Event NewsIn the world of Equestrian Sports, the rider is simply one half of the team. The other half is that of the horse. Without a relationship which is built on courage, determination, and trust neither can be successful. The same is true of Samantha and her team of horses.
Allow us to introduce to you the members that make up the other half of this amazing and historic team which ride with pride, passion and love for their home, Jamaica and the Caribbean.
Age: 10 years old
Type: Bay Gelding
Owners: Sam Albert and Sadie Lynes
Advanced event horse. Squirt started his life as a show jumper, but took a big dislike to the water jump….which is why he ended up coming to me. I bought him as a 6yo and spent 8 months trying to get Squirt to go into water…let alone jump into water. But once he realized it was okay there was no looking back. Within a year he was going advanced and was one of the most sought after young horses. Squirt is being aimed at the Pan American Games in October in Mexico. I feel Squirt has a great shot at a medal. Pan Am Games will also be our qualification for London 2012.
Age: 12 years old
Type: Bay Gelding
Owners: Sam Albert and Anne Appleyard
Dex is a novice event horse, I have just purchased him in May. Dex has alot of experience at the lower level and I am hoping I can push him along to achieve qualification for London 2012 as a back up for Squirt.
Age: 6 years old
Type: Grey Mare
Owners: Sam Albert and Mary Bell
Kaya is my first homebred horse. She is out of my 2** mare Modern Art by the very good TB stallion Accondy. Kaya has just started her eventing career, proving to be very talented. She has lovely movement and jump, and I am very excited about her future.
Marley is a colt foal by Punch D’ Vicante out of Before I Do It, which is the mare I took to Beijing Olympics! Before I Do It is a wonderful mum and is enjoying her new role! Hopefully Marley will be an Olympian like his mum!
At the age of 14 this 16.1 Hand Chestnut Mare and Samantha made history, in the world of Equestrian Sports, becoming the first team of horse and rider from the Caribbean to qualify and participate in the games of the 29th Olympiad held in Beijing China in August 2008.
Before I Do it was bred in Sweden and is affectionately known as “Folis,” which means foal in Swedish. Samantha first laid eyes on Before I Do It at the age of 5 when she was sent to England for Sam to preview. It would be another four years, at the age of 9, before Samantha acquired her future team mate and began their Olympic quest.
Before I Do It and Samantha over the years have developed a strong bond and is considered by Sam as one of her best horses. This mare has a big heart and has a great love for Cross Country. It was aboard Before I Do It that Samantha won at Gatocombe Park, the home of HRH the Princess Royal, Princess Ann.
Although Before I Do It will not be competing with Samantha at the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in England, the bond and love between this horse and rider remains strong given the history they made back in 2008.
This 10 year old 16.2 Hand Chesnut Gelding is affectionately known as “Benny. “ He is a 10 year old Irish Bred horse that Samantha acquired 6 years ago. Benny was being sold as he was considered difficult and quirky. However, Samantha saw that Benny had more to offer given the right rider.
Samantha has a reputation of being exceptionally talented with difficult horses and since acquiring Benny they have quickly formed a great partnership. So much so, that Benny qualified with Samantha for the 2008 Olympics and was considered as her alternate for the games.
