DNA Test Proves Different Sire for Michael Bugan's For President AWO

Breeding

Austrian Warmblood

The Austrian warmblood society has announced that the Michael Bugan's AWO bred Grand Prix horse For President has a different sire after all.

For President is a 17-year old AWO gelding originally known to be sired by Fontane. He is out of Brentana T (by Brentano II) and bred by Eva Buchar.

Michael Bugan

The bay made his international debut under Austrian based Slovakian Michael Bugan in 2015 at the CDI Samorin at small tour level.

They moved to Grand Prix level in 2016 at the CDI Achleiten when the horse was 8 years old. The continued to compete at international big tour level for seven more years. They represented Slovakia at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam, where they were 48th in the Grand prix with 67.593%. They booked their first CDI win in Samorin in 2021. At the 2021 European Championships in Hagen they were 50th with 67.811%. Two years later at the 2023 Europeans in Riesenbeck they got 64.646% to finish 62nd. They also won the 2023 Slovakian National Championships.

The pair's final CDI was in Budapest in October 2023.

Retirement

Bugan officially retired For President from sport in a special ceremony at the CDI Stadl Paura on 4 April 2025.

"After 12 years of sport and 9 years of international sport the time has come. My Bubu goes into retirement. Almost 40.000km behind us," Bugan stated. "I am incredibly proud of him. I thank him so much ..we started together and it wasn't always easy ... but we slowly and surely worked our way up. We have seen so many countries and attended so many beautiful events. A friendship has developed, such trust and cohesion. It was never boring with him. He always made sure we had fun."

The rider was handed a certificate of honour by AWO for the life-time achievements of his horse.

DNA Testing

The Austrian Warmblood society has announced that For President is not sired by Fontane (by Florencio x Donatelli) but by Damsey. A DNA test has confirmed this result two months ago.