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Sammi Birch: The Dream isn't over yet! · Between the Flags

• prue: Hi Phoe, how you doing? fiona: Really excited today. Our guest is somebody that I've been actually really so excited to have on our show, Sammy Birch. Hi Sammy! Samantha Birch: Hi guys. Hi. Hi. Lovely to be here. fiona: Well, a little intro for Sammy to get us started for our show today. Let's kick it out of the start box. Sammy started her riding career with show ponies and doing dressage, growing up around Maitland in the Hunter Valley. Her talents as a young rider were pretty amazing, riding the very gorgeous Dapple Grey carnival with her bestie Christy Oatley and terrorized all at the New South Wales Equestrian Centre. As a teenager, Lyndon, Sammy's dad, purchased McCready in 1993 as a surprise birthday present. A handy little eventer Kicking off her career, a very successful junior in the early 90s. Hunter Red was Sammy's first seriously great horse in 1999. She was 21, completed badminton, and what a year to take on that challenge. Porgi and Sammy were seventh. Then followed a list of Hunter horses, all a little bit quirky, but in true Sammy style, super jumpers. Manhunter, Frederick Hunter, Dragon Hunter, just to name a few. And in fact, 14 four-star horses, which included five five-star horses, including Hunter Valley 2 more recently. To summarise Sammy's lengthy career her international career spans almost 30 years with some incredible horses and performances along the way. In 2002, Sammy represented Australia at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Hereth, 15th individually with Frederick Hunter. Sammy has been selected as an Olympic reserve on five occasions, Atlanta 1996 Samantha Birch: Perfect. fiona: with Hunter. Red, Sydney 2000, Hunter Red again, Athens 2004, Enchanted, Rio 2016, Hunter Valley, Travelling Reserve, and also Tokyo 2021, Samantha Birch: That's fiona: In 2013, Hunter Valley 2 joined SAMI as a formidable partnership was formed. In spite of Gizmo's quirkiness, their performances were very impressive, with highlights including 2016, part of the winning Arken team, and individually placing 10th, 2017, Bramham four-star third, 2017 Poe? fourth. And 2018, Arkansas four-star in sixth. 2020 Barocca Daval, four four-star Samantha Birch: Yeah. fiona: long. First. In 2019, Sammy took on Findus, beginning another amazing partnership. Together they completed Bucalo. Barak Daval, Bicton, Badminton, Burley, and continuing through to 2025. Recently, Sammy's yard is still full of competition horses ranging from five-year-olds to four-star horses, two of which the Chestnutmere Roses Party and MBF Kudam's Touch competed at Blenheim in the eight and nine-year-old classes. Welcome to the show, Sammy Birch. Samantha Birch: Well, thank you. I mean, it's nice to hear all that actually. I know I'm getting old, so there is quite a lot in there, but yeah, it makes it special to hear it all. fiona: Yeah. prue: That's good. We do like to try and make you squirm a little bit on the introduction, so fiona: my god. Samantha Birch: my god, so old. prue: that's great. It's so interesting too just hearing Fiona say all that and at you say, you're so old, but it actually is a a pretty good dossier of results. So we're just so excited to have you here today. So thank you. I know you're very, very busy lady and still full on into the season over there. So let's go back to the beginning. Where did you grow up and what or who got you into writing? Samantha Birch: so I grew up in the Hunter Valley, just very close to Loughenvar Equestrian Centre. And I remember my sister started riding and I just went along. Someone put me on a pony that was on loan or something. So I just sort of went around the field when they were riding and eventually they gave up and I kept going. And I think it was dad that was the real the driving force behind it. He always wanted me to be a show jumper. But I was into showing in those days, so at least he got me out of that and he got me into eventing. And I remember my very first event was at Gloucester, up and down hills, and I can't tell you how terrified I was. And I think I was terrible as well. But I think I had like three runouts or something on this pony that I couldn't steer. But I came back and I just thought it was the best fun ever. So that was it, I was booked. prue: And thinking back to eventing in Australia, so then you obviously went on and Fiona mentioned carnivals, so that actually was a galloway, I believe, that you went or pony went to Sydney show on and did all those sorts of things. So you didn't completely throw away your showing. I think from memory Jude was probably a big influence in the in the showing. Samantha Birch: Thank prue: I and but thinking back to eventing in Australia, what were the people or what were the things