineering at the University of Eindhoven. The choice, he admits with a laugh, came through a process of elimination rather than burning passion.

“I was watching Netflix and thought, ‘I want to become a lawyer’ — you know, from watching Suits. But I realised it was too much reading, so not for me,” he explains. “My father studied medicine, so I’d have loved to be a doctor, but I can’t stand the sight of blood. Engineering was the third option. I think I made the best choice — I’m very happy about it.”

More seriously, he sees the degree as essential insurance. “It’s important to always have something on the side. Many things can happen in this sport, so having a back-up is very important.”

Looking ahead

The next 12 months hold significant challenges. Beyond the 2026 World Championships in Germany — where he’ll be the first male rider to represent Monaco at this level — Íñigo has the Mediterranean Games on his calendar.

“It’s like the Olympics for Mediterranean countries, so there are two important competitions ahead,” he says. “I always try to stay at the top level. I’ll have a good number of horses next year, between six and eight, which is ideal. But it’s just about keeping working, keeping improving, and we’ll see what happens.”

Looking five years ahead, his ambitions remain grounded yet determined. “We’re producing a lot of young horses, so hopefully we’ll be competing at the top level with them. That would be amazing.”

For now, Íñigo López de la Osa Franco is focused on the present — training daily, competing at the highest level, and continuing to make history for Monaco. From an 11-year-old who simply told his father “I want to ride” to competing alongside Olympic medallists in the Global Champions League, his journey exemplifies what dedication, discipline and genuine love for the sport can achieve.

As Monaco’s show jumping scene continues to grow, Íñigo remains at its forefront — serious, ambitious, and hungry for the next challenge.

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Main photo credit: Cassandra Tanti. All competition photos provided