Sam Griffiths

Sam Griffiths was born in Pearcedale, Victoria, Australia. He made the decision to move to the UK in 1995 to pursue a career as an International Event Rider, initially training and working as a backup rider for double Olympic gold medalist Matt Ryan for three years. Following this, Sam and his wife, Lucy, established their own team of horses, operating from their yard on the Dorset/Somerset border. Throughout his career, Griffiths has focused on developing strong partnerships with his horses, often starting with them when they are young to build a deep understanding and trust. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography from Monash University, Melbourne.

Griffiths has a distinguished career in eventing, marked by several significant achievements. He was shortlisted for the Athens and Beijing Olympics and was a member of the Australian Team for the 2010 World Championships in the USA with his horse Happy Times. He competed in the London 2012 Olympics in both individual and team eventing. A career-defining moment came in 2014 when he won the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials riding Paulank Brockagh. In the same year, he was part of the Australian team for the FEI World Equestrian Games in France and was named the Event Rider of the Year by L’Année Hippique Awards. He served as an Ambassador for the Mitsubishi Motors Adelaide International Horse Trials in 2017.

His Olympic journey continued at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, where he finished 4th individually and was a key member of the Australian team that secured a Bronze medal. Griffiths is known for his commitment to his horses, including notable partnerships with Private Colin, In The Groove, Noble Opposition, Motion Bound, Happy Times, and Paulank Brockagh. Paulank Brockagh, affectionately known as Brocks, became particularly famous for her success, winning Badminton in 2014 and contributing to the team bronze at the Rio Olympics. Sam Griffiths is currently based in the UK, where he continues to compete and trains other riders, sharing his expertise and experience in the equestrian discipline.