that really helped shape you as a writer. Samantha Birch: gosh, were so, I mean, I was so lucky, so many people, but so lucky to be based in that area. started, first of all, I started and had lessons with Rozzy Ryan and Christie and I had lessons together. And that was great fun because we used to challenge each other quite a lot. So, you know, that sort of thing. Then I moved on to, then I don't know how old I was when I started having lessons with Heath, but that was quite terrifying. Of course, he's such an amazing motivator. He was like, the Olympics, Olympics, Olympics. And we all bought into that, which is still a dream that I'm hanging on to. And he was incredible for my career. And Dad was also very much pushing the whole thing. And then I started having help from you, Pru, and Craig, and I mean, so many people in that area, and they were just all fantastic. My mentors, I would say, most all come from Australia. prue: Yeah. Interesting, isn't it? it's such you know, just Sometimes finding those people early on a and as you say, Heath went on about the Olympics, so it seemed a bit odd that you wouldn't want to go to the Olympics really. So but having someone actually say those words suddenly makes it all quite possible, really. you made your first trip to the UK in nineteen ninety eight with Hunter Red as Porgy, as we all knew him, who was a homebred, so your dad Lyndon had bred him. Tell us about that trip and what made Hunter Red so special. Samantha Birch: That was a great trip. I travelled to and stayed with Jane and Dave Tolley with you. And I wasn't even 21, I don't think, when I left Australia. And I didn't really know what I was doing, but I was keen. And gosh, I learnt so much. he was never the soundest horse in the world. So that had its own challenges. But gosh, he was so generous. mean, I couldn't, all I had to do was point him cross country and... stay on him and he would jump anything for me. And I seriously don't think I've ever had another one like that. And he gave me, wish now, often look back now and think, I wish I could have him again and see if I could do a better job on the flat and the jumping. Yeah, he was just, and I don't know how because he, I think dad tried to race him when he was younger and I, you know, he was just a little homebred that dad, that mayor had, the stallion had served in the paddock. served the mayor and so it was all pretty random but yeah he was just the bravest kindest horse I've ever had. prue: Yeah. And then you stayed on, as Fiona mentioned, and and did Badminton. So after ninety eight you stayed on and did Badminton in ninety nine. Tell us about your first thoughts of Badminton when you had Porgy there in ninety nine. Samantha Birch: So I remember walking the course and I had never been to Badminton. I'd watched a few videos and thought the Brits were a little bit mad, but I a few videos and hadn't really had any idea. And then I walked the course and I actually thought, holy shit, what am I doing here? I should not be here. It was enormous. And I've never, I'd never seen anything like it. So I just. couldn't believe I was actually there. To make matters worse, on the day of cross country, it rained. And not just rain, like a little bit of rain. It rained and rained and rained. And it was biblical. then, so there was so many problems, I can't tell you. And I remember coming over the hill from Steeplechase, and in those days, they had a little hunt horse that used to take you to the D-box. I came over the hill, and I've never, ever seen so many people in all my life. I just basically I was shitting myself. Anyway, he was, I remember being in the D box for about 45 minutes because someone had fallen off and had to wait for the ambulance and that sort of thing. And it was freezing cold, pouring with rain. And I actually have no recollection of that cross country course, which is really weird. I sort of. I guess it's what they say went black but it's never happened before or since and I don't remember anything about it but he was amazing and a bit of a shock to everyone came home clear. prue: how exciting. How exciting. So you brought Porgy home after that, well in ninety nine, but y then you really made a huge effort and built up a great string of horses to compete in Australia. Who were some of the horses you had then and what championship came along next? Samantha Birch: So that was 99. I had a little horse, think. I had lots of lovely horses, lots of them homebreds lots of, and some not. But I guess the next, who came along next was Fred, who was also known when I first got him, I think Heath nicknamed him the Death Machine, which we purchased. He used to dump me every day and he was pretty wild, but I loved him and he was so talented. So. I actually remember taking him to Heath's one day and Heath used to get on them and I'd say, you he's