Sunday Links

George ‘Bushman’: May 1999 – June 2025

19 years ago I remember waking up in a hotel room in the Czech Republic,…

Posted by Sam Watson Eventing on Saturday, June 7, 2025

Today we bid a fond farewell to Sam Watson’s World Championships partner, Bushman (who competed under Horseware Bushman during his career), who passed away this week at the age of 26. Sam and “George” partnered together for the 2010 and 2014 World Equestrian Games as well as three senior FEI European Championships, as well as several CCI5* events.

“There’s no doubt that George changed and created my pathway through this life,” Sam wrote in a heartfelt tribute on social media. “Without him, the rest wouldn’t have followed. On a broader note, there would be no EquiRatings. For me, he was the ultimate footsteps in the sand partner. There were times when I let him down more than usual and he found a way to carry us both home. He was brave, generous, sympathetic and he absolutely adored the sport. Today was our final goodbye to George, and you can imagine the sadness. But our eyes will dry and we’ll have endless happy memories to cherish. Thank you my boy. Eternal love, gratitude and admiration from us all.”