Darconido is a big powerful stallion, with the breeding to have been a top show jumper! His luck has definitely altered his career path, with a major tendon injury at 4 years, slipping on the ice in February 2021. He rehabbed incredibly well, with credit to his lovely mind, enduring 9 straight months of stall rest. He went back into work winter 2023, and we are were all so excited. However August 2023, he slid into his fence and is once more on the mend from a very serious flesh injury, the ramifications of which are not yet known. Darwin’s babies have been carbon copies of their sire in both appearance and temperament. They all share his lovely kind nature, quiet intelligence and curiosity.
Darconido’s sire is Darcon Z. While Darcon Z does not have a performance record of his own, his sire Darco needs no introduction. For Five consecutive years, the great stallion Darco led the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horse ranking as the best jumping horse progenitor. He currently has the most offspring that competed at Grand Prix level. It is a record which no single sire has ever achieved since the ranking was first developed in 1995. Moreover, Darco is one of the few sires of the present ranking who previously appeared in the original rankings from 1995. In other words, Darco has been at the top for more than fifteen years. Reasons enough to assume, at this time, that Darco is the best jumping horse progenitor ever in show jumping history. Darcon’s Dam’s sire, Contender has proven to be one of the most influential sons of Calypso II . Calypso II was an advanced level show jumper with Michael Ruping before retiring to stud where he sired a number of quality show jumping horses. He also sired a number of top grade dressage competitors. Contender was bred by Niko Detlef , Westfehmarn , Contender is out of Gofine who’s grand sire was the late Ladykiller xx . Gofine produced several top show jumpers including the international performing horse Ulina. Contender is the sire of over 40 approved stallions and equally 40 national premium mares. He has dominated German Breeding values for many years now and continues to produce exciting young stallions from which our own gelding Greenacres Captain Z is descended. Contender’s influence spreads through Germany mainly through his two sons Cordobes I and II . They were aquired by the Westphalian stud at Warendorf. Cordobes I was the winner of his performance test in 1998 . His jumping score of 142.29 nearly matched that of his famous sire Contender which stood at 146.62. So performance record or not, Darcon has the blood behind him to produce exceptional jumpers.
On Darconido’s dam’s side, he has the incredible Capitol I. Capitol unites in his pedigree two strong performance breeding lines: On his mother’s side the breeding line stems from Breeding Line 173, the original mare being Rappel. Among her offspring you will find many successful international and national show jumpers. Capitol’s father Capitano was the only one who was chosen to carry on the heritage of the Stallion Cottage Son xx to this present day. The quality in this breeding line is upheld by Garant, however it is because of his mother, the international exceptionally successful Retina, who was ridden by Fritz Tiedemann, who’s wins include the German Derby in Hamburg. Up until now only two horses have ever won both the two qualification rounds and the Derby: Firstly Retina at seven years old, ridden by Fritz Tiedemann in 1959 and her great grandson Capriol from Capitol – Capitano – out of Retina, ridden by Holger Wulschner in 2000. Capitol I, Worthy descendant of the thoroughbred line of Thoroughbred Cottage Son. He is the father of a multitude of stallions including Carthago, Cassini I and II, Calato, Carolus I and II, Casino, Indoctro, Cardento, Cento, Canadian River and many others. The pedigree in this dam line has proven over and over, as the ability, athletisism and power continue to be passed on to every offspring.On the bottom side of Darconido’s dam line is anouther familiar name. Landgraf dominated the breeding scene in Schleswig-Holstein for over ten years. The success of his offspring both in terms of breeding and sport performance led to the demand for the stallion becoming almost insatiable. As a result the management decided to regulate the use of Landgraf by contract in order to secure for themselves the first refusal to buy the colts. Furthermore, Landgraf’s use was restricted to mares, who, according to their pedigree, could possibly produce graded stallions and who were over a specific type. Nearly sixty colts by Landgraf I have been licensed for the Holsteiner studbook, 340 broodmares by Landgraf I are registered in the Holsteiner stud book, 260 of these are in the Head Stud Book, 70 have been awarded the State Premium, and a considerable number have been champion mares at shows. Langraf offspring and decsendants are described as such; Imposing appearance with enormous crest and neck carriage. Smooth total topline and much presence. Beautiful face with marvellous eye. Long, rather broad neck, long sloping shoulder. Withers could be more clearly defined. Well-shaped, muscular croup. Strong bone. Good in front. Slightly sickle hocked in youth (became very straight with age). Tied in below the hock and faults in the hind fetlocks. Good mover. Marvellous temperament. Phenomenal jumper; tight in front, lots of bascule, careful and talented. Great performance capabilities. Offspring are of various sizes and usually late developers. In youth, the tall ones appear leggy and narrow. Nearly always passes on his face, type and also his hindleg faults. Almost all offspring are endowed with their sire’s jumping ability. In the beginning they jump rather awkwardly with less than ideal form which improves with increased maturity. Seldom passes on his overly heavy neck. Huge number of international class jumpers. Up to now Landgraf is far and away the most important jumper sire in the world! In all, Landgraf progeny have won over €4.5 million.
