The eventing world has said a final farewell to double Olympic champion La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, the horse who defined an era of eventing.

Tributes to the sporting giant have poured in since rider Michael Jung announced the horse’s death last week.

The German federation was among the many to remember this extraordinary horse, who “remains unforgettable as an exceptional eventing horse and leaves a lasting impression on the history of equestrian sport”.

Statisticians EquiRatings crunched the data to show the magnitude of Sam’s achievements in the modern sport (since 2008). He is, by a long way, the highest-rated horse on their leaderboard, which measures the strength of a horse’s results over time.

“La Biosthetique-Sam FBW is not just considered the best event horse of all time. By the numbers, he is,” said EquiRatings.

Commentator John Kyle called a number of Sam’s major wins, including when he was crowned world champion in 2010, his double gold at the 2011 Europeans, both his Olympic titles (London 2012 and Rio 2016), and his securing the Rolex Grand Slam at Badminton 2016.

“In my job, you don’t always know when you’re calling a winner, let alone a great. With Sam, we always knew. He wasn’t just winning. He was something very special. We were fortunate to witness greatness,” said John.

Many of the events at which Sam had success have paid tribute.

Luhmühlen, where Sam won his first CCI5* in 2009 and led the German team to glory at the 2011 European Championships, said he “shaped an entire era of our sport”.

“We say thank you for all that this extraordinary horse has given to our sport and are in our thoughts with all those who were close to him,” said a statement from the event.

Chris Bartle was German team coach from 2001 to 2016, overlapping with the height of Sam’s success.

“Sam and Michi were the essence of what partnership means,” Chris told H&H.

“Sam was not pure thoroughbred, but he was a lot of blood, and he had a tremendous personality, always wanting to go, always positive. Michi had a cool temperament to manage him. The development of him, from the young horse to the champion that he was, was through tremendous skill and the partnership they built up.”

He added that “every medal is special to me, having been on the journey with them both”, and the individual bronze at the 2009 Europeans where it all started is a moment he “always thinks back to”.

“That was the start of many, many more medals,” he said, speaking of memories of Michi heading out as pathfinder at those Europeans, as well as special memories of London 2012 and other major championships.

“A memory from Rio that sticks in my mind is Michi going in last to jump [of the German team] and it all hung on him for team Germany to win a medal, and for his own personal result. Again, that partnership came into play – Michi was as cool as; Sam did his job. They were like hand in glove and I’m just privileged to have been part of that journey in a small way.”

One particularly special personal memory came following Sam’s 2015 Burghley victory, when Michael travelled via Chris’s yard on his way up to Blair for the Europeans.

“I have a photo of La Biosthetique-Sam FBW and Word Perfect in our little paddock together – two Badminton winners, side by side,” he said.

“He was a blood horse, he wasn’t blessed with ‘wow’ paces. Michi trained him in his dressage to develop that presence. The correctness of the training underpinned their partnership.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘We’re delighted to bring loyal readers this benefit’: H&H magazine subscribers get free website access

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW – the most successful event horse in history

Throwback: Michael Jung wins Badminton Horse Trials – plus the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam

If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus outbreak, we would be gearing up for Badminton Horse Trials, which was due

‘I lost my best friend’: supreme event horse who rewrote history books dies aged 26

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.

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.

After that, Michael used other horses for his championship campaigns and prioritised five-stars for Sam. The pair won Burghley Horse Trials in 2015 and Badminton Horse Trials in 2016, securing Michael the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing – he is only the second person ever to win this, after Pippa Funnell.

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).

“We salute him on bended knee”

In 2016, Sam was called up from being Michael’s reserve horse to go to the Olympics in Rio, where he became only the third horse in the history of eventing to win two back-to-back Olympic individual titles. The Germans also took team silver.

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.

“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.”

Until he died, La Biosthetique-Sam FBW spent his retirement at Michael’s yard and was often pictured on Michael’s social media in the field with his three-time Kentucky winner and 2014 world individual silver medallist FischerRocana FST.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW – the most successful event horse in history

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW retires: eventing hero to stay with Michael Jung

The three-time Olympic gold medal-winning horse has bowed-out from the sport after a stellar career

Germany’s Michael Jung retains individual eventing gold at the Rio Olympics

William Fox-Pitt jumps clear but Michael Jung is untouchable with Sam FBW at the Rio Olympics

Celebrate La Biosthetique-Sam’s incredible eventing career in pictures

As La Biosthetique-Sam FBW retires, check out these wonderful photos of the double Olympic champion's career highlights

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

The perfect example of an event horse, Sam may not have had the wow factor but his results record is scintillating, says Kate Green, in this article from the H&H archives

Torvill and Dean, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW – partnerships made in heaven, effortlessly bound by the slenderest of threads. The status quo in eventing changed forever when a smiley, compact German rider met an unassuming bay gelding; two stars who arose in alignment to become the most successful combination in the sport’s history.

