FROM RAGS TO RICHES
German Style
THIS YEARWORLD-FAMOUS GERMAN RIDER MICHAEL JUNG AND HIS AMAZING PARTNER SAM HAVE MADE EVENTING HISTORY. THE PAIR HAS WON MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS THREE YEARS IN A ROW: FIRST AT THE WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES, NEXT THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP AND MORE RECENTLY AT THIS SUMMER’S LONDON OLYMPICS. MICHAEL, WHO HAS HAD THE RIDE ON SAM ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING, WITH DEDICATION AND A STEADY CALMNESS, TRANSFORMED WHAT MOST CONSIDERED A PLAIN, DIFFICULT YOUNG HORSE INTO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY. SAM’S MODERN ‘RAGS TO RICHES’ STORY IS BOTH REMARKABLE AND ENCOURAGING FOR EVENTERS EVERYWHERE.
By Susanne Lauda S
am’s official name is La Biosthetique Sam FBW (the abbreviation stands for “Friends of the Baden-Württem- berg Horse”). His notable accomplishments include:
2006: Reserve Champion Young Horse Eventing World Championship in Le Lion D’Angers
2007: State Champion Baden-Württemberg 2008: 4th place World Cup Finals in Deauville 2009: 1st place CIC**** Luhmühlen and 3rd place at the European Championship in Fontainebleau
2010: Individual Gold at the Alltech World Equestrian Games in Lexington 2011: Individual and Team Gold at the European Championship in Luhmühlen 2012: Individual and Team Gold at the Olympic Games in London
The Early Years Despite his well-earned and impressive wins, Sam’s first public appearance was anything but successful. Although he had been selected to participate in the stallion licensing at the traditional Marbach weekend in the fall of 2002 as a two-year- old, his debut there was no indication of things to come. The licensing commission rejected him with harsh words: “His is nondescript, his head is too big, he has no presence and has a funny jumping technique!” His breeder Günter Seitter then decided to enter him
into the sport horse auction that followed the licensing. Above: Michael Jung and Sam at the 2012 London Olympics.
Photos at top: Left: Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography • Center & right: Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography Warmbloods Today 31
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