Samantha Albert, Putting Jamaica on the Map

By Karen Robinson

The Pull of Home

Samantha hopes to return to Jamaica to live at some point in the future. She misses one obvious thing above all: “the weather. And all my family is there. I think it’s a great life for children. I try to take my kids home every winter for Christmas.” Samantha also returns to Jamaica several times a year to coach, often seeing 30 riders a day over seven days. Teaching primarily jumping, she says she tries to make her clinics fun, especially for the kids. “They get a lot of trainers, but those are top professional show jumpers who sort of grill them. I try to make it fun. I’ll grab a water tray or a palette out of the groom’s quarters and make an arrowhead. I think fun is the main thing.”

When Samantha lived in Jamaica, there was a very active riding community. “When I grew up it was fantastic. There were tons of us riding, and it was very competitive. Then it died for about ten years.” Riding has gained momentum again, and Samantha says there is quite a bit of money now going into the sport. “I would like to think Jamaica has a future with equestrian sport. I’ve been offering for years that young riders can come to me in England to spend a couple of months there and see what it’s like.” She says that when she retires – for the second time – from serious competition, she would like to put her energy into the growth of the sport in her home country.