It began 21 years ago when a colt foal was born to a Czech thoroughbred mare, Halla. The pedigree was immaculate. The foal’s Irish thoroughbred sire, Stan The Man, was to be responsible for another Olympic champion, Leslie Law’s Shear L’Eau. The dam was by Heraldik XX, sire of Ingrid Klimke’s Beijing Olympic team gold medallist FRH Butts Abraxxas and Sam Griffiths’ prolific CCI5*-L horse, Happy Times.

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW’s cheerful, honest and businesslike way of going would remind many people of a champion of three decades earlier, Ginny Elliot’s (née Holgate) Priceless. But as a two-year-old, the verdict on his stallion potential was “nondescript” and “has a funny jump”.

The 16.2hh bay was sold at auction to German rider Sabine Kreuter for under £6,000, which was something of a bargain for a horse that would go on to smash records as the first to hold Olympic, world and European titles simultaneously.

However, the serendipity was his pairing with Michael “Michi” Jung, a former young rider European champion whose parents later owned the horse with Erich Single and the German Federation.

“He wasn’t wow – he just did it”

“Sam was an absolute example of an event horse,” explains William Fox-Pitt, who won silver behind the pair at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky. “He was totally ordinary in all phases, but when he put it all together, it was impossible to beat him and, like everyone else, I spent a lot of time being beaten by him. He wasn’t a wow, he just bloody did it.

“Michael takes training to another level, and this was a horse that could take a lot of training. We all get bowled over thinking we want a cross between Valegro and Big Star so we can amaze the horse world but, actually, we need a horse to just do it. I often use Sam as an example when I’m giving talks about buying an event horse.”

I first saw Sam when he was runner-up in the six-year-old class at Le Lion d’Angers in 2006 and they were second the next year in the competitive World Championship for Young Horses, which has long showcased good horses.

However, his rider’s natural reticence – and then lack of English – meant this and other early results went largely below the radar.

Next, they were an impressive fourth in the 2008 World Cup Final at Deauville, France, where they were considered to have been robbed in the dressage (probably for the last time), but were one of only three combinations to achieve the optimum cross-country time – again, a fairly unheralded result.

In 2009, they won Luhmühlen, the World Cup Final at Strzegom, Poland and, while the rest of the German team fell apart, individual bronze at the Fontainebleau Europeans, a remarkable tally for a nine-year-old.

Andrew Nicholson, whose top horse Nereo’s career ran in tandem with Sam’s (they are the same age), recalls: “The stand-out thing for me was the two of them together – they were an amazing partnership. The horse looked quite small and plain outside the arena, but when told to perform, he danced.

“I was surprised at first at how different he looked in the ring compared to being led around. He didn’t look spectacular in the warm-up, yet in the ring he looked like a smart jumper. He didn’t look fast across country, but he was. A lot of that was down to Michi’s training, but Sam was also like Nereo in that he came out sound season after season, despite always being ridden competitively, and you don’t get many horses like that.”

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW: training was key

Things were not always foot perfect, but mutual confidence quickly transcended any missteps. On Michi’s way to clinching the Rolex Grand Slam at Badminton in 2016, the victory roll having started with a Burghley win on Sam in 2015, there were sharp intakes of breath from the BBC commentary team, but Mike Tucker also opined: “We are seeing something special here.”

Former German team trainer Chris Bartle points out that Sam was not as easy as he looked. He had to be managed and kept away from the razzmatazz of prize-givings, and he had tricky feet, which meant he missed most of the 2013 season and 2014 WEG.

“Sam was not the most fluent into water and would often hesitate or hang a leg. One of my roles was to make sure Michi’s seat was secure,” reveals Chris. “When we were course-walking, I would tell him to ‘sit in row 24 of the plane’, well behind the movement. As a blood horse, Sam was sharp, he took time to build a topline and he wasn’t the most careful jumper – his muscular training was key.”

It was a training system that combined intense cross-country schooling with flatwork, a repetition of exercises so that the horse was listening to Michi’s body language, explains Chris. William Fox-Pitt still remembers seeing Michi riding in a dressage saddle the day after his test at Kentucky: “I wondered what on earth he was doing, but in retrospect, I realise that was why he won.”

Chris concludes: “In some ways, Michi is the antithesis of a German rider – more French in style, light with an open frame – and he transmitted that confidence and support without dominating the horse. Sam without Michi wouldn’t have been Sam.”

The last sighting of Sam on British soil was at Badminton in 2018, where he finished 10th, aged 18. He lives in happy, active retirement at the Jung family’s equestrian centre.

“He is still the favourite of my heart,” said his rider recently, and with good reason.

The judges’ view on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW

American judge Marilyn Payne officiated at the 2010 Kentucky WEG.

“I will always remember it because it was the first time I had ever judged Michael and had absolutely no idea who he was,” she recalls. “He was the first rider of the competition [which riders hate because they say the judges never score highly], but he put in the most accurate, correct test. He and Sam were in complete harmony and the other judges and I were amazed – and rewarded him with an excellent score.”

