Modern times’ Pythagoras Once we all learned at school: a² + b² = c² – Pythagoras theorem, teaching you a lot about the area of triangle if you are at your wit’s end. Horse breeding hardly keeps with such logical legalities, however, in case of Caprimond it is allowed to make parallels. Probably, the experience proving Caprimond being a guarantor for rideability has induced the manager of the Trakehnen breeding association Lars Gehrmann to characterize Caprimond being „modern times’ Pythagoras“. This happened on the occasion of Caprimond’s 20th birthday at the gala performance of the Trakehnen stallion market in Neumünster. Caprimond clearly bears comparison with this legendary Trakehnen stallion being sire of 70 licensed stallions within 13 years and whose career finished due to chaos of war. Indeed Caprimond hasn’t yet provided 70 licensed stallions, however, due to his influence on the nowadays horse breeding – not only for Trakehnen – he can be sure of occupying an established place in the modern German breeding history. Ten years ago he has been the youngest stallion ever chosen for elite stallion, in 1998 he became “Trakehnen stallion of the year”. In spite of this key dates the Trakehnen breeding association has not yet honoured the extraordinary importance of Caprimond for outsider to whom he personifies the Trakehnen breed par excellence. Indeed, since childhood Caprimond has been some kind of „advertising medium“ for us i.e. from the time when he became second at German Young Horses’ Championship in 1998. Until 2005 he has had more personal success than many other stallions ever e.g. Grand Prix placings. However, the policy has not always been pro Caprimond. But if you take a look at recent years you will see that this wonderful pasha from Klosterhof Medingen has succeeded yet to strengthen his influence on the Trakehnen breeding. Some statistic Statistik It is simplest to document in view of the horse collection at the international stallion markets in Neumünster. In millennium year 2000 just ten per cent (9.6%) of all presented stallions, mares, riding horses or foals showed Caprimond within the first three generations. Among them there was also the licensed stallion Schönbrunn, a chestnut, who’s styling clearly looked at his Caprimond dam and also his offspring has got the distinctive charme of Caprimond. Caprimond mit Theresa Wahler One year later 16 of 113 horses at Neumünster go back to Caprimond, i.e. 14.2 per cent. Three of the licensed stallions Donaufischer, Topinambour (fullbrother of Tambour) and Cadeau ensure the spreading of the valuable blood of Caprimond, whereas the premium stallion Cadeau (out of Caprimond’s daughter Cortina R – Family of Corry) has turned out to be an extraordinary sire. In 2005 he provided most of the prospect stallions within the national Trakehnen breed. In spite of the bulk of his sire’s pedigree the noblesse of Caprimond forms his important hereditary concentration. In 2002 Caprimond represented almost fifth (18.1%) of all Trakehnen at the stallion market, first of all the vice champion Hibiskus (by Latimer) showing Caprimond (Latimer, out of Lara XII by Caprimond) within sire and dam descent. Like in many other cases Hohenstein bears the important heredity potential of his sire. He also got a chance when highly paid mares were sold abroad such as two daughters from Tambour and, thus, spreading the rider-friendly genes beyond German borders. Better and better Those who thought that this successful year could hardly be topped became disabused already in the following year. In 2003 the statisticians first listed more than 20%: 21.8 percent of all stallions’ pedigrees show Caprimond, among them the vice champion stallion Couracius (out of state premium mare and premium mare Couracia by Caprimond) who had a first-class stallion performance test. Karolinger I by Latimer out of Kadenz IX by Hohenstein, price sensation on Medingen autumn auction 2005 and sold to stable of Boeckmann-Heinrich, Hamburg, is one of those stallions. First he became champion stallion in Sweden. In 2005 he became the most successful Trakehnen in young horse’s tests at German Young Horses’ Championship. The top-priced mare of the marathon auction named Herzlicht (by Münchhausen) also clearly shows the style of her grandsires Hohenstein and Caprimond. Right now the champion stallion Münchhausen being grandson of Caprimond and who once has started his career at Klosterhof foal auction, has just become more and more successful in the international dressage sport. In the age of six he became vice world champion of the young dressage horses (after “wonder mare” Cherie and Karin Rehbein) and meanwhile he was very successful at Nürnberg Burgpokal. In 2004 just a quarter of all stallions that became licensed in Neumünster, four of total 17 future sires derive from Caprimond bloodline. 50 per cent of the riding horses that were offered at spring meeting in Wickrath are related to Caprimond in some way as well as four of ten – 40 per cent – of the stallions. Of course, Caprimond was not able to keep this data at the same year’s stallion market. However, 34 of 104 Trakehnen listed for the stallion market derives from the bloodline of this excellent type heredity i.e. 32.7 per cent, thus, just a third. The enormous influence of Caprimond on Trakehnen breeding can hardly be represented more impressively. The champion stallion Herzensdieb, a grandson of Caprimond who seems to feel himself obliged to his special ancestor, represents the immense heredity power of this bloodline. His purchase price of 275,000.00 Euro has been just a sensation for the Trakehnen breeding association. The 2.vice champion being a total athlete derives from Münchhausen. The highly priced foal has been a colt by Hohenstein-Sixtus. Caprimonds success being a “mare-maker” is also based in his enormous popularity, last but not least since these daughters