been really difficult. He's been really difficult. And Heath would be, Heath went, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like stupid little girl. You don't know what you're talking about. And then he walked about 10 meters and put his leg on and this thing let rip. And he was like, holy shit, Sammy, you didn't tell me it was that bad. I was like, I was trying to. I was trying to, but he didn't really believe me. So we had a lot of falls and a lot of problems, but eventually, I think persistence and the fact that he was super talented paved the way and he won a lot in Oz actually. I remember he won Sydney on a 37 in those days, which was a really good score and he went to WEG in 2002. fiona: Hmm. prue: Yeah. Good old Fred. We all remember Fred. Yeah. Samantha Birch: He was amazing. He was an amazing horse. prue: and so even in those days you're obviously looking further afield. When did you finally make the decision to base in the UK and which horses did you take? Samantha Birch: Gosh, was a difficult time. think there was lots going on in my life. And I came over to the UK for... Was it Athens? I think there was a reserve, one of the many reserve times for Athens with Enchanted, which was owned by Fiona. She was a beautiful mare. And I was reserved for Athens and stayed with Jackie and David Green when we were here for training camp and was actually second in the British Open at Gatcombe. and had a great summer and really enjoyed it and decided that I was going to go home and move back to England for two years. And I didn't, I brought, I think we left Australia with the Hells who has still worked for me 27 years later, two dogs and three horses and was Sabrina was already here. And then how did we take Black Odyssey and then two younger ones, just Tiddles and Ted. neither of which went on to do great things and Black Odyssey eventually flew back home to Australia. Yes, we came for two years and we're still here. prue: Yeah, and you're still here. Samantha Birch: We're still here. prue: Now, I must say it's not really possible to do an interview with you, Sammy, without giving some time to Lyndon, your dad. Lyndon was part of the Loch and Var Event Committee, which had such an enormous impact on a generation of riders. He was also president of Eventing New South Wales for some time. But to you, Sammy, he was dad. So give us a look into what Lyndon was like in his dad role. Samantha Birch: God, where do I start? I mean, he was the most amazing man. I couldn't have asked for a better father, but he did have his moments. know, I mean, he used to tell me that riding cross-country was like driving a car because he used to rally cars. He used to tell me, and he'd never really ridden a horse or he had, but quite, you know, not very well. And so he used to talk about cross-country, he to talk about washing off speed and things like that, which, you know, it's just... I was always like, it's not like driving a car, Dad, it's really not. So he used to tell me that I always used to get in trouble for not going fast enough. So actually when he got a bit older, he actually sort of calmed down and was like, okay, it's fine. Jumps, I still say now before I go cross country, jumps first, time second. And I'm like, okay, fine, I'll listen to you, Dad, that's no problem. He used to walk all the courses all the time. He used to measure them all and do all the minute markers. And even at Bramham, when he was getting older, I remember he walked the entire course. I was walking with Tim, I think, and he was like, my God, you your father's too old to do this and dad would not give up. He was like, nope, I'm going to walk the entire course. He was a massive inspiration to me and he was very supportive and a driving force, I'd say. He did have his moments. I mean, I remember when we were, he was the chef to keep when we were on the junior team, when we went to. I can't even in New Zealand. And there was Shane and Amanda, but I can't even remember, Rebel, Amanda. And we were all at the party the night before we started. And he kept telling us we had to go home and we were sort of ignoring him. Well, he seriously lost his shit and I've never seen. He poured all our drinks down the sink at the bar and told us all to get in the cab, in the minivan that he was driving because we were representing our country and we were disgraced. And when he lost his temper, I seriously think there was no one scarier on the face of the earth. I've never seen five 17 year olds get in a van so quickly in all my life. So that was a pretty good dad. He also prue: Okay. Samantha Birch: then in between the two events took a bungee jumping, which I don't think went down very well. So it was a bit of a daredevil. remember saying to him one day, dad, I don't think you should be rallying cars and racing cars anymore. really don't and he was