EQUINE STORY
KOKO POPPING CANDY’S SECOND CAREER
When many thoroughbred racehorses retire, they are still in their prime. Seen as too old for the track, they are often the right age and in ideal physical condition to transition from the racetrack to the equestrian world. “If a horse is still racing at six, they are seen as long in the tooth but that is young for an equestrian horse,” said Amanda Ross, one of Australia’s leading equestrian riders. Ƹ;MXLXLIVMKLXXVEMRMRKXLIVIEVIWSQER]XLMRKW]SYGERHS[MXLSǺXLI track thoroughbreds – they are valuable creatures.” During her lengthy career, Ross has enjoyed competition success with a WIVMIWSJSǺXLIXVEGOXLSVSYKLFVIHW;MXLLIVGYVVIRXLSVWI0SOS5STTMRK (ERH] [LS7SWWEǺIGXMSREXIP]GEPPW>EVEERH[LSVEGIHEW,SXLMG Medusa), Ross is a serious contender for selection for the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games, and the duo has also competed at the World Equestrian ,EQIWERHXLI'PIRLIMQ5EPEGI.RXIVREXMSREP-SVWI8VMEPWMR*RKPERH .R7SWWVSHISǺXLIXVEGOXLSVSYKLFVIH4XXSGLYQEOIVEXXLI Sydney Olympics (he trialled but never raced, and his racing name was &WSVIQMG1EWX]IEVVMHMRK[EVQFPSSH)MGEZEPPM)MIWIP&QERHEGEQIǻVWX MRXLI4GIERME(LEQTMSRWLMTWMR3I[>IEPERH
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“I particularly like them because they have an inherent go button and that’s what you need in eventing. Their work ethic is ongoing and they are energetic horses. Their natural endurance is a factor, too, because the ǻXXIVXLI]EVIREXYVEPP]XLIVI[MPPFIPIWW[IEVERHXIEVSRELSVWIXSKEMR XLEXǻXRIWW4ǺXLIXVEGOIVWGSQI[MXLEFYRGLSJPMJII\TIVMIRGI XLI] can do so much already.” 7SWWFSYKLX0SOS5STTMRK(ERH]MR)IGIQFIV8LIXLSVSYKLFVIH [EWTVIZMSYWP]S[RIHERHVIIHYGEXIHF]7SFIVX5EPQERH[MJI(EWWMI at their property in Bunyip, Victoria. Robert himself is a respected eventer and showjumper who has competed up to 4* level. Since moving from his home in NSW to Victoria in 2010, Robert and (EWWMILEZIJSGYWIHSRFVIEOMRKTVIXVEMRMRKERHVIIHYGEXMRKLSVWIW ERHSTIVEXMRK7IKYPEXSV8LSVSYKLFVIHWERH5IVJSVQERGI-SVWIW8LI] FSYKLX0SOS5STTMRK(ERH]JVSQXVEMRIV3MOOM'YVOI “I liked her type. These horses have got to have everything in the right place and make a nice shape without being forced into it. They have power behind them, they swing when they move and they are athletic and have a good action,” explained Palm. Ƹ;LIR.WE[0SOS5STTMRK(ERH]JSVXLIǻVWXXMQIXLIVI[EWEXLMGOTMIGI of hosepipe lying across the area where we trotted her up, and she didn’t put one foot on top of that. She went over that piece of hosepipe three
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