She has her eye and her heart set on the Olympics. Hunter is keen to get selected for teams and would love to travel with her sport, especially back to Europe where Pepi was purchased. If the flea-bitten grey mare continues this kind of electric form, it would be hard to argue against her.

Hunter said: “Our goal is team events, if we are lucky enough to do so. It’s my goal, but we have a lot of depth in our US team which is great. We will see how she is this summer, whether she is up to the task, as always.”

Hunter’s had the ride on Pepi for five years, having seen video of her, Hunter tried her in at a yard in Belgium. She’s owned outright now by Hunter’s family.


Pepi’s sire is the grey stallion and international jumper DSP Con Spirit with her grand sire being the legendary and always in demand, Cornet Obolensky. Her dam is the grey mare Pamina from the Tal Milstein stables in Belgium. Jumping is in the genes.

Hunter said: “Coming third in Omaha was very exciting and I was grateful for the opportunity. We go to every competition to win, but to be amongst those top riders was pretty special.”

Having had a little holiday, after flying around those 1.60m World Cup courses, Pepi is now back in work.

Expectations of what she can do will be higher, but rightly justified after how she performed in front of the 18,000 strong crowd, indoors at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. It might have been quite local for the Kansas based duo, but they still beat 38 other riders who had 43 horses to compete between them. 19 different countries were represented, but Pepi didn’t know that, she just did what she does best and the podium place was deservedly theirs.

Whether under-saddle or chilling at home Pepi sounds like a dream partner…apart from her love of getting mucky. Hunter said: “She is very pleasant to be around, but she loves being dirty. You can give her a brand-new bed, you can give her a brand new bed last thing at night and she will be totally green in the morning. She aims for the messiest spots in her stall. She’s grown accustomed to bath-time.”

Pepi is a much-loved member of the Holloway family. The fun and glory she’s given 26-year-old Hunter will be memories that are treasured forever. As Hunter rightly says: “We are very lucky to do what we do. I love horses and the places they take us and the things they do for us. All credit must go to her.”

source: FEI