HIGH Court proceedings were initiated this week by US entrepreneur Sam Stathis against international show jumper Michelle Kenny and her company, River Lodge Eventing Limited.

The case is linked to the breakdown of the business relationship between Kenny (33) and her former partner Rafael Sanctuary (35), who is a director of the company.

In September, Kenny herself went to the High Court to secure an interim injunction to stop Mr Sanctuary from transporting or selling six horses, valued at around €400,000. It was alleged he took the horses from the equestrian centre when he learned Kenny was planning to sell the business.

It was agreed that five of the horses would be placed in independent care while the sixth and most valuable horse, Mika, would remain in Ms Kenny’s care.

In a sworn statement, Kenny said the company was the owner of all of the horses in question including Mika, however, Stathis claims he owns Mika and filed a plenary summons on Wednesday, as reported by the Irish Independent.

It is understood Stathis maintains the horse was purchased by him four years ago for around €20,000 while Kenny’s position is that Stathis simply provided funds for her to enter the horse in competition.

Sanctuary and Kenny were romantically involved between 2009 and 2023, after which they maintained a business relationship with Sanctuary a director and manager of the equestrian centre from 2017.

In an affidavit opened to the court, Kenny claimed Sanctuary was suspended in August pending an investigation by an external HR adviser into several issues, including alleged threats to sabotage the business operations and potential breach of fiduciary duties.

Sanctuary, through his legal counsel, denied the allegations against him, especially the suggestion he lacked authority or permission to take the horses from the centre.