Marilyn also judged the pair on their winning appearances at Badminton, in 2015, and the Rio Olympics in 2016, by which time it was expected rather more.

“Michi is such an accurate rider who develops an amazing partnership with his horses through correct training and is, therefore, able to get every possible point. It was always a particular pleasure to judge him on Sam.”

Nick Burton first saw them at Le Lion in 2007.

“I remember being impressed by them in the arena and then they went on to jump brilliantly, but it was the riding that made the horse so good,” said Nick.

“By the London Olympics, we obviously knew who they were and we were surprised when they made mistakes, for which we had to mark them down. They were only 11th [after dressage] and everyone thought they were out of it, but Michael is a rider who makes it happen. He gives horses confidence, he gives them the heart to do it and, even if he makes a mistake at a fence, he is back in credit with the horse by the next.”

The course-designers’ perspective

Mike Etherington-Smith’s first sight of Sam was when the bay was first out on his course at the Kentucky WEG.

“They certainly weren’t favourites and the horse, only a 10-year-old, was quite green,” recalls Mike. “There were a couple of interesting moments, especially at the fish in the first water, that could have gone either way, but there’s no shifting Michael Jung.

“The pair seemed to grow in confidence and it’s been satisfying to watch a horse with that longevity, still competing well at five-star level eight years on. Michi’s horses seem to be like his friends. They look well, they’re properly fit and they enjoy themselves. Sam always seemed to go ‘whoopee!’ when he left the start box.”

Mark Phillips was responsible for Sam’s first CCI5*-L (then four-star) course, Luhmühlen in 2009, and Burghley, where he won in 2015.

“There’s an old saying that rideability is more important than ability, and when you couple the most rideable horse with the best rider in the world, you have an unbeatable combination,” he observes. “His trot was never going to be a [mark of] 10, but because he was so rideable, he’d get a nine for a transition or rein-back. And when you have a jockey who can put a horse on the spot, they can always add or take off strides when needed.”

You may also be interested in…

‘A born event horse’: what makes Michael Jung’s Badminton-winning ride so good?

After clinching the Badminton title on Sunday (8 May 2016), we take a look at what makes Michael Jung's ride

Snippets of wisdom from Michael Jung — and other things you might not know about him

The Olympic eventing champion reveals his tips for turnout, philosophy about giving his horses a break and a few other

Michael Jung’s Sam to bid to become third horse to win back-to-back individual Olympic eventing gold

It has been confirmed that Michael Jung will ride La Biosthetique-Sam FBW in Rio

Throwback: Michael Jung wins Badminton Horse Trials – plus the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam

If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus outbreak, we would be gearing up for Badminton Horse Trials, which was due

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW retires: eventing hero to stay with Michael Jung

The three-time Olympic gold medal-winning horse has bowed-out from the sport after a stellar career

Last week, German rider Michael Jung confirmed that his star La Biosthetique-Sam FBW has been retired from competition. He is undoubtedly the greatest event horse of his generation and in our survey, 52% of horseandhound.co.uk readers voted him the best event horse of all-time.

Let’s take a look back at the champion’s most incredible competition moments…

Michael and Sam began their four-star career with a win — at home in Germany, at Luhmühlen in 2009 — and later that year made a strong championship debut with individual bronze at the European Championships in Fontainebleau, France.

A year later, the gold rush began. The pair headed to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA, where they claimed the individual gold on their dressage score.

Back at Luhmühlen in 2011, Michael and Sam kept a clean sheet again to claim European Championship double gold, leading an all-German top three.

In 2012, the duo headed to the London Olympics, where once again a dressage score finish earned them individual gold and they helped the Germans to team gold.

The next year, 2013, marked Michael and Sam’s first visit to Badminton. Victory looked within their grasp until the very last showjump fell and they finished an honourable second, a result they repeated here in 2017.

At Burghley 2015, Michael recorded his first British four-star victory when he piloted Sam to the top of the leaderboard — and set up his Rolex Grand Slam bid…

In the spring of 2016, Michael returned to Badminton as the grand slam challenger, having added Kentucky victory on FischerRocana FST to his Burghley win. Sam and his rider claimed a Badminton victory — and Michael become the second ever eventer to take home the $350,000 (around £255,000) prize for winning these three four-stars consecutively.

When Rio 2016 rolled around, Michael’s first choice of horse was FischerTakinou, the 2015 European champion. But the horse suffered an infection in the build-up and Michael fell back on his faithful friend, Sam. It’s hardly bad when your second choice horse is a Badminton winner and triple individual championship gold medallist — and the pair went on to successfully defend their individual title and help the Germans to team silver.

Sam retired from championships after Rio 2016, but continued to compete internationally for two more seasons. As well as second at Badminton 2017, he was second at Aachen that year, an event he won in 2011 and where he finished in the top six on all six occasions he competed there.

Sam’s final international competition was at Badminton this spring, where he finished 10th.

