Samantha’s mother was a successful rider and is still one of the most famous trainers in New Zealand as well as an excellent horsewoman working as a trainer, dealer, consultant and sales representative of horse products too. It was therefore natural for her to bring Samantha into the world of horses and set her on the path to international success. After her initial experiences in New Zealand, at the age of 18 Samantha moved to Europe and for a period she rode for Bulgaria. Sam later returned to New Zealand and to compete for her own country. Following three years devoted to opening her own stables, Samantha decided that it was not yet time to abandon the most prestigious arenas in the world and she returned to the heart of the show jumping world and therefore to Europe, this time choosing France where she and her top horses are now based.