Before she even steps into the arena, South African showjumping champion Amy Michau is often petrified. But the moment she and her horse begin their round, the nerves melt away, and pressure simply becomes the prelude to flight.
Fresh off a monumental season where she earned her coveted South African national colours, Michau is solidifying her status as one of the nation’s premier athletes. Balancing the gruelling demands of a high-performance sport with rigorous academics, she recently graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BSc (Agric) in Animal Science.
Yet, her most demanding test remains the 1.55m to 1.60m championship tracks, where the margins are razor-thin, and where she and her equine partner, Go To Blue, take on the very best.
A Match Made in the Netherlands
The story of Michau’s ascent is inextricably linked to “Blue.” A Dutch Warmblood from the prestigious VDL Stud and sired by Zirocco Blue, Michau discovered him in the Netherlands. At the time, the horse was inexperienced and wild, but Michau felt an instant, undeniable connection.
“He was the first horse I sat on,” Michau recalls. “I just knew he had to be mine and we had to bring him back.”
Today, Blue is based in Johannesburg at Disa Stables, where he is kept fit by Liam Stevens and Shannon Wyndham-Quin. Because Michau studies in Stellenbosch, her routine involves flying up just days before major shows. Despite the geographical distance, their bond is electric. Blue, whom Michau affectionately notes has “short man syndrome,” is fiercely competitive and has an uncanny sense for the big moment. He knows exactly when it is World Cup day.
“He’s a little bit cocky… he likes to come in here and show everyone what he’s got,” she says. When the day arrives, they operate in perfect synchronicity, clearing massive obstacles with visible daylight between Blue and the poles.
The World Cup Pursuit
Michau recently demonstrated her elite calibre at the local World Cup Qualifier. Facing a highly technical first round that included a daunting wall, Michau piloted Blue to a flawless clear round. In the high-stakes jump-off, knowing she was up against lightning-fast rivals like Chatan Hendriks, she pushed the pace and left everything on the line, ultimately missing out on the win by a heartbreaking 0.18 seconds.
“I came in here and just left it all out and went as fast as I can,” she reflects. “I was a bit upset, but this is the sport.”
Having already secured three FEI World Cup Qualifier wins, Michau has qualified for the World Cup Final in Sweden, a lifelong dream. She also harbours ambitions to compete on the gruelling five-star 1.60m European circuit across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, where the standard of competition represents the absolute peak of the sport.
However, competing at the pinnacle of international sport comes with immense hurdles. While Michau and Blue operate as a tightly knit team, there is a clear need for organizations like SASCOC to add more funding behind the sport to properly back South African athletes and teams to enable them to compete internationally. Currently relying on private backing, Michau and her parents, who remain her absolute greatest support system, are actively pursuing all possible avenues to secure the funding required for her trip to the World Cup Final.
Looking to the Future
While her immediate sights are set on world championship glory, Michau remains intensely practical about her long-term future. Currently pursuing her Master’s in Meat Science and Animal Nutrition, she plans to eventually utilize her degrees to become a cattle farmer in Limpopo. She is determined to keep showjumping as a passionate pursuit rather than a high-pressure job, ensuring she never loses her pure love for the sport.
As for the future of showjumping in South Africa, Michau wants nothing more than to see the discipline thrive. She hopes for increased television coverage and stands packed with roaring fans. Because when Amy Michau and Go To Blue enter the arena, it is a world-class spectacle of trust, grit, and athletic grace that deserves to be witnessed.
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