We wish the champ a long and happy retirement.

Pictures by trevor-meeks-photography.co.uk, Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images, Getty Images, Peter Nixon and Hamish Mitchell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Michael Jung’s double Olympic eventing champion La Biosthetique-Sam FBW has been retired from competition.

The German rider said in March that this would be Sam’s final season, and today confirmed to H&H that the 18-year-old gelding has retired from the sport.

“He is good, he is being ridden four or five times a week and goes in the field — he is fit and looks well,” Michael told H&H.

“He will stay on our farm, nothing changes for him.”

The horse’s final international competition was at Badminton in May, where he finished 10th.

He had been aimed at a final run at Aachen in July, but a pulled a shoe during his last training gallop.

The horse retired from championships after winning team silver and individual gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

He went on to finish second at Badminton the following spring and also took the individual runner-up spot in front of a home crowd at Aachen.

Sam, who is by thoroughbred sire Stan The Man, has a breathtaking competition record with his long-term rider, Michael.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Throwback: Michael Jung wins Badminton Horse Trials – plus the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam

If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus outbreak, we would be gearing up for Badminton Horse Trials, which was due

‘A born event horse’: what makes Michael Jung’s Badminton-winning ride so good?

After clinching the Badminton title on Sunday (8 May 2016), we take a look at what makes Michael Jung's ride

His wins at Burghley 2015 and Badminton 2016 helped Michael to take the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing in 2016. His Badminton finishing score of 34.4pen that year was also the lowest-ever winning score at the Gloucestershire CCI4*.

The bay gelding won Olympic team and individual gold at London 2012, going on to retain his individual title at Rio 2016 and add a team silver medal to his collection.

He won individual gold at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky, team and individual gold at the 2011 European Championships in Luhmulen, plus individual European bronze in 2009 at Fontainebleau.

In total, Sam has contested 10 four-stars during his career, winning four (Kentucky WEG 2010, Luhmulen 2011, Burghley 2015 and Badminton 2016), finishing second twice, third three times and 10th once.

As a six- and seven-year-old, he won back-to-back silver medals at the World Championships for Young Horses in Le Lion d’Angers.

• Do you think Sam deserves the title of best event horse of all time? Place your vote below…

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Olympic champion Michael Jung has been selected for the German Nations Cup showjumping squad.

The Olympic event rider and Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing winner told H&H he is looking forward to representing his country in a second discipline for the first time.

Michael and the nine-year-old Westphalian mare FischerSolution have been selected by German team coach Otto Becker for the squad that will travel to Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, for the CSIO5* Nations Cup competition next month (15-18 February).

Michael will also compete at the CSI5* show in Bordeaux from 1 to 4 February.

“I’m looking forward to [being on the Nations Cup team], but I’ve got no plans to stop eventing yet!” he told H&H.

Badminton final scores

Michael, 35, has been enjoying top-level showjumping success with FischerSolution, FischerChelsea and FischerDaily Impressed this winter, at CSI5* shows in Geneva and Stuttgart, as well as a four-star competition in Munich.

After the last international event of last season at Pau, he had a week’s rest from competition before he set off to Boll for a two-star showjumping show.

Michael withdrew his Olympic champion La Biosthetique-Sam FBW from Pau but told H&H he is still aiming the 18-year-old gelding at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials this year (2-6 May).

Article continues below…

Jock Paget’s training tips from Michael Jung

In November 2012, this year's Badminton winner Jock Paget travelled to southern Germany to train with Olympic, World and European

Michael Jung to keep ride on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW

World champion Michael Jung is to keep the ride on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (“Sam”), after the German Olympic Equestrian Association

“I think so, at the moment,” he said. “He’s really fit and the plan at the moment is to come to Badminton.”

Michael’s FEI showjumping record also includes 11th place in the Rolex Grand Prix at Geneva last month. So although he is not yet on track to become the first rider to taken the grand slam in two disciplines, could it be an aim for the future? Watch this space…

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Michael Jung has withdrawn his Rolex Grand Slam winner La Biosthetique Sam FBW from Pau CCI4*.

The German rider pulled his 17-year-old Olympic champion out of contention after he was found to be “a little lame in trot” when he brought him out to warm up today (27 October).

“I do not really have an explanation, I do not know what happened,” said Michael.

He added he had a “very good feeling” this morning and the horse was going well.

“I was looking forward to it,” he added.

“He had been in his stable for just two hours with my groom. But when he came out, he was stiff.

“I walked him, but he was still wrong and he was sweating. So I decided not to [go ahead].”

Updates on Michael’s Facebook page had shown the horse had been progressing well in the lead-up to Pau.

Michael re-routed Sam to Pau after retiring at the Trout Hatchery at Burghley last month when a miscommunication at the first of the triple brushes at the complex lead to the pair picking up a rare 20 penalties.

World number one

Pau is the last international event in the 2017 calendar and three riders are in contention for the end of year FEI world eventing ranking number one spot.

