SHANE Breen and all at Breen Equestrian had to say goodbye to their great campaigner Cos I Can this week in his 18th year.

By Olympic Lux out of a Harlequin du Carel mare, Cos I Can was described as a “very special horse with a huge heart”. He was bred by Shane’s cousin John Griffin and under Shane, “Cosi” had many glory days. These included jumping a double clear at Hickstead in the Nations Cup of Great Britain as a 10-year-old, earning Shane the Furusiyya Rider of the Day prize and taking the award for the Horse Sport Ireland Best Irish-bred horse.

After being purchased by American Olympic rider Reed Kessler in a career that earned the duo many Grand Prix wins, Cosi retired in 2018 and returned home to Ireland where he lived quietly until a few days ago.

Cos I Can’s longtime groom, Natty Biderman paid tribute, saying: “I met Cosi when I started my show grooming career at Breen Equestrian. I never knew how important my job as a groom was until I met this special horse who motivated me to work hard and learn every day. Now, at his passing, I want to say ‘thank you’ to Cosi for being a patient, gentle friend who afforded me adventures all over the world.

“I’d also like to thank all the people who made his life so special – the Breens, the Griffins, the Kesslers, Chloe Buckley and Robyn Clohessy.

“Rest in Peace, My Cosi... endless polos and kisses.”