Connor’s descendants at the top: following in the footsteps of Conner JEI, Corsica & Co.

02. September 2024

Connor’s descendants at the top: following in the footsteps of Conner JEI, ...

Connor has been back in Germany for around two and a half years. And his offspring are now making an increasing name for themselves at the world’s biggest show venues. Just last weekend, two of his offspring won on the international stage…

Connor himself is a son of Casall. But a look at his maternal pedigree is also promising, as his dam, Korrada by Cor de la Bryère, is none other than the full sister of the sire of the century, Corrado. This means that these valuable genes are firmly established in Holsteiner line 6879. Connor’s breeder is – just like that of his famous relatives – Eduard Struve from Satrup. Whilst on loan in France, Connor was also successful in competition himself. Under Nicolas Delmotte, the large-framed Casall son enjoyed success in show jumping up to 1.45 metres. Today, it is his daughters and sons who are drawing attention to him as a sire. Foremost among them is undoubtedly Conner JEI (MV. Cosimo), bred by Gerhard Stamer of Duvensee. Just recently, this Holsteiner from line 8778 demonstrated his true class under his regular rider Martin Fuchs (SUI), winning the Rolex Grand Prix at the iconic Dublin Horse Show. And this weekend he triumphed once again: riding for the Swiss team, the pair competed in the Nations Cup in Brussels – and won.

Conner JEI with Martin Fuchs, who recently won the Grand Prix in Dublin and the Nations Cup in Brussels.

Career kick-off in Elmshorn
The Connor daughter Corsica X (sire: Corofino II) has also reached the highest level of international show jumping. At the age of seven, the mare, bred by Erich Westphal (Stipsdorf), was crowned Holstein State Champion in Elmshorn under Marten Witt. Now aged eleven, the mare from line 4564 is currently competing successfully under Rene Dittmer in show jumping up to 1.60 metres – as seen, for example, recently in Aachen and Hickstead (GBR). This weekend, she won the Grand Prix in Bridgehampton, New York (USA), which carried a prize fund of 400,000 US dollars.

Flying the Argentine flag, it is Con Corrado (MV. Corrado I) who is doing his sire proud. The grey, inbred to Corrado and bred by Friedrich-Wilhelm Lütkemeier (Paderborn), hails from the famous Holsteiner line 741. His direct dam line has produced, amongst others, the licensed stallions and successful show jumpers Cardento, VDL Cartello and Quintender. Con Corrado himself is ridden by Mariano Ossa and has placed at heights of up to 1.60 metres. Chubakko (MV. Colman), from line 890, is also based at Ludger Beerbaum’s stables and the stud farm of the same name. This licensed son of Connor was bred by Wolfgang Söhner from Krautheim; as well as his breeding career, he has also enjoyed success in show jumping up to 1.50 metres. Also from line 890 – which, as is well known, is famous for the legendary stallion Casall – comes Carlyle (sire: For Pleasure). Josef Unkelbach from Cologne was responsible for breeding this Connor son, who was initially trained for competition by Gregory Wathelet (BEL) before competing for Ukraine under Konstantin Zollin. This son of Connor, too, has enjoyed success up to 1.60 metres.

The list of successful Connor offspring in sport could go on indefinitely. But it is not only they who underscore their sire’s hereditary qualities, but also his licensed sons. There are 19 of them to date. On two occasions, he even produced the reserve champion at the Holsteiner Young Stallion Licensing: in 2013 it was Coruscant (sire: Cristo, Manfred Johannsen, Tornesch), and three years later Christer (sire: Singulord Joter, Carmen Eißfeldt, Sparrieshoop).

Sebastian Rohde’s thoughts on breeding pairings:
“Numerous of Connor’s offspring have now reached the very highest level in sport. This shows that it is not necessarily the specific combinations of bloodlines that have led to success: Rather, it is important to ensure that the mares have sufficient body length and good basic gaits, and that they pass on a positive temperament to their offspring. Mares that are on the lighter side, but need a little more substance, are a good match for Connor.”