like why not? And I went because you're not getting any younger and he was like who says? I was like yeah so that was dad that was so I think that now when I'm trying to event at an older age I'm always like remember what dad says who says I'm not getting younger? So he was just a force to be reckoned with and refused to get old and just loved and you know raced cars until really late and loved horses you know loved it loved me riding was really, I think he had a dream of racing cars when he was younger and gave it up really to go and get a proper job and you know settle down and so for me he was really keen for me to chase my dreams. prue: Yep, that's great. Love listening to that. Samantha Birch: You prue: Now it just changed pace slightly. Your FEI record is seriously impressive. As Fiona mentioned, you've had over fourteen horses at four star, which includes five at five star. You are incredibly modest, and I have a suspicion that you will say that you've been at it for a long time. But in all seriousness, what keeps pushing you and what inspires you to keep riding at the very highest level of our sport? Samantha Birch: Yeah, so for me, I think it's really been interesting listening to all those things because for me, I feel like I'm a bit of a failure because I haven't been to, ridden it at an Olympics. And I don't know why riding at an Olympics for me is such a big pinnacle of a thing. So I guess for me, that's really, the Olympic dream is what pushes me to keep going at the highest level. I've got some love, I've got more horsepower now than I've ever had, which, you know, is a little bit better late than never, I'm trying to say. But. It's very exciting and I'm really not ready to give up on that. But at the end of the day, I think I just love riding horses. I mean, you learn a lot about yourself as you get older and, you know, some riders enjoy the competition, some enjoy, I just enjoy riding horses. If I could just stay home and ride horses all day, that is my perfect favorite day. I hate doing some of the other stuff, but riding horses is what I absolutely love doing and I don't ever want to stop doing it. prue: Yeah. Now a bit like mentioning Lyndon, we really can't go much further without mentioning Ed. So just for our listeners, Sammy has married a very fine Englishman by the name of Edward. Ed as he is known, and they have two beautiful children, Charlie and Millie. So Sammy, tell us where you live and what life looks like on a day to day b basis for Sammy Birch. Samantha Birch: It's quite funny because he's like he's so British, but he's not British at all. So he's from the Cotswolds and he swore that he'd never marry a horsey girl with a terrier and he now has married a horsey girl with a terrier. It's not at all horsey. He loves badminton and all that sort of thing. Just proper countryside British man. We live in Sirencester in the Cotswolds and we have a lot of people here and a lot of horses here. And to be honest, think Ed loves it and on the same time it drives him absolutely mad. He's always, he couldn't be more supportive of doing everything, but he does complain and whinge about it and swear at everyone. And he's a bit of a driving force behind Little Park Farm where we live. There's 33 stables and three cottages and, know, Prue can vouch when we had the Aussies here not long ago, there were people everywhere. Ed is like, You know, he's the house husband. So he does all the washing and the cooking and everything. And I really couldn't do it without him. I mean, he does whinge about it a lot. But and he's really funny when we had everyone here staying and having dinner. was, you know, we had stuff everywhere and I said, don't worry. Everyone will be gone in a week. And he went, I don't want them to go. I love having everyone here. He's very, very social, proper party boy and thinks. Horses are a bit stupid creatures, but can't help but love the sport and what we do. prue: Yeah. And and you said thirty what'd you say, thirty three boxes or thirty five boxes. So how do you split those boxes? How many of those are yours, like horses, you know, as part of your business working? How many of them are liveries, or do you rent the boxes out and and how many staff do you have? Samantha Birch: We have what I would say eight DIY liveries. So that's just, they rent the boxes from me and the rest are all under our care. we've got, that's what we always have more horses than boxes and it drives hells mad. Cause I never say no. And she is always saying to me, where the hell am I going to put that one? I'm like, well we'll find it. We'll just put my four year old in the field or something. It'll be fine. But she drives her crazy too. I'm not very good at saying no. So we're always full. And so we have Hells, who is really the boss, and then three other full-time members of staff, all who