Michael, whose unbroken streak at the head of the world rankings dates back more than two years to the end of June 2015, currently has 463 points.

Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd are the only two who could overtake him now — and both have two horses competing in the French CCI4*.

Mark is currently in third equal place ahead of cross-country with NZB Campino. Mark also holds fifth place on Kitubrid Rhapsody, while Andrew is in 11th on Qwanza and 31st with Jet Set.

Michael Jung to keep ride on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW

World champion Michael Jung is to keep the

Throwback: Michael Jung wins Badminton Horse Trials – plus the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam

If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus outbreak,

There are 111 points available to the winner, dropping in intervals down the leaderboard, so Mark would need good finishes on both horses to be in with a chance of the world number one spot.

Statistics from Equiratings show Andrew needs to finish fifth or higher on either horse to take the title. Strong finishes on both horses could also be enough to take Andrew past Michael.

For a full report from Pau, see next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, on sale 2 November.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Two past Badminton-winning combinations top the entries for the 2017 event.

Reigning champions Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (pictured, top) and 2014 winners Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh head the list for the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (3-7 May).

All the British 2016 Olympic riders — with the notable exception of William Fox-Pitt — are aiming for the Gloucestershire four-star. Kitty King has her Rio-ride Ceylor LAN in contention, while Pippa Funnell is entered with Billy Beware and Gemma Tattersall with Arctic Soul.

Tina Cook has her three long-listed Rio rides entered (Calvino II, Billy The Red and Star Witness), while Oliver Townend also has a trio on the list (MHS King Joules, Samuel Thomas II and ODT Ghareeb). Riders can compete a maximum of two horses, but having three entered means they can choose at a later date which to run.

Badminton final scores

Laura Collett has two entered (Grand Manoeuvre and Pamero 4), with Nicola Wilson (Annie Clover), Izzy Taylor (Briarlands Matilda), Beanie Sturgis (Lebowski) and Sarah Bullimore (Reve Du Rouet) among the other Brits on the list. Zara Tindall and High Kingdom are 35th on the wait list.

Two of France’s Olympic team gold medal-winning combinations — Astier Nicolas (Piaf De B’Neville) and Thibaut Vallette (Qing Du Briot) — have made the cut.

Among the Irish entries are Camilla Speirs and her experienced campaigner Portersize Just A Jiff. This will be the sixth CCI4* for the pint-sized 17-year-old gelding, who took Camilla to London 2012.

Jonty Evans and Clare Abbott are both entered on their respective Rio rides, Cooley Rorkes Drift and Euro Prince.

A strong Kiwi contingent is aiming for glory, with two entries for Mark Todd (Leonidas II and NZB Campino), Andrew Nicholson (Qwanza and Nereo), Caroline Powell (Onwards And Upwards) and Tim Price (Bango, Ringwood Sky Boy and waitlisted Xavier Faer) among their contenders. However Jonelle Price — who finished 10th here last year — is not entered.

The Aussies bring forward past winner Andrew Hoy on The Blue Frontier and Rutherglen and 2016 Burghley winner Christopher Burton, with TS Jamaimo and Graf Liberty, among their contingent.

Meanwhile, Germany’s challenge is not limited to Michael Jung — Ingrid Klimke (Horseware Hale Bob OLD), Bettina Hoy (Designer), Andreas Dibowski (FRH Butts Avedon) and Claas Romeike (Cato 60) are also on the list.

Article continues below…

Related articles:

• Badminton 2017 tickets on sale
• ‘Iconic’ finish to new look Badminton cross-country
• Are these Badminton’s hairiest fences ever?

How does it compare?

Entries are up slightly on last year, with 87 accepted entries and 36 on the waitlist taking the total to 123. This compares to 118 in 2016, 104 in 2015 and 141 in 2014.

Of these entries, a maximum of 85 will run.

Horses are accepted into Badminton on the basis of which have won the most FEI points at three- and four-star level in the past two years, so the horses with most points are accepted and then the others are wait listed in points order.

Over the past nine years between 15 and 43 horses have been accepted from the wait list, so it combinations on it still have a good chance of making the start list.

In 12th on the waitlist and hoping for her first Badminton run is Lissa Green with Malin Head Clover.

Canadian Olympian Kathryn Robinson is at 16 with Let It Bee, while the popular combination of Ben Hobday and Mulrys Error are at 29.

Zara Tindall is at 35, just ahead of Badminton first-timer and H&H blogger Kirsty Short on her own Cossan Lad.

View the full entry list here

Don’t miss H&H’s exclusive Badminton cross-country course walk with William Fox-Pitt in the 27th April issue

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Michael Jung will defend his Olympic eventing title in Rio next month on La Biosthetique-Sam FBW, the horse with whom he won gold in London four years ago.

The German eventer was set to ride the rising star FischerTakinou, who recently won the CIC3* at Aachen, but announced on facebook last Thursday that the horse is suffering from an infection.

