The partnership between Lauren Sammis and Sagacious HF has ended as of June 16. Sammis won team gold and individual silver with Sagacious, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Welt Hit II—Judith, Cocktail) gelding owned by Al Guden of Hyperion Farm, at the 2007 Pan American Games (Brazil). She’s had the ride on the horse since he was 6. 

“I’ve had such an amazing opportunity and am so grateful to Al and Judy [Guden, who lost a five-year battle with breast cancer in 2007]. I’m grateful to Al for keeping the dream going over the last few years of being able to ride this amazing horse. I would not be where I am today had Al not been so generous and supportive over the years as an owner,” said Sammis, of South Orange, N.J.

Sammis, 41, moved Sagacious up to the Grand Prix level in 2009 and topped the Grand Prix and Grand Prix freestyle at the Saugerties CDI-W (N.Y.). They also won a Grand Prix Special at last year’s Saugerties CDI-W. Sagacious placed 12th in the Olympic Grand Prix Special and 15th in the Grand Prix during the first weekend of the 2012 USEF Dressage Festival Of Champions in Gladstone, N.J., before being withdrawn from the second weekend of competition.

“We’ve had some issues over the last few years keeping the horse in condition to compete at this high level,” said Sammis. “With that in mind, Al’s decided to bring the horse home, and I support him in that. I’m looking forward to what the future brings for me. Hopefully I can find another wonderful partner I can continue my career on.”