Heather Cochrane and her beautiful Summerveld based, Throughbred, Centennial trotted away with the main prizes in the KZN Breeders Dressage Challenge.
This initiative was a result of The KZN Breeders Association joining forces with KZN Dressage to sponsor six shows during 2014, with rosettes and prizes at each show – culminating with a trophy and prizes being awarded to the top Thoroughbreds with the most points accumulated over the shows.
Bred by Golden Acres Stud, the Modus Vivendi sired gelding, out of Royal Centenary won the Novice Championship title as well as Overall Winner (highest points over the series) and Overall KZN Bred Horse Winner.
A picture of contented health, it is hard to believe that just a few years ago he was a skinny Throughbred living on a dealers plot in Kimberly after having been taken off a truck destined for the abattoir.
Heather who was looking for a horse at the time, was shown a picture of him on the internet by a friend and was interested. She was confronted by an emaciated horse with cut front knees and a phleg leg. Despite all this, she could see his underlying potential but the dealer wanted more than the value of the horse and she turned him down.
The dealer convinced he could sell the horse for his asking price refused to drop the price, but after failing to sell him, Centennial was once again destined for the abbatoir.
In the meantime Heather was looking at another horse but when it failed the vetting, she realised that she was destined to own Centennial. And so the fortunate horse, having escaped the abbatoir twice, arrived back in KZN in August 2012 where he has proven his worth.
“He is a phenomenal horse and is competing successfully against Warmbloods. At KZN Champs he beat several Warmbloods from JHB, and as has never come home without a ticket (rosette),” said Heather.
Sally McGrath, from KZN Dressage, who has been instrumental in ensuring the smooth running of the Series, said, “It has been very exciting to see how the Series has grown and how well it has been received by Throughbred owners. Due to its success, we have already appealed to KZN Breeders to continue with this wonderful Series.”
