The former Team New Zealand chef d’equipe Sam Griffiths at the Pratoni World Championships test event. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has appointed Sam Griffiths as its new High Performance Eventing Manager, with the FEI World Championships in Aachen on the horizon this summer and a longer runway stretching all the way to the LA Olympic Games in 2028.
Sam arrives with a résumé that reads like it was written by someone trying to win a pub quiz about modern eventing: elite rider, championship experience, and a growing track record in high-performance program leadership.
HSI points to Sam’s competitive background at the top of the sport —- including Olympic experience and championship-level appearances -— along with his more recent work behind the scenes in high-performance environments. In the release announcing the hire, HSI notes that Sam has held senior high-performance roles within eventing, working with athletes, coaches, and support teams with a focus on sustainable results.
A major recent chapter of that experience came with New Zealand, where HSI says Sam played a key role in the redesign of the country’s High Performance Eventing program alongside its High Performance Director. Sam also served as Head Coach to New Zealand’s High Performance Eventing Team for more than three years, including at the Paris Olympics in 2024, and has also acted as Chef d’Equipe at various international events and Nations Cups.
“I’m really excited to be appointed as Horse Sport Ireland’s High Performance Eventing Manager,” Sam said. “Ireland is a very strong equestrian nation with exceptional horses and riders so I’m hoping I can get the best out of everyone.”
Sam framed the job as both an immediate championship push and a longer-term medal mission. “I’m ambitious, we have the World Championships on the horizon and we want to go well there. That’s also a stepping stone to the Olympics, with qualification to Los Angeles on offer… but what I want is an Olympic medal, so let’s all pull in the same direction to get there.”
There’s also a built-in Ireland connection for Sam. You may recall Sam won Badminton with the fan-favorite Irish-bred mare Paulank Brockagh (bred in Co. Wicklow by Paula and Frank Cullen), and he also has family in South Dublin as well as a long-standing sponsorship arrangement with TRM, one of HSI’s team sponsors.
“I definitely feel like there’s a bit of Ireland in me,” Sam said, adding that he’s looking forward to getting started and building momentum with Ireland’s current mix of established and emerging combinations.
HSI Chief Executive Denis Duggan welcomed the appointment, citing Sam’s blend of competitive experience and program leadership. “Sam brings an exceptional blend of elite competitive experience and proven high-performance management expertise,” Denis said. “His understanding of what it takes to succeed at the very top of the sport, both as an athlete and as a leader, will be of enormous benefit to our eventing program.”
Denis added that the appointment followed a “thorough and competitive” process and highlighted Sam’s commitment to horse welfare and transparency — both topics Sam has been active in through panel discussions and broader industry conversations.
The Irish saw returned stability and competitive success during former Manager Dag Albert’s tenure. Dag succeeded former Manager Sally Corscadden in 2023 after the former was investigated by HSI for training practices, a period that underscored the internal struggle both the athletes and the sport’s governing body experienced. The Irish rebounded competitively, though, securing top international placings in the FEI Eventing Nations’ cup in the lead-up to Paris.
HSI also thanked outgoing High Performance Eventing Manager Dag Albert for his work with the program. “I would like to sincerely thank Dag Albert for his commitment, professionalism and contribution to Irish eventing during his time with Horse Sport Ireland,” Denis Duggan said.
