Big time horse owners are a critical component to eventing and I have often said that “behind every great rider is a great owner…or three.” The reality of eventing is that if you want to be successful at the top level, you will need a constant supply of top horses and that requires either incredible luck or a lot of money. In the vast majority of cases, the relationship between the owner and rider works out really well for both parties; the owner gets the pleasure of watching their horse develop into a 4* athlete and the rider gets to compete a nice horse. However, as we have seen in the Totilas sale and now the debacle with Michael Jung’s La Biosthetique Sam, the price of having owners is that they can ultimately do whatever they want with their horse.
On Thursday, we reported that Michael Jung’s WEG gold medal winning La Biosthetique Sam was taken from Michael’s barn by his 60% owner Sabine Kreuter without Michael’s knowledge or consent.
Today, a German website is reporting that the Jung family’s lawyer has applied for an injunction at a German district court seeking the immediate return of Sam to their stables. According to the Jung’s, Kreuter promised to return Sam by noon on Friday, but that deadline has obviously passed. The Jungs have requested urgent action because Kreuter’s barn is near a region of Bavaria that is experiencing an outbreak of Equine Infectious Anemia (Swamp Fever), which is a potentially fatal disease. [sms-pferdenews.de] via Google Translate
European laws are often very different from US laws, but from my experience in the US, the majority owner pretty much gets to do whatever they want with the horse. Majority ownership even trumps all but the most air-tight of contracts between the owner and rider. As I have been saying all along, it’s a shame that money is getting in the way of a fantastic partnership and I hope that Sam’s interests are respected as much as possible. For example, I have read quotes by the Jungs saying that Kreuter doesn’t have any knowledge or experience with respect to Sam’s feeding, care, etc.
According to a German website, the Jungs, who own 40% of Sam, have a five year old agreement with Kreuter that stipulates Sam cannot be sold without approval from the Jungs. As a result, no one has been allowed to try Sam for purchase. The agreement between Kreuter and the Jungs ends December 31st, 2010. Kreuter apparently took the horse to let prospective buyers try Sam for purchase. [faz.net]
I want to give a big thanks to LD, Eventing Nation’s connection to all things German eventing for keeping us fully updated on the story. Go eventing.
