Farewell to Navalo de Poheton, the Eighteen Thousand Dollar Champion

In what was supposed to be the final competition of his career, Andy Kocher’s Navalo de Poheton was fatally injured and ultimately euthanized at the Hickstead Derby on June 24. Andy was looking forward to honoring his partner with a well-deserved retirement, and the show jumping community at large is heartbroken over his loss, and the loss of an exceptional equine athlete.

“[He is] the horse that took a normal guy from the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania to the World Cup Finals and all over the world.”

Andy Kocher and Navalo de Poheton at the 2017 Longines Masters in Paris

Dubbed the “eighteen thousand dollar champion” by Andy and his team, the 17-year-old Selle Francais gelding took Andy to the 2018 FEI World Cup Finals in Paris—Andy’s first international championship—where they finished 29th overall and took away the memories of an incredible experience together.

The pair have made an impact all over the world, conquering challenge after challenge. Recent results include a win in the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Del Mar, 8th in the $216,000 U.S. Open CSI3* at the Rolex Central Park Horse Show, and the blue ribbon in the $130,000 Ariat CSI3* Grand Prix at Tryon.

Andy and the Selle Francais gelding at the 2018 FEI World Cup Jumping Finals

Navalo de Poheton will be remembered not only for his skill and prowess on the grand prix field, but also for impacting Andy Kocher’s life in unimaginable ways. In an Instagram post from June 23, Andy said about his partner, “[he is] the horse that took a normal guy from the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania to the World Cup Finals and all over the world.”

With a show record a mile long, including everything from the children’s jumpers at the Winter Equestrian Festival to CSI5* events on the world stage, Navalo de Poheton will be remembered fondly by all of us within the equestrian community.

Photos by Thomas Reiner