For over 30 years, Lee McKeever has been the head groom, right-hand man, and trusted counselor to arguably the most influential modern American show jumper – McLain Ward. An equestrian phenom, Ward has left little to prove in the arena, winning gold medals at the Olympics, the Pan American, and the World Equestrian Games, topping the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals, and being ranked #1 in the world. As anyone at that level of competition will say, ‘it takes a village’ of dedicated, organized, and highly specialized people behind the scenes to make it to the summit of sport. McKeever has played a pivotal role in every step of Ward’s decorated professional career. With tremendous hard work, dedication, grit, and a bit of Irish superstition sprinkled in, Lee McKeever is indispensable to the Castle Hill dynasty and fortunately is not slowing down anytime soon.
“He knows the horses better than anybody. He knows how to have their conditioning, their health, how to prevent as well as deal with injuries. There’s never been a moment when I doubted that my horses were in anything but the best of care and had the best preparation to compete.” — McLain Ward, 2-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Show Jumping
From the US Equestrian Federation