live on site, and then a couple of part-timers that come in. And the kids that work for me, I call them kids, even though they're in their 20s, they all have horses as well. So they all ride and go to events and that sort of thing. So they feel like they're getting something out of it. It's fun. There's a lot of people around and sometimes it's busy, but... The young ones that work here are really good fun. We have an amazing crew and a lot of fun. I think Ed thinks sometimes he's one of them. So he likes having lots of young people around. prue: Yeah, yeah. And I think Hell's pretty much is a standalone, isn't she? Like she ha what did you say? Twenty seven years? Is that how long Hell's has been? I think Samantha Birch: Yeah, 27 years. Yeah. prue: and and catching up with her recently. Like she's as you know, she's gold and and sorta hasn't changed but has changed. I would say actually Hell's is mellowed, but that's I'm actually sitting on the other side of the world, so I think I'm allowed to say that. I'm feeling safe sitting over here. But yeah, you the relationship you two have is amazing. and Yeah, I don't know whether you want to mention a bit more about Hells, but I just I take my hat off her for one to survive with you for that long and as much as I love you. But yeah, no, she's she's a one in a million, isn't she? Samantha Birch: she hated me at first. So first six months apparently she thought I was a proper princess. Absolutely hated me wanting to leave every day. And then I don't know what happened. Obviously I got nicer. I think I actually realized that Hells was much better at stuff than I was. So I was really nice to her after that. But first six months she said I was a complete cow, which I find quite amusing because 27 years later we're still here. She is amazing. She runs the show. You could not find, she looks after the horses so well. But she is pretty, she's her own person in her own right. She's pretty stubborn in lots of ways and basically won't, she is the boss. If I say for anything on the yard, if I say, well, I think we should do it this way, all the kids are like, no, hell says this way. Like she's terrifying. She's terrifying. They won't do anything that I say. Everything is hells. And I'm like, fine. She often says, she has this thing when I get on and I'm like, is the bridal changed? Is the bridal changed? And she's like, no, it's exactly the same as last time you rode with it. And I'm like, I'm sure it's different. Anyway, she, and this other thing is she's like, don't do your girth up again. She is as tough as nails, but I couldn't do it without her and so supportive. And the first to tell you you're wrong, I remember coming out of the ring at, I said, bickton or something, a final trial before Tokyo and I had a rail. and I knew it was my fault. And Hils was like, that was totally your fault. I was like, But, prue: Ha ha ha. Samantha Birch: she'll never, you know, we get on great, but she'll never, and she'd be my best friend in the whole world, but she'd never tell you, she'd always tell you what she thought. So if she thinks I'm doing the wrong thing, she bloody well tells me so. And we're a bit like an old married couple. Sometimes we bicker like that. and we don't agree with each other and she definitely won't ever back down. But I think that's great. And she really, I don't have to, I just, don't know what I'd do without her to be honest, because I don't have to think about anything out there. She runs the show. I know all the horses are looked after. I know everything's done and it means that I can relax a little bit. It wouldn't be the same. We wouldn't be, I wouldn't be where I was today without Bells. prue: Yeah, yeah, we love you, Hills. You Samantha Birch: Yes. prue: you are hugely respected in the UK and it's so lovely to see the reputation that you have developed on that side of the world. Something that we always knew here. Anyway, recently you've had two young Australians base with you, Sam Jeffries and Oliver Barrett. They came to you post Arken from the World Championships and both competed at the four star long at Blenheim with great results last week or was it the week before? and you were also competing two lovely horses in the four star short at Blenheim in Rose's Party and MBF Quidam's Touch. Now I'm sure you will cringe when I say this, but you know that Oliver was born the year before you made the big move. To the UK. Anyway, getting back to the horses. What are your hopes for these two lovely young horses, Barney and Esme? And are these going to be the ones that get you back on an Aussie team or perhaps Badminton? and I was thinking when I was making some notes, Sammy, I'm actually thinking I can only imagine that you must surely think that Barney could be a badminton horse. Is that a I'm not I'm really going out on a limb there, but anyway, happy