became champion mares at the national mares’ show in 1994. The offers at the Trakehnen stallion market as well as the yearly central mare registrations and the awards given show the absolute predominance of Caprimond: From 2000 (15.5%) to 2005 the contingent of foaling mares has doubled: (2001: 79 premium mares/ 16 times Caprimond bloodline 20,25%; 2002: 88/18 = 20,45%; 2003:81/18 = 22,2%; 2004: 113/29 = 25,6 %, i.e. more than a quarter; and 2005:91/29 = 31,8%). One of these mares was the national champion mare Kate by Friedensfürst out of Kassiopeia by Caprimond. What about beyond Trakehnen? Especially the Hanoverian breeders have revised their opinion due to the success of Caprimond and Hohenstein when their daughters pushed at the mares’ performance tests and proved that history of the Trakehners non-rideability is just a fairy tale. In dressage tests they are listed as one of the best heredities for years. From 2000 to 2005 Hohenstein has been second in the statistics of the world’s biggest warmblood breeding association twice and he never came worse than seventh. For years Caprimond has been leading in the heredity of ideal horse points. This factor is to be evaluated much higher since this attribute also reflects in competition tests. Dacaprio who derives from a Caprimond dam shows good qualities. Hohenstein even trumps with a dream grade: up to now 36.8 percent of his daughters were awarded in Hanover. He already presented 56 horses for Verden auctions. However, he had his greatest success in 2002 when the son of Hohenstein named His Highness was decorated with the champion award in Verden, he was sold at a fantastic price of 515,000.00 Euro to American buyer but he will be still available in Germany. In 2005 he was placed at the final of German Young Dressage Horses’ Championship in Warendorf. Furthermore, the Olympic champion Klaus Balkenhol being national trainer of the US-American dressage equipe took this black horse to the Global Dressage Forum where he is to represent a prime example for the classical training. His Highness follows suit to the popularity of this sire Hohenstein. The stallion Hochadel (also deriving from a Donnerhall dam) who is owned by the German national stud in Celle has rouse great desirousness with the breeders. By the way the sister of Hochadel was auction filly at Medingen in autumn 2005. This doesn’t happen just by chance, since you don’t buy a pig in a poke. If you have a look at the official report of the German equestrian federation you will see that Hohenstein shows a dressage breeding value of 150 just in 2005. Thus, he is one of German’s 15 best dressage heredities. His son Hudson (former national sire in Sachsen-Anhalt and Schwaiganger) deriving from a Prince Thatch xx dam even shows one more point. With his rider Marie-Therese Neuer-Roth-Gschwender he became junior’s vice champion in Austria this year. With an index of 138 (90% guarantee) the Hanoverian Harvard (out of a Ortelsburg dam) who was sold to Canada has got one of the top positions. Definitely on absolute top position you will find Münchhausen who has got the fifth-best index of all dressage sires: 163 with 92% guarantee. And who’s the sire, grandsire and great-grandsire of this success? Caprimond himself is one of the breeding titans. Experts and statistician qualify his hereditary guarantee with almost 100%. Exactly 98% certify his excellent index of 136 for dressage quality, a guarantee for dressage careers such as those of Insterburg (by Hohenstein out of Indira by Giorgio Armani) the winner of the bronze medal at German World Championship for Young Dressage Horses who became also third at German Young Horses Championship with his rider Carola Koppelmann. By the way, also Media Luna by Münchhausen, a Rhinelander, took part in the final of the World Championship. She already promoted Caprimond’s dressage qualities with the Danish rider Fie Skarsoe. Insterburg was auction foal at Medingen, premium stallion at the spring licensing in Leverkusen and is just going to become an additional bush for his sire’s bloodline. Caprimond – connecting horses Caprimond - Standbild mit Thereas Wahler Meanwhile, 52 stallions from Caprimond bloodlines have been licensed covering not only in Germany but also worldwide. At the stud An der Sommerlade you will find Tanzmeister II, Donaufels, Chronist, Donauzar, Krönungswalzer, his sire Titelheld as well as Sauvignon. In Oldenburg Canaster (breeding index 2005: 137/91) the winner of advanced dressage tests already provided internationally successful horses. Caprigold – meanwhile covering in Austria - became champion stallion at Brandenburg licensing and derives from the same bloodline as Poetin, i.e. he is “uncle” of the “million mare”, thus, half-brother of the dam of Poetin who became championess at the World’s Championship for Young Dressage Horses. Among the „Global Players“ Contucci has been the absolute highlight – like the Olympic champion Salinero his dam derives from Lungau. Again and again he presents excellent horses on breeding shows and dressage competitions in USA. In Hungary Hohenstein II has started his breeding career. In Finland Donaukaiser took off his career, whereas Sponeck has been an advertising medium for his sire Caprimond in the United Kingdom. Caprimond has already got several titles: elite stallion, stallion of the year and now “modern times’ Pythagoras”. Actually, this cannot be increased any more. Maybe in 50 years another stallion also granting rideability, beauty, spirit, absolute willingness to give the best and passing all this to his offspring will be called „Modern times’ Caprimond“ – a non-improbable prospect…

Info courtesy of Eugen Wahler in Germany , please contact Eugen directly if you are interested to buy frozen semen:

EUGEN WAHLER KG KLOSTERHOF MEDINGEN 29549 Bad Bevensen Tel. (0 58 21) 98 68 - 0 Fax (0 58 21) 98 68 - 40 info@klosterhof-medingen.de