Chupa Chup A.S. Passed Away

Dressage

Sweden

The internationally competed Grand Prix horse Chupa Chup AS has passed away. He was 18 years old.

Chupa Chup AS was a KWPN gelding by Sorento out of Vidermarka (by Fidermark). He was bred by Orlanda Dragman in The Netherlands.

Sweden

Chupa Chup AS was first competed in Sweden by Moa Grodinger, who placed 12th in the 5-year old division at the 2012 Swedish Young Horse Championships.

A year later, it was Mads Hendeliowitz who steered him to a 7th place at the 2013 Swedish Young Horse Championships, before Danish born Jacob Norby Sorensen took over the ride for new owner Patricia Florin.

Sorensen and Chupa Chup made their CDI debut in 2015 in Malmo in the small tour but got disqualified for "not confirming with many rules" according to the FEI. Seven months later they showed at the 2016 CDI Stadl Paura. In 2017 the pair moved up to Grand Prix level and competed at the CDI Uggerhalne, where they posted 66.840%.

Japan

Chupa Chup moved to Germany to Patrik Kittel's stable to be sold. Under Swedish Malin Nilsson he did a national show in Ankum in October 2017, winning the Grand Prix. The horse sold to Japanese Masihiro Kosaka (owner of Eddieni) shortly afterwards.

The ride was allocated to Japanese Olympian Yuko Kitai as her 2018 World Equestrian Games hopeful. They made their debut at the Aachen Dressage Days in April 2018 and competed in Leudelange, Verden, and Cappeln, but were not selected on the Japanese team for Tryon.

Kittel climbed back on board for one CDI in Flyinge in September 2018, riding the horse to 71.022% in the Grand Prix. It was the horse's last international. Two months later Nilsson rode him once again in Ankum.

Chupa Chup returned to the arena in 2021 with Kosaka in the saddle, first in a national show in Wellington, Florida, and later in May in Redefin, Germany.

Sweden

In the autumn of 2021 Chupa Chup AS moved back to Sweden to become a schoolmaster for then junior rider Laura Laustsen, daughter of Patricia Florin. He was her 18th birthday present.

Laustsen competed the chestnut at national level in Sweden between 2022 and 2024. They did two CDI's together, both in Poland: In April 2022 at junior level at the CDI Zakrow and in April 2024 at Young Riders level at the CDI Gosciszow. Their last show was in May 2024 at the Swedish Young Riders Championships where they finished 16th overall.

Untimely Passing

Laustsen commented on the untimely passing of Chupa Chup.

"I wish I could just turn back time to our everyday life together, having fun doing tricks with one hand, cantering full speed in the woods, having the most exciting experiences together," she said. "You truly are one in a lifetime horse. The past 4 years has truly been one of the best kind! And now we’re here. At the end. You’ve carried me so far. Further than anyone could ever ask. And now it’s my turn to carry you, through this final goodbye."