to hear your thoughts about these two young horses, you're right. Yeah. Samantha Birch: Barney is funny one. I mean, we love him to pieces. We call him Special Needs Barney. He's got all the ADHD, every, you know, every syndrome. You know, he just is so worried about life. He's definitely got ADHD and every other D there is. He came to me from some... It's actually Tom McEwen's mum and another lady. And Tom didn't really get on with him. And I can see why, because he looks like a Hunter, but he's seriously sensitive. And he's very nervous. yeah, but he's actually been amazing. So in 18 months, he's gone from 100 to four star. And cross country, don't think I've ever ridden, and I've ridden some good gallopers. I mean, not for a while, but Hunter Red was a good galloper. Gizmo was a really good galloper. But. This one is gallops like I've never ever sat on and cross country he just eats up the course. So yeah, he's really exciting. definitely, there was probably a time in my life where I didn't know whether I'd be going back to badminton and burley, but on Barney I really want to do it. So if everything goes to plan, he'll do Bramham and Blenham next year and then back to badminton. What was that? MB28. But I think, and I think he's like such an exciting five-star horse. He's got badminton and burley written all over him. These days, I think they're so different, Badminton and Burleigh, from everything else that they are different horses. So yeah, he's really, I'm so excited to have him. But if I'd thought that the first time I rode him, honestly, he felt, he did feel lame in every leg and he sort of couldn't leave the ground when he jumped. was really, and it was just, I was like, my goodness. And Ali said to me, I think it's a five-star horse. I remember thinking, she is mad. Like, this is not. Anyway. I have to eat my words because he really is. prue: And Esme, do you think Esme, you know, could be on track for something? You know, she's she's obviously a very different type of horse to Barney, but she's super cool, super straightforward. What are your hopes for Esme for next year? Samantha Birch: really hope so. Esme's big plan is we really want to go to LA with Esme. She's as sassy as they come, but and confident, you know, just ask Esme if she's done anything wrong and she'll say no, never. You know, she's done it all before, thinks she knows better than anyone. What a friend of mine, Alex, who helps me a lot, says she's got an inflated ego, which I think she does, but I think that's what makes her what she is. She's awesome. She's really talented. She is very different horse to Barney as in he's worried about everything and thinks he's done everything wrong and she thinks that she's done everything right and you can't ride. But she is super talented. mean she did it, I think she can do a lot better. She's good on the flat, she's a lovely jumper and so far she's been great cross-country. So if everything goes right I'm hoping I can get her to LA and get selected. So next year she'll go two four longs as well. I just haven't quite worked out where she'll go but... That's her plan. Very exciting. I haven't had an exciting, prue: Yeah. Samantha Birch: like those two were super exciting and I haven't had such exciting ones for a long time. It's been a bit of a gap. So sammi extra: I'm just so grateful that I have finally got some lovely horses and thank so grateful to the owners for trust to be with them. especially Nick and Amanda Gauntlet who bred Esme. she's by their beautiful sire Partychick who died in a tragic lorry incident. such a sad time and a horrible time for them and I just fingers crossed that Esme is as special as we all think she is and she can make all our dreams come true. I guess I guess there's another reason why there has been a bit of a gap. just after Poe in twenty seventeen when Gizmo finished fourth, I was very excited to finally begin to go back to a championships and back at the top of the sport and had one that I felt could be really competitive. I then went back to Oz for a holiday. I had a long holiday booked because mum hadn't been very well that year. And my sister Emma was actually having treatment for breast cancer at the time. So I went home early to spend some time with them and have some nice family time. mum, you know, was really worried about everyone, so she actually paid for me to have an MRI when I returned home a few days into my holiday. and the bad news was that that's when they found the fact that I also had breast cancer. yeah. I was pretty angry at the time. I mean it ruined my holiday. but actually, Mum saved my life by getting that MRI. It was an aggressive type of breast cancer that we found very, very early and couldn't be seen or felt by the naked eye. so I guess the good thing that came out of it was that mum, Emma and I all became closer. I