The adage, ‘the rider is as good as the horse,’ holds true in equestrian sports. The bond between the horse and rider is unique, almost telepathic, and defines an equestrian’s success. However, often, it’s the horse that steals the spotlight more than the rider. Take, for example, Bruno, the American eventer, Boyd Martin’s mount, which became a huge talking point just before the onset of the Paris Olympics. A similar case is of Valegro, the mount of British dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin, who is credited with being the primary force behind her two individual Olympic titles and a team gold medal.

Now, another horse is making the headlines. We are talking about Mopsie, the equestrian partner of the US dressage athlete Steffen Peters. Mopsie has earned the moniker “Rave Horse ” due to his infectious moves and energetic performance in dressage. So, what’s the story behind this high-spirited equine legend? Let’s find out!

Meet one of the most popular horses in the USA, Suppenkasper

Mopsie, the ‘viral horse,’ is the nickname for Suppenkasper, the 18.2 hands tall Dutch Warmblood gelding that joined the US. Dressage athlete Steffen Peters’s stable in 2018. Originally from Germany and the mount of Helen Langehanenberg, Suppenkasper came to the spotlight in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. But it’s not the performance that captured the world’s attention. Instead, it was Mopsie’s AKA Suppenkasper dance moves that earned him stardom. Mopsie’s freestyle to electronic dance music at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics took the dressage world by storm, earning him the title, ‘The Rave Horse.’ The craze for the dancing horse put Suppenkasper and Steffen Peters at the center of media attention, garnering millions of video views on TikTok and getting coverage in reputed dailies like Washington Post.

But beyond the showstopping dance move that garnered widespread acclaim, Mopsie has also contributed immensely to the meteoric rise of his rider, Steffen Peters. The partnership between the dynamic duo ignited almost instantly when Suppenkasper moved to Peter’s stable. Their deep understanding culminated in back-to-back victories at Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special, and Grand Prix Freestyle across four weeks of the West Coast Dressage Festival. Together, they clinched team silver for the US at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, cementing their status as one of the most formidable pairs in equestrian sports. The duo will win the Kronberg CDI4* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle in 2022 and earn the title of highest-placed American pair at the FEI Dressage World CupTM Final in Omaha, Nebraska.

Interestingly, the equine showmanship has earned Mopsie fans beyond the dressage world. You might be surprised to learn who counts himself as a huge fan of ‘The Rave Horse?’

Even Snoop Dogg is a fan of the dancing horse

Mopsie has roped fans across the world with his “crip-walking.” But you will be amazed to know that the legendary American rapper and songwriter Snoop Dogg also counts himself as a fan of Suppenkasper. Talking to Jimmy Fallon, he expressed his desire to meet the dancing horse, stating, “I gotta go meet him, you know what I’m saying? And let him know I’m a big fan. You know, the way you do when you meet your favorite person.” Snoop Dogg joined the torch relay earlier during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony and is now commentating at summer events.

On the other hand, Peter and Suppenkasper are slated to participate in the equestrian EDM routine in the individual qualifying round after Team USA was disqualified from the team event following a horse injury. It might offer Snoop Dogg the opportunity to meet the very horse that can ‘crip-walk’ better than humans. Equestrian fans will also eagerly await to witness new dance moves from the equine sensation.