Natasha Baker: ‘Cabral was a horse like no other, a true legend’

Madeleine Silver's avatar
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Published In Features
bluffer's guide para dressage paralympics
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 15: Natasha Baker of Great Britain, onboard Cabral during Equestrian - Dressage - Individual Championship Test - Grade II Final on day 8 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Equestrian Centre on September 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Loureiro/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The para dressage world lost an equine hero when 16-year-old gelding Cabral was put down last weekend (26 February 2017), after developing a bacterial infection. Natasha Baker‘s Polish-bred Paralympic ride, who was known at home as JP, has been at the forefront of British para-dressage success — breaking records and winning 11 gold medals. We celebrate his golden career in pictures…

The pair started working together in 2009 and formed an enviable bond: ‘JP made my dreams come true over and over again’
(Image credit: Kevin Sparrow)

The pair started working together in 2009 and formed an enviable bond: ‘JP made my dreams come true over and over again’

Natasha and Cabral hit the headlines in 2011, where they took double European gold
(Image credit: Kevin Sparrow)

Natasha and Cabral hit the headlines in 2011, where they took double European gold

At the Paralympics in London 2012 the duo set two Paralympic records in front of an elated home crowd
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

At the Paralympics in London 2012 the duo set two Paralympic records in front of an elated home crowd

CKYG10 03.09.2012 Stratford, England. Natasha Baker of Great Britain riding her horse Cabral in action during the Paralympic Dressage Grade II on day 5 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Greenwich Park.

All eyes were on Cabral in Rio in August 2016 — where the gelding rose to the challenge, carrying Natasha to triple gold
(Image credit: Kevin Sparrow)

All eyes were on Cabral in Rio in August 2016 — where the gelding rose to the challenge, carrying Natasha to triple gold

Emotions ran high after a triumphant performance in Rio
(Image credit: Tony Parkes)

Emotions ran high after a triumphant performance in Rio

‘JP was a horse like no other, a true legend,’ said Natasha
(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘JP was a horse like no other, a true legend,’ said Natasha

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Madeleine Silver
Madeleine Silver
Former features editor

A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.