Lauren Sammis Comes Back to Win at 2023 CDI Quakertown After Seven-Year Break from CDI

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2023 CDI Quakertown

American professional dressage rider Lauren Sammis has made a return to the international stage after a seven-year break from showing at CDI's. Aboard the 8-year old Heiline's Oh Land, she made her come back in January at small tour level and scored a double victory at last weekend's CDI Quakertown in Pennsylvania on 23-25 June 2023.

Building a Career

Sammis is a familiar face on the American dressage scene as professional trainer, rider and horse dealer.

She made her big break through in sport aboard Sagacious HF (by Welt Hit II x Cocktail). At the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro she won team gold and individual silver. She competed Sagacious HF internationally until 2012 and then briefly moved on with Hope Greenfield's Lombard V, which sold to Tinne Vilhelmson.

Line Høst Johansen on 3-yo Heiline's Oh Land

The next big chapter in her career was on Jane Suwalsky's Whitman (by Rhodium x Saluut) which she campaigned from 2014 through 2015 after which the ride went to Israeli Sahar Hirosh. In the autumn of 2016 two CDI's followed on Karen Detmering's Lou Heart (by Londonderry x Dream of Glory), who came from France and sold to U.S. young rider Ellen Schmidt.

Lou Heart was Lauren's last "international" horse, after which a seven year break followed even though she continued at national level.

The 52-year old also became a mom of twins Aiden and Mars (formerly known as Ryan) in 2008.

"I had twins when I was riding a Sagacious HF. Those babies are now 15 years old. It’s time for me to get back in the arena," Lauren told Eurodressage about her return to the CDI ring. "Family decisions… a sick parent, pandemic, kids didn’t go to school for two years. It was choice I made to put my family first," Lauren added about the reasons for her long absence from the top levels of the sport.

Heiline's Oh Land

In January 2023 Sammis resurfaced on the international stage with the 8-year old Heiline's Oh Land, a Danish warmblood mare sourced by Martha Thomas and Babsi Neidhardt-Clark for owner Peggy Gordon on a shopping trip in Denmark.

"She was purchased by Peggy for herself to ride but Covid struck and then Peggy was been suffering from illness," Lauren explained. "Leia is a warrior. She is always working and never is intimidated or resistant. She has an incredible hind leg and is learning g to balance her power."

Heiline's Oh Land is by Goldfinger VDT out of Heiline's Oh-Anna (by Diamond Hit x Argentinus). She is bred in Denmark at Stald Heiline and did her mare performance test in 2018 under Line Høst Johansen. Danish Grand Prix rider Lone Bang Larsen bought her from the breeder as a 3-year old but never competed her.

At the CDI West Palm Beach she placed 9th in the Prix St Georges (65.824%) and in the Intermediaire I they were 8th with 62.559%. Five months later at the CDI Quakertown the pair showed they have gelled more and scored a double victory with 67.765% in the Prix St Georges and 69.882% in the Inter I.

"Quakertown was a beautiful and super venue," said Lauren. "Leia was ok but has not even begun to show in the competition arena what she is capable of. When that happens she will be a horse that people remember. I did prematurely enter a CDI in February in Wellington with the intention of qualifying for Festival. She was in no way ready and really showed her inexperience. She is 8 years old now and really just starting understand her balance."