SAMEH EL DAHAN: A HOMECOMING CONTOURED IN BLUE, RED & WHITE
(No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the permission of HT)
TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST FORMIDABLE EQUESTRIAN POWERHOUSES IS NO SMALL FEAT, BUT THEN AGAIN - SAMEH EL DAHAN’S CAREER HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEFINED BY PURPOSE AND HIS OWN INTERNAL COMPASS.
FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL CHAPTER COMPETING FOR GREAT BRITAIN, THE QUALIFIED MEDICAL DOCTOR IS OFFICIALLY RETURNING TO REPRESENT EGYPT WHILE ARMED WITH THE ELITE HIGH-PERFORMANCE INSIGHTS GAINED FROM THE PINNACLE OF BRITISH SHOWJUMPING.
EL DAHAN RE-JOINS THE EGYPTIAN CAMP JUST AS THE FEI TRANSITION FREEZE THAWS. WITH HIS SIGHTS LOCKED ONTO THE LOS ANGELES 2028 OLYMPIC PODIUM, HORSE TIMES SPOKE WITH THE WORLD-CLASS RIDER TO DISCUSS RING POLITICS, THE SILENT LANGUAGE OF HORSES, AND HIS PRECISE PRESCRIPTION FOR GLOBAL SUCCESS.
1. Doctor, what merits do you think you will take away with you having dealt with the British Equestrian Federation?
Since I started riding for Great Britain, the federation has held annual rider meetings to analyse events and statistics, discuss what the federation can enhance, and identify areas where riders need to work or require support. These meetings were incredibly useful because they brought the riders together. They also taught me the importance of planning far in advance of major championships or Nations Cup events.
On occasion, management would use these meetings to present tough decisions. However, they always took the time to explain the rationale behind them, which earned the respect of all the riders. They also invested in educating their youth riders and that was a plus. This level of transparency and collaboration is one of the most impactful things I have experienced while representing Great Britain.
2. Now that you are representing Egypt again, will your summer and winter show schedules change?
Not much will change, honestly. Occasionally, we might shift our plans at the beginning of the year, for instance, opting for an American tour instead of a European one - but our core focus remains the same. We will continue breeding, producing, and developing young horses for top-level competition. Between Sycamore Stables and Joanne Allen Sloan’s breeding programme, we currently have five exceptional horses competing and placing at five-star grand prix level. We are incredibly proud of that achievement, so we'll definitely be sticking to our routine.
3. The British team is famous for its high-performance structure. What is the biggest positive takeaway from their system that you are most excited to bring back to the Egyptian camp?
They are undeniably among the best in the world, boasting numerous championship titles and world-ranked riders. It was an honour to share the stage with them, some of whom are my idols, while others are ones I grew up watching. My biggest takeaway from the experience is their professionalism. They are unbelievable athletes backed by incredible support teams. Their planning is spot-on, their focus is absolute, and I always strive to emulate that level of dedication. Ultimately, I hope to bring that same standard of professionalism back to young Egyptian riders.
4. In showjumping, how intense a role does politics play?
Just as politics influences everything, it also plays a role in our sport. While I personally try to avoid getting entangled in these matters, building lasting partnerships, whether with horse owners, sponsors, or team managers, requires a rider to navigate them effectively to make things work for the best.
5. The FEI requires a two-year waiting period before you can ride for Egypt in team championships. With the Los Angeles Olympics looming, will this freeze actually run out in time for you to make the team?
Yes, the FEI does require that transition period. However, luckily for me, the last time I was part of team Great Britain – and not representing the country as an individual - was in September 2024. By September 2026, that freeze will be over, which gives me just enough time to prepare for the 2028 Olympics.
That is my ultimate goal. I want to prepare as thoroughly as possible for Los Angeles, secure the best horse possible, and hopefully be in contention for a medal. I don’t just want to go there to participate and check "Olympian" off my bucket list; I want to go there to compete and win. Obviously, nothing is ever guaranteed in showjumping, but if we persevere, we can absolutely get there.
What I would also love to share with HORSE TIMES readers is that I will officially be eligible to jump during the World Equestrian Championships in Aachen this coming August. I am incredibly grateful to the British and Egyptian Equestrian Federations for discussing the urgency of my transition with the FEI, and thankful for the FEI for having waived the three-week difference between my last Nations Cup appearance for Great Britain and the Aachen Championships. Their support means everything. I am thrilled to represent Egypt once again, this time partnered with Oscar-A. Together, I truly believe we can deliver a strong performance and, hopefully, put ourselves in line for a medal.
6. What does showjumping talent actually mean to you?
That’s a deep question. While talent is undoubtedly important, I believe hard work and proper training matter far more.
