The Keenan Evolution: Why 2026 is the New 2016

Some seasons announce arrival. Others quietly signal permanence. For Lillie Keenan, 2016 was the year she crossed that threshold—no longer defined by promise, but by performance. Nearly a decade later, the parallels heading into 2026 suggest she is poised not to reintroduce herself, but to entrench her place at the top of the sport.

2016: From Potential to Proof

Keenan’s 2016 campaign remains a defining chapter in modern American show jumping. Long celebrated as an equitation standout, she dismantled any remaining doubts about her place among the world’s elite. Anchored by her partnership with Super Sox, Keenan delivered when it mattered most, including a pivotal clear round for Team USA at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. It was a performance that spoke less to youthful brilliance and more to competitive maturity.

That season’s results reinforced the message. A podium finish in the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead, victory in the $130,000 Grand Prix at the Spruce Meadows ‘North American,’ and consistent success on the world’s most demanding grass arenas underscored her adaptability and nerve. The Maxine Beard Show Jumping Rider Award capped the year, formally recognizing what insiders already knew: Keenan had arrived as a long-term force.

A Different Rider, the Same Momentum

As 2026 approaches, the echoes of that breakthrough season are impossible to ignore—though the rider standing at the center of them is far more complete.

Keenan’s 2025 season marked a clear evolution. Now firmly established as a leader within the U.S. program, she closed the year with multiple CSI5* victories and a position inside the Top 20 of the Longines Rankings. Her partnership with Highway TN matured into one of the most reliable combinations on the circuit, highlighted by a landmark win at the Rolex Grand Prix of Dinard and a decisive contribution to the U.S. team’s gold-medal performance at the 2025 Nations Cup Final.

Experience That Shows When It Counts

Where the 2016 version of Keenan was praised for polish and precision, the 2026 iteration is defined by range. Still elegant, but sharper against the clock. Still technically exact, but increasingly instinctive in high-pressure moments. Years of European competition, combined with the strategic influence of McLain Ward’s Castle Hill program, have added a layer of tactical sophistication that separates contenders from champions.

Depth That Changes the Equation

With the experienced Fasther continuing to deliver at the highest level and Chagrin d’Amour emerging as a serious grand prix weapon, Keenan now commands a depth of string that rivals any rider in the American lineup—and many internationally.

The Cycle Comes Around Again

As the sport turns the page to 2026, the similarities to 2016 feel less coincidental than cyclical: a rider in form, a string peaking at the right moment, and the full confidence of the U.S. selection committee behind her. If 2016 proved that Lillie Keenan belonged on the world stage, 2026 may be the season that confirms she intends to stay there.

In show jumping, talent opens the door—but consistency determines who remains inside.

Photo by Stefan Lafrentz