Estonian Grand Prix rider Grete Puvi has said goodbye to her career starting Grand Prix horse, O Hot Chocolate. He was 27 years old.
O Hot Chocolate was a 1996 born KWPN gelding by Hendo out of Auke (by Indiaan x Gloriant). He was bred by W. van den Brink in The Netherlands
Harness Horse
O Hot Chocolate was originally named Orlando B and is a Dutch Harness horse.
He sold as a youngster to Estonia, where 17-year old Estonian Grete Puvi discovered and bought him in 1999.
She first competed him in show jumping before switching to dressage, a decision which shaped her equestrian career.
Married to Karim Barake, the 24-year old Grete Barake began competing O Hot Chocolate internationally in 2006 at the CDI Tallinn at small tour level. They stayed at that level through 2009 with 2007 CDI starts in Warka, Parnu, Helsinki, Wroclaw, while in 2008 there were three weeks of competition and mileage at the 2008 Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, and shows in Brno, Lipica, Munich and Mariakalnok. In 2009 they competed in Strassen and Hagen.
Grand Prix Debut
O Hot Chocolate took Puvi into the international Grand Prix arena for the first time in 2010 at the CDI Vierzon, where they posted 61.277% in the Grand Prix.
In 2012 the 30-year old Puvi gained more mileage and experience in Wroclaw, Warsaw, Hagen, Compiegne, and Brno.
Life in France
A two year break from international competition followed.
In 2014 Estonian Grand Prix rider Grete Barake divorced her husband and relocated from Germany, where she had trained with Udo Lange, to Nice, France. She started a new business with her now husband, Alexandre Ayache. The couple still collaborates with Barake as an investor in their horses.
Grete returned to CDI competition at the 2014 CDI Vidauban, which was also his last international under Grete. That year Puvi got a second Grand Prix horse to compete, Talent, whom became her number one in the barn and took her to the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
O Hot Chocolate became a schoolmaster for Grete's Estonian student, Charlotte Pärt. She rode him at Young Riders' level in one international, the 2015 CDI Nice. It was the horse's as well as the rider's last CDI show. The horse was 19 at that time.
Retirement
"Tears keep falling and a piece of my heart leaves with you," Grete took to Facebook. "Bred as a carriage horse in Holland, somehow you made your way to Estonia. I found you there as a 3 year old, a scared spooky chestnut, something told me you are my horse. Jumping with me up to 140cm classes in show jumping and then switching from a jumper to become Grand Prix dressage horse, my first one. I taught you everything and you gave me more than everything."
She continued, "27 years old, from which we spent 24 years together. So many good memories together with you. I will always remember you and forever be thankful."
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: O Hot Chocolate
Puvi, Ayache, Truppa Win Big Tour Classes at 2015 CDI Nice
Grete Puvi and O Hot Chocolate