By Sabine Timman
Photography: FEI/Lukasz Kowalski
Last January during Jumping Amsterdam, the licensed stallion Carambole was retired from sport during the evening of the Grand Prix – coincidentally, eight years after Willem Greve won this prize himself with this amazing jumper. But this victory was by far not the only one.
From now on the focus keeps straight on his breeding and this is good news for all the breeders of jumpinghorses.
Success from two sides
In 2022, Carambole was honored as a predicate stallion by the KWPN, although he was born in 2004 at the Holstein home of breeder Jens Ritters, who used the stallion Cassini I on his mare Normandie VI. This studbook premium mare comes from the Holsteiner stamm 1094 and descends from Concerto II out of State premium mare Havanna XV (1979: Sir Shostakovich xx - Dulcinea x Lincoln [Landgraf I]).
In addition to the 1m60 Carambole that we know so well, Normandie VI also gave birth to Carambole RS who jumps 1m40, plus two 1m30 horses by Cassini I. This Holstein stamm also produced stallions such as Latano I (Landgraf I) and the sport horse Darc De Lux (Darco). Cassini I has, of course, sired even more top jumping horses, including stallions such as Cumano (Chanell II x Landgraf I), Berlin (Estia x Caretino), and Cabrio van de Heffinck (Kira VII x Calato). His father line also brings the contribution of the Thoroughbred Sir Shostakovich xx.
Three 10s in a row
Carambole’s breeder Jens Ritters had big plans for the foal he initially called Coloccini. As a young stallion at the beginning of his career, he took him to the stallion inspection in Holstein. However, Carambole did not convince the committee and subsequently came to Tjeert Rijkens stable via the ensuing auction of non-licensed stallions. He prepared him for the 70-day test after being approved by the Mecklenburg studbook, and for a friend of his who had bought him earlier in the auction. He told KWPN magazine that he sold the stallion to Canada just before the inspection with the advice to let him take the test. “I had long seen that he was very good and he came home from Schlieckau with three 10s for his scope, technique, and talent. Eventually, I bought him back for a much higher price than I sold him for, but I never regretted it. He did everything perfectly and he was fantastic under saddle.”
Not long after, Gerardus Post came to Rijkens’ stable to look for a young stallion and was charmed by Carambole. Together with Jan Greve, he got involved on the condition that Carambole would also be approved in the Netherlands.
Strong rider/horse bond
It happened immediately that Carambole was presented to the KWPN at the age of four. With top scores such as a 9.0 for his reflexes and talent as a showjumper and 9.5 for technique, he passed with flying colors. Even then, he showed a lot of talent and gave his rider a very good feeling, and Carambole came directly under the saddle of Willem Greve from a young age. “I have been riding him since he was three, so he knows me inside out and vice versa. Our bond is enormously strong. Carambole has made my dreams come true and opened doors. He has brought people together: My father who found him in Germany, the Korbeld family who took him over and let me ride him. These are not just owners, these are friends, with whom you have a bond for life. And Carambole has achieved all of that.”.. To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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