New Zealand's leading lady rider, Samantha Mcintosh had a great season in 2019, picking up multiple upper-level Grand Prix placings and winning the 3*GP in Oliva aboard her top stallion, Check In II. The year 2020, too, started off well for her in Vilamoura and she seemed well on her way to Tokyo 2020 before the pandemic kicked in which pushed the Games back a year and completely changed her plan. Even though Samantha has spent the last decade living in Europe, she decided to moved back home to her base in Cambridge, New Zealand.
- Which was the main reason for your move and had it always been the plan for you to move back home after Tokyo? Do you still have hopes of competing at the Games in 2021?
With Check In now being 17 years old I would have loved to have made it to the Tokyo Olympics with him, but it was my original plan to retire him afterwards. He has been such an incredible partner to me during the last five years. Check In never stopped amazing me with his ability, strength of character and athleticism. However with the postponement of the Games until 2021 due to the Covid-outbreak, I have decided it's time for a new direction for him and I and for new plans to be made.
- Check In II had been your partner at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon 2018, as well as helping New Zealand win their first ever Nations Cup in Abu Dhabi the same year. Now that you are back overseas, you have decided to retire him from the sport and he currently stands at stud in Belgium. How does it feel leaving him behind?
Naturally I'm sad to leave the sport in Europe and mostly to leave 'Checky' behind here. But he couldn't be at a better place than with Tal Milstein Stallions where he is already showing his qualities at stud.
- What are your plans for the following year?
We have a great breeding plan which is producing some exciting young horses with the Plaw family at Takapoto Equestrian in New Zealand and it's time for me to take up the reins there and have a more active role in producing them.
- Do you still have the ambition to represent New Zealand at championships, World Cups and/or future Olympic Games?
I am still ambitious and would love to find another horse good enough to be part of the NZ Team at future championships. The team has been slowly gaining strength and some depth over the last few years which will make it hard for me to no longer be part of it. Maybe next time it will be on a horse we have bred ourselves. That would really be something!
