When Izabella Stone packed her bags and flew to Europe two years ago, she wasn’t chasing a dream as much as answering a challenge. “I definitely was lucky enough to have some nice horses in Australia,” she said. “Oaks Ventriloquist and Tulara Stolzette were probably the reason why I decided to move over. I wanted to see what would happen.”

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It wasn’t an easy call, but one that’s shaped everything since. Now based at Ashford Farm on the Belgium-Holland border, Izzy is in the thick of Europe’s Jumping scene. “It’s very much in the middle of the horse mecca here. We have amazing facilities and a super team,” she said. “There are so many opportunities. It’s amazing.”

Her life is centred entirely on sport. “I’m very focused on my horses,” she said. “I have a smaller group right now, so I spend a lot of time training and planning. I do about two shows a month and training shows in between. It’s not that different to home, but the shows are more frequent, the scene is more intense, and there’s a lot more administration.”

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European shows are high pressure, fast-paced, and full of depth. “Classes can have 60 to 100 riders. You can be clear and fast and still not qualify for the Grand Prix. It can be brutal. Sometimes it’s smarter to choose shows based on your horse and your chances of qualifying. It’s all part of the strategy.”

Adapting to the European time allowed has been one of her biggest challenges. “It’s tighter, and that makes everything more delicate. I’ve been used to jumping big jumps, but the tempo here is another level. I still struggle with it.”

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Izzy remembers the tough early months. “I questioned whether I was good enough, whether I brought the right horses. I came from a really solid system at home. The McDermotts helped me for 15 years. Kate Hinschen has been my best friend and colleague forever. Suddenly, they were all far away and I felt really alone.”

“I think maybe I didn’t appreciate just how good I had it at home. That system, that support, it’s everything. But they stuck around, just from further away. I managed to push through.”

Now Izzy is based at Ashford Farm and says she’s found her people. “They’re used to working with riders like me, and they’ve really exceeded my expectations in terms of support.”

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Looking back on everything she’s learned, she’s most proud of her growth outside the ring. “Mentally, I think I’ve come the furthest. I wasn’t focused enough at home. Now I’m concentrating on sport and myself. That’s what it takes at this level. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, but staying focused, believing I can do it, that’s been huge for me.”

Izzy is clear-eyed about the road ahead. “I’m pretty determined to keep learning and do the best I can. There’s still a lot of boxes to tick, but I’m working at it. One step at a time.”

The full All Clear Podcast interview with Izzy can be found at the links below;

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