Popeye K, a popular and prolific KWPN stallion who was an eyecatcher with his big blaze and four white legs, has passed away in his sleep at the age of 27.
Popeye K.
Owned by Spencer Ranch, he spent the last three years in retirement at the farm of Tommy Serio. But during his career, he accumulated many awards, including the 2008 and 2009 USEF Hunter Breeding Sire of the Year, the Winter Equestrian Festival’s 2005, 2006 and 2007 circuit championship for the regular conformation hunter division, and the Show Hunter Hall of Fame Show Hunter of the Year in 2005.
In a tribute to her horse, Rachel Spencer said, “Popeye was more than just a champion—he was a cornerstone of my equestrian career and an anchor for so many years. His presence in my life shaped my journey in ways I could never have imagined.
“I had the honor of riding him in his final year of competition, a memory that will always stay with me. Popeye retired from the show ring with the same grace and dignity that defined his entire career, and his legacy as a KWPN-approved stallion will live on through his exceptional offspring in the U.S. and Canada.
“His presence was larger than life, and I know he touched many of you, just as he did me.”