Michael said that he would now be riding Sam — as he will be known at the Games when commercial prefixes and suffixes are stripped from horses’ names. But team trainer Chris Bartle told H&H on Friday that the decision was still to be confirmed between Sam and FischerRocana FST. Rocana won individual world silver in 2014 and has twice won Kentucky CCI4*.

Chris Bartle and other team officials met today and Chris told H&H that it was confirmed that Michael will ride Sam.

Sam is now 16 years old, but continues to show brilliant form — he won Burghley last year and Badminton this spring, allowing Michael to clinch the Rolex Grand Slam of eventing. He recently had a run in the Nations Cup at Aachen where he finished sixth.

Continued below…

Related articles:

‘A born event horse’: what makes Michael Jung’s Badminton-winning ride so good?

Meet the British groom to Michael Jung’s Olympic champion Sam

Throwback: Michael Jung wins Badminton Horse Trials – plus the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam

The fact Sam is heading to Brazil raises the possibility of him winning individual back-to-back gold medals, something which only two horses have ever done before in eventing — Marcroix, in 1928 and 1932 with the Netherlands’ Charles Pahud de Mortanges, and Charisma, with New Zealand’s Mark Todd in 1984 and 1988.

Michael will ride in the German team alongside reigning world champion Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo, Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob OLD and Andreas Ostholt, who makes his Olympic debut on So Is Et. The travelling reserve is Julia Krajewski with Samourai Du Thot.

Don’t miss H&H’s full Olympic preview in 28 July issue, plus pull-out form guide and exclusive interview with Michael Jung in 4 August issue.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

We take a look at what makes Michael Jung's ride La Biosthetique-Sam FBW such a special horse — from his outlook and topline to his limbs and head

Legendary horses are usually marked by an indefinable presence, something that shouts “look at me”. La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (Sam) doesn’t. Yet his record sets him apart as the most brilliant event horse we are ever likely to see.

German team trainer Chris Bartle says that what sets the horse apart is his rider, Michael Jung. “It’s 75% Michael, 25% Sam’s heart,” says Chris. “But his heart counts for a lot; he gives it everything. He wasn’t born with exceptional ability, but he tries his heart out.”

La Biosthetique-Sam FBW: facts and figures

16yo, Baden-Württemberg (German warmblood) bay gelding

Best results

Individual Olympic (2012), European (2011) and world (2010) gold medals; at CCI4*: winner of Badminton 2016, Burghley 2015 and Luhmühlen 2009; second Badminton 2013; third Kentucky 2015 and Luhmühlen 2015.

His outlook

Ginny Elliot, like Michael Jung a three-time European champion, says: “Sam has always reminded me of Priceless [Ginny’s multi-medalled star of the 1980s] but I’m afraid Priceless did not match up to Sam’s near-perfect conformation.

Badminton final scores

“I’m not sure what I can fault — Sam is a born event horse. The way he stands shows his shoulder and back end are ready to move off, with his hocks under and shoulder up in front. This is why he moves well and jumps for fun.”

His head

“He has a wonderful head, with an intelligent look about him,” Ginny says. “Where it meets the neck behind the cheek area there is plenty of space. This helps both in the dressage, for flexion, and the respiratory side as the windpipe has enough room to expand when he’s at full stretch.”

His limbs

“His foreleg is well out in front — not too under the shoulder, which should help him to extend,” says Ginny. “His legs look well-built for soundness. He has broad, flat knees, short cannon bones and perfect-length pasterns. He has ample bone and his feet look excellent — neither broad and flat, nor boxy.”

His body

“His topline is excellent from ears to the tail,” says Ginny. “He has a wonderful, sloping shoulder, which denotes a good action. Perhaps he’s a touch short in the back, which might inhibit his range of step, but this is his only slight fault.

“He has a deep girth — giving space for the heart and lungs — and a decent length from hip to hock. His second thigh is really strong, with his hocks close to the ground, and his tail is well up in its place. All this points to him being a good, fast jumper. The back end is the engine, and for an event horse he is near perfect in this respect.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking equestrian news, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

Throwback: Michael Jung wins Badminton Horse Trials – plus the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam

If it hadn’t been for the coronavirus outbreak, we would be gearing up for Badminton Horse Trials, which was due

Michael Jung wins Burghley Horse Trials; Tina Cook best Brit in eighth *VIDEO*

Michael Jung adds the Burghley title to his list of laurels, while Tina Cook and William Fox-Pitt are the best

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Two eventers, two racehorses and a hunter — here are five familiar equines that Robert Walker, guest editor of H&H’s showing special (on sale 17 March), would love to ride in the show ring.

1. Ballabriggs

This 15-year-old racehorse, trained by Donald McCain, won the Grand National in 2011.

Robert says: “Ballabriggs would make a lovely middleweight. He’s gorgeous to look at and judges would like him. His owner Trevor Hemmings seems to like the old Irish type — Ballabriggs is a strapping horse. I watched a feature about him on TV after he won the National and he’s lovely and light on his feet. I’ve not done ex-racehorse classes before, but I’d happily take Ballabriggs into the ring if given the chance.”

