Kelly Layne has sold her 2021 Australian Olympic team ride, Samhitas, to Jeri Walz in California. The 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding, bred by Annette Engel and Andreas Wempe, will continue his career as a schoolmaster under Walz’s ownership. Samhitas was originally discovered by Canadians Gary and Jean van der Ploeg at the 2012 Oldenburg Autumn Elite Auction in Germany, where they purchased him as a price highlight for 250,000 euro.
In 2019, Samhitas was sent to Wellington to be trained by Kelly Layne, who officially took over ownership on his FEI passport. The pair made their CDI debut at Grand Prix level in 2019 and Layne retained the ride as her Tokyo Olympic hopeful. However, in Tokyo, Samhitas struggled with the electric atmosphere and reared in the piaffe, resulting in a score of 58.354% and a 57th place finish. This marked their last international competition together.
After a short trip to Japan, Samhitas returned to Wellington and was eventually sold to Jeri Walz in California in February 2025. Walz, a 77-year-old dressage competitor, made her show debut with Samhitas at Grand Prix level at the CDN dressage Affaire in Del Mar. The pair has since continued to compete in national shows, with Samhitas transitioning to his new role as a schoolmaster under Walz’s ownership.