mean Emma was going Emma and I were going through breast cancer at the same time, which is pretty rare and pretty incredible. And mum had been through it in the past. So it definitely has brought us together, I think, ever since, as a bit of a shared experience. And, you know, meant it sadly for me meant that I spent most of twenty eighteen having chemotherapy. which was very successful, thank goodness. And I managed to convince my oncologist, much to her horror, to put off my big operation because I had to have the breast off, until September in twenty eighteen so that I could still go to the worlds. so everything was going fine. I'd finished my chemo, the cancer had gone, and Gizmo finished went I think sixth at Arken and I was going to the Worlds and everything was great. and then it became apparent that Gizmo had sustained an injury at Arkin and wasn't going to get to Weg. so twenty eighteen was pretty a shit probably the shittest year of my life actually, but I seriously believe that riding Gizmo and training got me through my chemo and my breast cancer and I mean I just love that horse so much. So if I could getn't matter how shit I felt. I just got out there and rode him and it made me feel better. So yeah, it was it was a shit time. But again I'm pretty grateful to Gizmo for getting me through that. prue add ins: Certainly tough times there. Thanks Sammy for sharing that with us and how wonderful that we have these horses in our life to I guess even out the rough spots and and help you through. So thanks for sharing that with us. prue add ins 2: Coming back to talking about the younger riders based with you, I'm interested to know how you feel about guiding and mentoring riders in this space. Samantha Birch: I absolutely loved it. It's something that I've always wanted to do more of, have Aussies over here, because although I had some very lovely people that really helped me, but it was really hard when I first came over. You come, I had such a group of people, like I had a system in Oz, I had coaches, I had a support network. And when I came over here, I didn't have that. And it was, I did have people that would help me and I'm entirely, you know, eternally grateful for them, but I didn't have that support network. network and it took years and I think so many times I nearly went home and I think I was just so stubborn that I wouldn't give up. So I stayed and I think, you know, I don't know why. Sometimes I look back and think why did I stay? It was really hard. I rode such terrible horses, I can't tell you what I rode when I first came here and I didn't have any nice horses and I didn't have any money and it was all you know, and I was based at home in Oz, so it was easy. don't know what, in some ways I have no idea why I didn't go home, but I just wouldn't give up, so I was really stubborn. And so having these guys over was great, really fun, loved every minute of it. And it was great to have some Aussies around. Ed said that my accent came back a bit. I started to sound a bit more Australian, so that was also good. But the boys were... I I can't believe, I had to pinch myself a few times because I couldn't believe that it was Prune Craig's son here riding my horses and chatting away because it's just, you I had so much to do with you guys and you did so much for me and then Alvie's here. And he was hilarious. I could put him on any horse, which was amazing. And he didn't say a lot, but every now and he'd come out with a really wry, know, wry remark. And I'd be like, he's very wise beyond his years, that one. So. It was great having them here and Sam, I didn't know as well, but really, you know, he again didn't have anyone over here, really needed some support and really can't wait for them to come back. Looking forward to looking after their horses, feeling a little bit of pressure that, you know, we have to look after these special horses all winter. Luckily, I've got Hellz to help me with that. But I would love to have the whole place filled with Aussies that want to come to England because it's... and they can help rides and they can, you know, and at least, you know, any questions and I can help, if I can help navigate, even if they just want to come over for some experience, I would love to do it. It's something that I definitely want to do more as I get older and hang up my boots. prue: Yes, well you had the opportunity to be chef de kip for the two Aussies at the under twenty five World Championships this year. So I'm feeling that this is something that you could actually see yourself doing into the future. Samantha Birch: Yeah, I love to do that. The girls were great, had a great first experience with them. And it's something I think when you've been in the sport and on teams, you realise a little bit what they need. You you just have to be there for them and the parents and