Colombian WEG Horse Kupfermann Passed Away

Dressage

Germany

Kupfermann, the Holsteiner gelding who was Colombia's individual representative at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, has passed away.

Kupfermann was a 24-year old Holsteiner by Lucky Champ out of Isabel XVII (by Donnerhall x Marlon xx x Aldato). He was bred by Dörte Kupfermann.

Wieger Derk de Boer

The tall bay gelding was discovered by German professional dressage rider Wieger Derk de Boer and developed to Grand Prix level by him.

He made his show debut as a 5-year old in 2003 under Sarah Joanna de Boer-Stut and as of 2004 Wieger began competing him.

By 2006 the gelding reached Prix St Georges level and in 2008 he made the transition to Grand Prix level. The pair competed in the Medium Cup qualifier in Lingen, which was the precursor of the Louisdor Cup circuit for Developing Grand Prix Horses.

Their international show debut followed in 2009 at the CDI Falsterbo and competition starts in Hamburg followed in 2010 and 2022

Sold to Colombia

Wieger de Boer and Kupfermann at the
2010 CDI Hagen

The gelding sold as a Grand Prix ride to Colombian Maria Ines Garcia Cuellar as her 2012 Olympic hopeful as Colombia had qualified a team

Garcia began her international mission at the 2012 CDI Stadl Paura, followed by Mannheim, Achleiten, Fritzens and Lipica, scoring in the low sixties. None of the Colombians were able to achieve the 2x 64% MER score and Colombia lost its Olympic slot.

In 2013 Garcia and Kupfermann only competed him in Hamburg and Verden.

The next year Garcia achieved two 64% MER scores at the 2024 CDI Mannheim and CDI Hamburg and was eligible to compete at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France, where she posted 59.000% to finish 96th. It was the pair's as well as the horse's last international competition.

Garcia only competed in one more international on another horse, Mozambique (by Pilot), in 2015.

Birgit Madsen

After the Colombian venture, Kupfermann became the the schoolmaster for his last owner, Birgit Madsen.

Maria Ines Garcia and Kupfermann at the 2014
World Equestrian Games in Caen, France

The horse was initially based with Juliane Brunkhorst, who competed him twice: in Redefin and lastly in Bargstedt in June 2015, where they won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kur.

Kupermann was retired from competition sport after that at age 17. For the rest of his days he had a merry life with Madsen.

"He had some wonderful retirement years with his friend „Ferdinand“ in the field in Denmark close to his owner," Juliane told Eurodressage.

Kupfermann began to suffer from old age and lost suppleness in his body. In the end it was decided in his best interest to put him to sleep.

"He was a special one," Juliane added.