Biography

Sammi Birch

British-based Australian rider Sammi Birch (46) first competed at Badminton in 1999 gaining 7^th place on her debut with Hunter Red. She last competed here in 2022 completing with Finduss PFB (25^th) her entry this year also. Last year the pair was 8^th in the 4*L at Blenheim.

Sammi who is based near Cirencester, grew up around horses and started eventing on her father’s homebreds – mostly thoroughbreds that didn’t make the grade on the track. Her first Badminton horse Hunter Red was homebred. In 2000 she represented Australia at the WEG in Jerez (15^th Frederick Hunter) and in 2003 with Enchanted was placed 3^rd at the Australian 4* Adelaide and the following year placed 2^nd with Black Odyssey. She was also an Olympic reserve with Enchanted. In 2005 she moved to the UK. In 2016 with Hunter Valley she was the travelling reserve for the OG in Rio and in the same year, the pair were part of the gold medal winning Nations Cup team in Aachen.

Sammi is married to Edward and they have two children, Charlie, who is 8, and Emilia, who turns one at the end of May. When not riding Sammi enjoys sleeping, sunny beaches and going home to Australia. She trains with Alex Franklin.

Finduss FPB owned by Parkfield Breeding and Sammi Birch, is a 14-year-old Dutch-bred KWPN registered gelding. He is by the Hanoverian Saffier out of a mare by Sarantos. Initially trained by Holly Woodhead, Finduss PFB enjoyed success as a young horse, achieving a top 20 finish at the world young horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers. Sammi took over the ride in 2019 and stepped him up to the 5* level at Bicton in 2021, where they finished 11th. In 2023, the pair finished 8th in the 4*L at Blenheim, less than four months after Sammi welcomed her second child, Emilia into the world. At home, Finduss PFB is affectionately called ‘loopy Louis’ due to his exuberant character.