The Holsteiner of the Month for April is a true breeding and sporting hero. We are talking about Carinjo by Cascavelle-Landgraf I-Ramiro, bred by Klaus-Hermann Hollm from Wacken. Carinjo’s career began in 2003 when this strikingly handsome bay from line 703 was crowned Holsteiner Champion Stallion. This marked a milestone in Holstein’s licensing history, as Carinjo was the first privately owned champion stallion ever produced by the Völz family.

He passed
his stallion performance test with top marks and later began his sporting career under Thomas Voss. “As a young horse, the journey with him wasn’t always easy; he was a late bloomer, not a classic show jumper. But my father and I always believed in this extraordinary stallion. His intelligence and big heart are what set him apart,” recalls Sven Völz of the early days. From Stuttgart to Aachen, from Rotterdam to Falsterbo, Voss and Carinjo enjoyed great success on the circuit before he was sold to the Haras des Coudrettes in France in 2012. Patrice Delaveau took over the reins and also enjoyed success with him at numerous major show jumping events. At the end of 2017, the stallion retired from competition for good to devote himself entirely to breeding. The German Equestrian Federation (FN) has so far registered seven licensed sons, and his offspring have already earned more than 400,000 euros in show jumping. And according to the pedigree and competition results portal Hippomundo, Carinjo is the most successful sire with at least ten offspring aged between eight and fifteen who are successful at a level of at least 1.45 metres. According to the FN, his most successful son is currently Caspino, ridden by Max-Hilmar Borchert. Among other achievements, the pair have placed at the German Championships in Balve and in S****-level show jumping competitions.

Photo: Stefan Lafrentz