Amanda Ross and Koko Popping Candy. © Elizabeth Borowik.
By Equestrian Life
Amanda Ross has announced the retirement of her long-term eventing partner Koko Popping Candy ‘Zarzy’.
In a post to her Facebook page, Amanda explained the 14-year-old mare had been forced into early retirement due to some injury and arthritis complications that would prevent her from competing.
“This has been a long time coming… finally it’s time to announce Zarzy has been retired,” wrote Amanda.
“Unfortunately stifle arthritis & some soft tissue damage, has meant Zarzy has been retired from competition.”
“We spent so much of 2020 looking for solutions & treatments, & although it was frustrating, heartbreaking, & a test of my resilience, I wanted to leave no stone unturned.”
The combination was a powerhouse on the Australian eventing scene, winning and placing in countless CCI4* classes over the years.
Amanda and Zarzy were reserves for the 2018 World Equestrian Games and were also shortlisted for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games.
“I have the most wonderful team of vets (thankyou Dr Christine Demery) who moved heaven & earth trying to get Zarzy to Tokyo. I can safely say we tried everything,” wrote Amanda.
“Thank you to Zarzy’s owners Chrissy & Fraser Brown for supporting such a wonderful campaign, with the most sassy black bat ever imaginable!
Thanks for entrusting me with her ownership in retirement, I will look after her for the rest of her days.”
One particularly memorable win was the CCI4*-S at the Australian Eventing Championships in 2019, following which Amanda and Zarzy appeared on the front cover of Equestrian Life’s May/June issue.
Equestrian Life wishes Amanda the best with her future riding and a very happy horsey retirement for Koko Popping Candy!
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