To me, natural talent is when you place someone on a horse and they just sit beautifully, instantly understanding the animal's motion; it’s like catching a wave and riding it perfectly. When a kid can canter down to a fence and everything just clicks effortlessly, that’s talent. But talent only takes you so far.
The real foundation is built on hard work, dedication, and absorbing experience from different trainers. True horsemanship is what truly matters. It's about dealing with horses in the stables, the paddocks, and the fields, and deeply understanding them. It’s in the lunging and the daily riding. Being able to look at a horse and instinctively know what they are feeling or what they need; that is “feel” and intuition. While that instinct can't exactly be taught from scratch, it can absolutely be developed and refined. Ultimately, a horse must be understood and respected as a horse, not just treated as a sporting athlete.
7. As a qualified medical doctor, what is your official “prescription” for dealing with the intense nerves and pressure right before entering the arena for a major grand prix?
Haha. Nerves have nothing to do with medicine; they just mean that what you're doing matters. We pour hours into our horses every day, carrying the hard work of an entire team; grooms, owners, sponsors, vets, and farriers, into the arena with us. It’s a massive responsibility. My prescription? Shut out the noise and focus on the job. I believe in my heart we can do it, and the horses feel that belief. I’ve been connecting with horses since childhood. Even when others didn't quite get it, that profound, silent bond is exactly why I love them.
8. Your name is used in several different ways: Sam the Man, Sameh, Samouha, Doc, or Doctor Sameh. Which of them suits you jumping alter ego best?
That’s a great question. Honestly, I answer to just about anything. In Ireland, I am Sami; across the rest of Europe, I am Sam.
But when it comes to my jumping alter ego? It doesn't matter which name is on the rider list. What truly defines and elevates my ego is the incredible support system behind me. I will forever be grateful to my family, my second family, the team at Sycamore Stables. Their belief in me means the world, and that is what brings out the absolute best in me whenever I enter the ring.
9. When you get that next big win back under the Egyptian flag, how will you celebrate? Are we more likely to find you out on the dance floor, or enjoying a nice, quiet dinner?
We came so close at the Spruce Meadows ‘Continental’ Grand Prix two weeks ago. It was just me and one other rider in the jump-off, and we had a real shot at winning. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on our side; my mare stumbled on the flat and I ended up taking a tumble. Falling is a total rarity for me, so it was definitely a first, and hopefully a last. Still, I'm genuinely pleased with second place. To celebrate, Joanne, my grooms Hannah and Sarah, and the rest of the team went out for dinner and a bit of dancing. I am not sure about my dance moves, but I think I get by.
10. Will you be following the FIFA World Cup? If yes, who will you support besides Egypt?
Yes, I will be. I'm a huge sports fan in general and watch almost everything. Football is the one sport I’ll always watch, right alongside showjumping. We’re actually heading to Texas for a day just to catch one of the games. Aside from the Egyptian team, I support Brazil, root for England (since I love most of the players), and Morocco, of course.
11. What is your favourite jumping venue?
Hands down, Spruce Meadows. It embodies everything I believe is great about our sport: a flawless venue, an incredible atmosphere, and impressive prize money. Every single class you jump there matters. Because of my success there over the years, I feel a deep connection to the place. The energy always inspires me and my horses to bring our absolute best; I just love it.
12. Which rider has made you stop and go, “whoa?”
I grew up watching John Whitaker and Milton, back then, without the livestreaming available now, watching the documentary ‘Milton -The Only Millionaire’ was a thing. And we watched on tape. And whenever I travelled abroad, I tried to watch and learn as much as I could from all top showjumping riders. As a rider, I am always seeking to deepen my horsemanship skills and build upon that foundation.
13. What makes you want to continue in the sport?
The sheer beauty of it. You share the stage with another heart and another soul; the partnership between everyone involved with the horse is truly indescribable. I love producing horses, bringing them up to the top level, and showing them off.
On that note, you know that equestrian articles generally focus heavily on the rider, stating that the rider won such-and-such, followed by a brief mention of the horse. But horses do so much for us, and they really deserve to come first. I always try to put the horse's name first as a small token of appreciation for everything they give us. HT
Photo by Mark Spowart courtesy of El Dahan
* El Dahan was born on 28 January, 1985.
** He has represented Egypt during the 2014 Normandy and 2018 Tyron World Equestrian Games.
*** He is yet to compete at an Olympic Games.
*** He was part of the four-rider Egyptian team that won the Nations Cup in Rabat, Morocco, in 2019, a win that qualified Egypt's showjumping team for the Tokyo Olympics in six decades.
**** Despite helping the country qualify, the previous administration of the Egyptian Equestrian Federation ultimately decided not to select him for the actual Olympic squad.
***** As of June 2026, he has returned to representing Egypt again