Michael Whitaker’s 12-year-old stallion Cassionato (San Patrignano Cassini x Quidam de Revel) competed at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, was on the winning British team in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Rome in 2016 as well as in Rotterdam and in La Baule in 2015.

A bit of a character, Cassionato can be really, really nice, but also sometimes a little bit annoying reveals his groom Leila Chew. “If he doesn’t respect you he can be a bit naughty, but the people he trusts he trusts a 100%. Cassionato is a stallion and behaves like one!” Leila laughs.

“He is like a child actually,” Chew says of the stallion. “Cassionato can be so sweet, but then in the next moment he can just do something so silly.”

According to his groom, Cassionato loves to go in the field – but can be a bit hard to catch when it is time to go back in… “What he likes? His treats and his therapy rug – it is easy to keep him happy,” Chew says.

Lets turn the lens towards Cassionato. 

All photos (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.