2. Miners Frolic

This thoroughbred won European gold for Tina Cook in 2009, and was part of Great Britain’s silver medal-winning eventing team in 2012.

Robert says: “Miners Frolic was a beautiful horse. Even in monsoon rain for his dressage test at the London Olympics he looked special, although I thought he was harshly marked by the judges. He was pure blood, by Miners Lamp, and he was obviously bright enough because of all he achieved. He’d be a classy show hunter and could tempt me into a worker class too.”

3. Douvan

A six-year-old owned by Rich Ricci and trained by Willie Mullins who is unbeaten in eight out of nine runs. In his ninth — his racing debut — he finished second.

Robert says: “Douvan’s a big horse [17hh] and I enjoy watching him. I could take him into the show ring and he’d do well but, to be honest, he’s so good at what he does I’d let him keep racing. His ability to earn me money is very attractive.”

Continued below…

4. Mister McEvoy

A former ride of David Tatlow, one of this horse’s many accolades was being crowned Lightweight Hunter of the Year at Horse of the Year Show in 2004.

Robert says: “I always liked this horse. I first saw him in Dublin as a three-year-old and he caught my eye even then. I remember the year he finished second at the Royal International Horse Show and David was so angry because he felt the horse should have won. When they went into the championship I’ll never forget the way the horse moved — David really made the horse tick and made the judges look silly because the horse was absolutely swinging. I’d love to take him into the ring myself.”

Continued below…

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

Sneak a peek at showing supremo Robert Walker’s yard *PICTURES*

11 things you didn’t know about showing star Robert Walker *VIDEO*

5. La Biosthetique-Sam FBW

In 2012, Sam and his German rider Michael Jung held the Olympic, European and World titles at the same time. They also won Burghley last year.

Robert says: “I’m slightly cheating, because I would skip the show ring and just take this horse hunting. He’s already well educated so he’s ready for me to get on and take him over some big Cheshire hedges. He’s such a careful horse and rarely has a showjump down, plus he must have a trainable mind. He goes so quickly across country but still comes out and jumps well the next day because his mind hasn’t been blown by the speed. I think I’d have a lot of fun on him.”

Don’t miss Robert Walker’s guest-edited showing special in the 17 March issue of Horse & Hound

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Michael Jung’s La Biosthetique-Sam FBW has been withdrawn from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The 14-year-old gelding — with whom Michael won individual gold at the 2010 eventing World Championships, the 2011 European Championships and the 2012 Olympics — has an inflammation in a front hoof.

Sam was reported to be sound in training Bonn Rodderberg yesterday (20 August ) but showed signs of lameness this morning.

“It would have been really nice to restart with Sam after 2010 at the World Championships,” Michael said.

“Fortunately, it is nothing serious, but the World Championships has gone.”

Michael will still compete at WEG but will ride FischerRocana FST. The nine-year-old mare finished second at Luhmühlen this year.

“She’s excellent cross-country, but not the best at dressage. She does everything correctly, but not like a dressage horse,” Michael told H&H in an interview a couple of weeks ago.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Rosie Ricketts, who’s 19 and comes from Ellesmere in Shropshire has the enviable job of looking after – and riding – Michael Jung’s Olympic gold medal winning eventer, Sam. She has evented up to intermediate level and is a working pupil at the Jungs’ yard, near Stuttgart. Michael is the first rider to hold Olympic, world and European titles at the same time.

“I was introduced to the Jungs by a friend, Ken Rehill [owner of the stallion Grafenstolz] and went out to Germany for two months last October. They asked me to stay for a year.

“My job is looking after the horses and working them in for Michael. When Michael’s not here – he’s normally away from Thursday to Sunday competing – we ride Sam and do the fitness work.

“Sam’s lovely; very laid-back and chilled. He goes out in the paddock every day. He was very sharp when he was younger and Michael was the only one that rode him but he’s a good boy now.

“Michael’s got 10 eventers, 10 showjumping horses, three dressage horses and some youngsters. There are five staff; a man who mucks out, Claudia the travelling groom, then two other girls and me.

“Everything in this yard is just so organised and there’s never any stress. It’s nice and peaceful and the horses are all very happy. When we’ve finished working them there’s a bowl of treats and they all get a treat.

“What’s their secret? Michael and Sam have a fantastic bond, plus Michael thinks of absolutely everything. Nothing is left to chance – Sam sometimes gets a bit scared of applause, so Michael will work him in at home with a tape of cheering; every 10 minutes there’s a burst of applause.

“The horses are really fit; during the winter they go on the treadmill for half-an-hour a day in addition to being schooled and they do an hour a day on the treadmill in the summer. And some days the horses will be worked twice.

“Michael’s dad, Joachim – a pure dressage rider – trains him. Michael competes at pure jumping and dressage a lot and that definitely helps [with the eventing]. He goes out competing against pure dressage and jumping riders – and he wins.

