Farewell to Michael Jung's Legendary Sam

Michael Jung's legendary Sam is no longer with us. Late on Monday evening, Michael Jung shared the sad news on Instagram: "This evening i lost my best friend, Sam 🖤💔. 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 🌈"

Sam - La Biosthetique-Sam FBW - arguably the best eventing horse of all time

Sam, whose full name was actually La Biosthetique Sam FBW, charmed the eventing world for years. The thoroughbred (Stan the Man xx x Heraldik xx) was bred by Günter Seitter from Baden-Württemberg and measured just a little over 5'4". This may have prevented him from being licensed, but it did not prevent him from having a sporting career that is truly one of a kind.

Michael Jung and Sam – a team from the very beginning

The gelding made his competition debut in 2005, and Michael Jung rode him from the beginning to the end of his career. Starting with young horse classes, they finished their first season with a fifth place at the German Young Horse Championships – neither of them could have imagined what was still to come.

European Champion, World Champion, Olympic Champion

After their first international starts in 2006 and 2007, their first "big" tournament followed in 2008: they came fourth in the World Cup final in Deauville, before winning individual bronze at the European Championships in Fontainebleau, France, a year later.

In 2010, the pair became world champions in Lexington, Kentucky, and in 2011, they added the title of European individual champions in Luhmühlen.

2012 was just around the corner, and with it the Olympic Games in London, and Sam once again flew through the courses, securing Olympic individual gold for himself and Michael Jung!

After a series of victories in Fontainebleau, Strzegom, Aachen, and Burghley in 2014 and 2015, Sam crowned his career in 2016 with a second Olympic individual gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.

10 years of top-level sport

In 2018, Sam retired from the sport and enjoyed another 8 years of retirement in his pasture, at home with "his Michi."

Take care, Sam! Thank you for all these unforgettable moments.

Video: La Biosthetique Sam FBW and Michael Jung at the 2011 European Championships in Luhmühlen

Photo: Pferdefotografie Lafrentz