HOY Nominee: Kannandillo

Longines EEF Series Newsroom

Some horses are born winners, and Kannandillo epitomises this sentiment. Ridden by Greek rider Angelos Touloupis, Kannandillo recorded brilliant performances in the 2024 Longines EEF Series in Gorla Minore and at the South and Central Region semi-final in Budapest.

Kannandillo is a stallion son of Kannan, and he is relatively young at eight years of age. Jointly owned by Stefan Rodl and Angelos, he is an incredibly exciting prospect. “The first time I rode Kannandillo, he was four years old. I really liked his character. I began riding him when he was five, and he started winning straight away.”

Kannandillo enjoyed a glittering start to his career as he progressed through the young horse classes, which included being crowned the leading six-year-old at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship For Young Horses. “His character is what makes him so special, and also the relationship we have built,” explains Angelos. “Getting to bring the horses up through the sport from the beginning means it is so nice when they step up to higher levels. Kannandillo recently finished second in the 1m 55 World Cup class in Aachen, an incredible achievement for an 8-year-old horse. He wants to be good every time. He is really fast, careful, and has an amazing attitude.”

Kannandillo is a very laid-back character at home. “He is more like a gelding than a stallion. He is really easygoing, and he is so quiet in the stable. But when he goes into the ring, he gives you everything he has.” Angelos hopes to go on to complete the qualifying process for the 2025 European Championships in La Coruna with him.

Kannandillo’s groom is Angelos’s wife, Jenny Fehleisen-Touloupis. She says, “We have had Kannandillo in the stable since he was a five-year-old baby stallion. He was always our stable’s easiest and kindest stallion, a real sweetheart. I love to work with him, because he has such an amazing attitude and character. He has this special quality that differentiates between a good horse and a winner. I have stopped counting how many classes he has won. What makes me most happy is seeing how this horse has improved over the years and his partnership with Angelos. He is so competitive to jump in Nations Cup and World Cup competitions at this top level at his young age, and next to some real championship horses. This makes me more than proud.”