Horse profile HORSE By Yvonne Bolton / Photos by Lelanie Naude and T&B Images
Where did you first see Pohland’s Cuppuchino competing and what made him memorable? I saw Cuppuchino at an event Karkloof in 2009 and was in awe of his athleticism, presence and attitude. His cross-country phase was incredible and I could not stop watching this big, beautiful grey horse. He has such presence. Where was he bred and produced? Pat Pohl bred Cuppi at the Pohlands stud. Mandy Mason produced him through the grades in both Eventing and Show Jumping. What had Cuppuchino achieved with his previous owner, Mandy Mason, prior to your purchasing him? Cuppi and Mandy did very well together; they won SA Champs 2010 and many FEI events. I remember competing at SA Champs on Alaska in 2010 and being placed second - my groom, Trust, told me he thought I should buy Cuppi right then and there! I believe the Russian Eventing Team tried him early in 2012, when they were in South Africa sourcing talented Cross Country horses. What prevented the sale from going ahead? The Russian Eventing Team wanted him for a team member for Olympics 2012. They tried him, got him vetted and the purchase was going ahead when that tragic outbreak of horse sickness occurred and heavy restrictions were implemented to stop movement. This obviously put the sale on hold and they eventually decided not to buy him. Later in 2012 you tried him out, as you needed a higher grade Eventer to compete on here in South Africa to keep your ‘eye’ in between competing locally and internationally. Did you purchase him immediately? Tell us what transpired after that – did you look at other horses in the USA? Late last year I tried Cuppi in Cape Town after I had been working for my mom at an event. I didn’t have any riding gear with me, so I tried him in takkies, jeans and a borrowed helmet! Everything I had previously thought about him was true and I just fell in love with him! That was the one and only time I tried him, much to everyone’s horror! We did not buy him immediately as I was
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SPORTING HORSE Issue 17