PUCH Pepo

Classification
GRADE II (FEI, 18 May 2021)

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (Athlete, 06 Aug 2012)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Athlete, 06 Aug 2012)

Impairment Details
He has incomplete paraplegia after injuring his spinal cord in a riding accident in 2008. (oepc.at, 14 Aug 2012; Athlete, 06 Aug 2012)

General
BUSINESS OWNER
He has owned a chimney cleaning business since he was age 15. ''My friends said, 'Don't be a professional horse rider, look for a serious job'. In Austria we have quite a lot of snow and chimney sweeping is a winter business and I was looking for a winter business so I could have time for riding in the summer. I still own the company. With my impairment I can't do the work in the houses but I am behind the scenes and in the office.'' (kurier.at, 21 Aug 2019; fei.org, 27 Sep 2017)

AMBASSADOR
He has served as an ambassador for worldwide children's charity, 'Right to Play'. (righttoplay.com, 01 Jan 2015)

TRIBUTE TO FINE FEELING
In 2020 his horse Fine Feeling, on which he won gold at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, had to be put down at age 23 after an accident in a training field. "Fifi was an extraordinary mare. Beautiful, stubborn, she loved the stage and was always ready to give her best in the arena. But she could be very lazy and moody at home. In any case, she was a great character and a typical chestnut mare." (Facebook page, 08 Oct 2020; oepc.at, 08 Oct 2020)

He became the first Austrian Para dressage rider to finish on the podium at the Paralympic Games by claiming a gold medal and a bronze medal at the 2012 Games in London. (SportsDeskOnline, 11 Jun 2020; pepopuch.com, 10 Mar 2018; orf.at, 03 Sep 2012)