everything else. And yeah, it's actually, if you told me 20 years ago, I would have been like, no way, I'm not going to do that. Like, I just want to rock, you know, but as you get older, I think everything changes, don't you? And you change. if I can help the younger generation, especially the Australians, I would love to do it. And I'd really love, you know, I want Australia to succeed as a, even though I live in England, I really want to see Australia get back up there and more medals. So if there's any part of that that I can help with, I will. prue: Yeah. Yeah. So it's getting close to the end of the season with you, but what have you got left in the way of events? I do believe there's another homebred to make an appearance on the international stage, albeit at two star level this week. Samantha Birch: Well, so far I've renamed him this week, so I'm hoping that's gonna work. So Mills has renamed him Rainbow Dasher and she's three. So we're going with Rainbow Dasher and we hope that the new name is going to help get him through his first international. He's been really tricky and actually I can't, I mean, we're going to Osburton, this week with... Rainbow Dasher in the two-star at nine years old. He really should be doing better than that, but he's been really difficult and he's actually been going so much better since Olvi's been rode him when he was here. But normally I can't put anyone else on him because he's so difficult. He's a bit like Frederick Hunter, I guess. He's a bit of a death machine. So luckily Olvi rode him a lot when he was here and I'm now taking him to his first two long. I have another one in the three long and I have two kids. that are coming up and writing as well. Anton, also known as Wonton, who's famous on the event scene over here, knows everybody. And Sid, who's been based with me for a year. prue: For all the wrong reasons. Samantha Birch: All the wrong reasons, yeah. The party's relieved. So we're off to Osburton. Hell's refuses to come. it's just, Osburton is like, it's not a nice English event. It's gonna rain. It's in the middle of a field. So we're off to Osburton this week. And to be honest, I'm not feeling excited, really ready for the end of the season. It's been such a busy one and I've had more horses than ever. And so I'm ready for it to be done. So I've got Osburton, a couple of one-day events next week, little down on the tweezle down. And then I have one six-year-old for Luleon. And then hopefully that's it. And I'm very excited about that now. prue: that's great. Well, thanks so much, Sammy, for sharing all of that with us. We've really enjoyed listening and catching up and yeah, we really loved having you on the show. Now there's just a couple of little quick questions for me to finish up with. We've we've actually had quite a bit of fun in this interview, but we try and lighten the mood a little bit at the end. So here's just a couple of quick fire questions. So can you tell us some of your nicknames for you? Samantha Birch: Treacle. Treacle. God, I don't think I've got any. Sam Child. Sam Bo. prue: Ha ha Samantha Birch: And probably, I think my phone often changes birch to bitch, so that's another one. prue: Nice And and your favourite drink? Samantha Birch: Gin Tonic, just closely followed by White Wine. prue: Yeah. Yeah, good. real coffee or instant coffee. Samantha Birch: Yeah, instant terrible, know. fiona: Ha ha prue: Now the next statement I'm going to read out to you. It's very short, so you won't have to concentrate too hard. But you need to say is it an always, a sometimes, or a never? So you know how you get those multiple choice sort of things and you Samantha Birch: Yeah, yeah. prue: have to colour in the dots, all right. So you have to say always, sometimes or never and the statement is, You are very good at sleeping. Samantha Birch: Always. fiona: Ha ha ha. prue: Yeah, somehow Samantha Birch: Always. prue: I knew the answer to that. What do they say? Never ask a question you don't know the answer to. Well, thank you very much, Sammy. an absolute delight. Samantha Birch: was great fun, thank you. prue: Yeah, no, really, really fun. And yeah, we look forward to watching Rainbow Dasher at Osberton this week. So I'm hoping Samantha Birch: I'm not expecting that. I'm just expecting to stay. I'm hoping to stay on. I'm not expecting to, you know, to do anything prue: Yeah. Yeah. Samantha Birch: else. And to be honest, you know, when they're mine, I quite like them because I can actually do. I remember Dad saying once, you have to go fast. And I in my older age, and I was a bit like, Dad, when I leave the Starbucks, I can do whatever I like. fiona: Yeah. prue: Good for you. And I would say you're pretty good at it, so yeah, I'd say stick to your guns. Thank you everybody for listening and we'll catch you next time. Samantha Birch: Okay, bye!