“And the facilities are amazing. There’s a course of showjumps on grass and a cross-country course. Michael changes the fences and the courses all the time, so the horses are constantly jumping different courses. He works so hard.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

World champion Michael Jung is to keep the ride on his gold medal-winning partner La Biosthetique-Sam FBW (“Sam”), after the German Olympic Equestrian Association (DOKR) bought the 47% majority share in the horse.

The contract, signed on 4 February, follows months of dispute and speculation about the sale. The horse was valued at €766,666.66 (£626,144).

Sabine Kreuter sold her 60% share in the 11-year-old Wurttemberg gelding to DOKR and the Jungs’ family friend, Eric Single, who has acquired 13%.

The Jungs retain the 40% share that was given to them by Ms Kreuter in 2005.

“We are very glad this outstanding partnership can stay together and that we could secure it for the German squad,” DOKR manager Reinhard Wendt said to H&H.

Mr Jung told German press he was relieved that the months of uncertainty were over.

Ms Kreuter had voiced her decision to sell her share last September, with various provisos, and the horse has been subject to a ding-dong battle between herself, DOKR and the Jungs.

“Now I can start looking forward to the future,” said Mr Jung, adding that he did not know whether the horse would compete at the European Championships in September.

There is one significant uncertainty remaining — regarding the horse’s health. A vetting in January by the German team vet revealed that Sam has a heart murmur.

While it is understood that his career is not under threat, he will undergo further veterinary inspection in six months’ time.

A clause in DOKR’s purchase agreement means that the sale is subject to this second check.

“Sam’s heart murmur does not affect his power or ability at the moment,” said Mr Wendt.

“But he is under observation and we will seek reassurance in six months’ time as to whether Sam can take part in top-level competition.”

He added while no decision has been made concerning the European Championships, the likelihood of Sam’s participation is “very high”.

“The final decision about the combination staying together has only been made in the past few days,” he said. “Plans for the season will be made over the next few weeks, but his chances are very good.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (10 February, 2011)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

World-beating eventer La Biosthetique-Sam FBW is still for sale, majority owner Sabine Kreuter exclusively told H&H.

Ms Kreuter, who gave a 40% share in world champion “Sam” to his rider Michael Jung in 2005, retains the 60% share in the 11-year-old bay gelding.

But she claims she has been in talks with the German Olympic Equestrian Association (DOKR) for 18 months, after they promised to buy her out when her contract with the Jungs ended on 1 January.

“I waited a year and a half. Now they say they won’t,” she said.

Ms Kreuter would not discuss the price, but said talks ground to a halt when she said the ride must stay with Michael and Sam could not be sold on.

Then a vetting by German team vet Dr Carsten Rohde this month — which Ms Kreuter says was done without her permission — is reported to have shown the horse has a heart murmur from his mitral valve.

“The sound was not there at Kentucky. But two specialists have assured me it will not affect his performance,” she said.

She added the DOKR then offered her a lease-to-own agreement, whereby she would be paid an undisclosed amount for the use of the horse if he remains well, but she declined.

“He is the best in the world and he is for sale,” she said.

A DOKR spokesman confirmed they had wanted to buy Sam. The Jung family declined to comment.

A statement on their website said they are “working together” with Ms Kreuter to decide Sam’s future “by consensus”.

Sam will be based at Ms Kreuter’s yard from 1 February, but Michael still has the ride.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (27 January, 2011)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

British buyers are interested in buying world champion event horse La Biosthetique Sam, rider Michael Jung has confirmed.

The horse is owned 60% by Sabine Kreuter and 40% by Michael’s father, Joachim, and Ms Kreuter wishes to sell her share in the horse, Michael told H&H.

“We, the family, are not trying to buy the horse, but he is for sale,” he added.

“It is a very tough time right now for my family and especially for Michael who has trained and developed Sam for the last five years from one-star to four-star events,” said the eventer’s brother, Philip.

“We have a contract with Ms Kreuter which ends this year. This contract enabled us to make all the decisions about Sam’s education over the past five years, which allowed Michael to develop Sam into one of the best horses.”

He said the family had hoped to buy Sam for €1m.

“But unfortunately people don’t keep their words when it comes to money and it looks like Sam will get sold to sponsors of the British team for €2m.

“Like I said it’s a very difficult time for my brother who wants to keep Sam due to his deep connection and relationship to his horse,” he added.

Mary King’s name had been linked with the sale but she told H&H that Sam is not being bought for her to ride.

“It’s a lovely thought, but a load of rubbish,” she said. “Lots of names are being bandied about — Piggy French, Nicola Wilson, Zara Phillips, but I don’t know there is any truth in it.”

Nicola Wilson also denied she would get the ride on the horse. “It’s news to me if I am, but it would be very nice,” she said.

A spokesman for Piggy French declined to comment and Oliver Townend, who name has also been linked to the sale, was unavailable.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now