Michael Jung (GER) riding La Biosthetique Sam FBW, during the Cross Country phase of the Badminton Horse Trials at Badminton House in the Village of Badminton in South Gloucestershire in the UK on the 6th May 2017
La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, the double Olympic eventing champion and six-time five-star winner, has died at the age of 26.
With his German rider Michael Jung, Sam defined a decade in the sport, rewrote the record books and arguably became the greatest event horse of all time. His death marks the end of an era.
“This evening I lost my best friend, Sam,” said Michael yesterday (16 February). “We reached every milestone side by side, and for years I found daily happiness in seeing you grazing in the field. Thank you for 20 years together. You will be deeply missed by all of us. Rest in peace my friend.”
La Biosthetique-Sam FBW was by the thoroughbred Stan The Man xx, out of a mare by Heraldik xx. Michael told H&H in an interview in 2016 that as a youngster Sam was “a bit normal”.
“Dressage was always difficult and he was spooky, but we learnt together,” said Michael.
In the same interview, Michael reported that Sam was a loner in his personality.
“He really doesn’t like other horses. He likes to be private and alone,” said Michael, adding that the farrier once tried to put on a halter and Sam ran straight out of the stable door.
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La Biosthetique-Sam FBW: an extraordinary record
The pair first hit the headlines when they won the four-star (now five-star) at Luhmühlen in 2009 and went on to take European individual bronze that year. It was the last time Sam was ever beaten in a championship.
The following year they took world individual gold in Kentucky and a year later, double European gold in Luhmühlen. In 2012, Michael and Sam won their first individual Olympic title in London, leading the Germans to team gold. Sam’s win made him the first event horse to hold the European, world and Olympic titles simultaneously.
In addition during his five-star career, Sam was second at Badminton twice (2013 and 2017). and third at Luhmühlen (2015) and Kentucky Three-Day Event (2015).
H&H reported: “Although he was riding his reserve horse after FischerTakinou suffered an infection, 33-year-old Michael started as favourite and there were similarities with his London victory. On both occasions he did not lead the dressage (he was 11th after the first phase in London, fifth here with a test which scored just 0.3 of a penalty different), but won by working his way doggedly through the rankings.
LAP OF HONOUR
Michael Jung GER riding La Biosthetique Sam FBW winner of the individual gold medal of the Eventing Competition at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Deodoro near Rio, Brazil on 9th August 2016
(Image credit: PETER NIXON)
“Both times, he was the only competitor to finish on his dressage score and that says it all – once the dressage is over, Sam very rarely makes a mistake, while others frequently do… He won laughably easily with 7.1 penalties in hand.
“None of the superlatives are good enough for Sam. He has now won four individual eventing gold medals, been the only horse to hold the world, European and Olympic titles simultaneously, won six of the nine four-stars he has contested and helped Michael become a Rolex Grand Slam winner. We salute him on bended knee.”
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
