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Capone I
About
When he was purchased in 1998 at the approved stallion auction in Neumunster, Germany, Capone I was the first German-approved Holsteiner stallion ever imported into North America specifically for a career in sport. Now, a mere nine years later, Capone's impact not only on sport, but also on the international world of showjumping stallions is difficult to overstate.
Unable to effectively cover mares outside Europe due to problems with frozen semen and a diagnosis as EVA positive, Contender's lasting impact now comes in large part through the careers of his stallions sons. Preeminent amoungst them is Capone himself, a young superstar not only by his father but also through his mother Winja. Prior to producing Capone, Winja offered to the breeding world an approved half-brother who is now a successful dressage stallion, showing her versatility in production. From the famous mare line 890 of the Schleiswig-Holstein region of Germany, Winja carries on and extends the proud tradition of 890.
However, the impeccable breeding that flows through Capone's pedigree is barely half of the story. The world has more than a few stallions with strong pedigrees. Not many of these stallions can also demonstrate through exceptional results in the sport of showjumping that they not only confirm expectations of their bloodlines, but exceed them. Capone is such a horse.
Having started his training in sport immediately after arrival in the USA in 1999 and in lieu of the 100 day test in Germany (a decision made by his owners to lessen risk of injury during the test), he quickly rose through the ranks in 2000. With numerous divisional championships in North America before finishing his fourth year, he started his first Grand Prix while only 5 years of age, incurring faults in his debut only with two rails down late in the course.
Since taking time off in 2001 and 2002 to focus on training and allow his body to fully mature, he returned to sport in 2003 with no question as to his future: success. Cantering into his first 1.45 meter Grand Prix in August of 2003 as the first horse to go, Capone jumps clear in a decisive display of power and skill at the $50,000 Keg Grand Prix in Langley, British Columbia. With a solid 9th place finish against a deep field of strong horses, Capone and rider Kyle King set the stage for the next step.
Invited to participate in the prestigious Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament in Calgary, Alberta, the two take up the challenge offered by the largest, richest showjumping tournament in North America. Capone and Kyle begin their week at 1.30 meters, quickly moving up to 1.40 meters and a 7th place finish against the best North American competition at this height.
Moving forward from his success in the 1.45 meter Grand Prix level at age 7, Capone stepped up to International-level competition at the young age of 8. In 2004, he successfully completed the grueling Shell Cup derby at Spruce Meadows in the International ring - a class that, while "only" 1.60 meters (5 feet, 3 inches in height with spreads in excess of 6 feet for oxers ) is considered one of the most challenging classes in the world.
Soundly defying predictions by some "experts" that he was too young and inexperienced for this level of competition, Capone has made these massive classes at Spruce his personal playground. In 2006, he jumped clear in the Shell Cup and placed third, hundredths of a second behind the winner. In 2007, he placed fourth in the Nexen Cup (successor to the Shell), and second in the Chrysler Cup. With each performance, he's demonstrated a confidence and ease jumping at this level that leaves the crowd stunned.
He's extended his gorgeous performances at the highest levels of the showjumping sport to the winter circuit in Florida, placing consistently in the 1.60 and 1.70 meter classes there against the best horses and riders in the world. Perhaps unique amongst competitors at this level of sport, Capone presents himself in competition as a horse who loves his job, loves jumping, and loves being himself.
In 2006, Capone and Kyle cantered into the $1 million CN Performance class at Spruce Meadows, the biggest prizemoney class in the world of showjumping today. Overjumping the massive fences by a foot or more, they completed their first effort at this - the absolute top level - of the sport with only two rails late in the course. In a class that sees few clear rounds despite being contested by the most experienced international horse/rider teams in the world - including every Olympic medalist in recent years - they stood out for their confident, almost effortless performance. Truly, Capone is a horse who finds competition at 1.70 meters (5 foot 6 inches) comfortably within his range. Alas for him, there are no classes bigger than that in the world today.
Future plans include an upcoming trip to Europe with rider Kyle King, and preparation for upcoming international competition in the Far East. With truly no upper bound to his jumping talent, Capone has soundly proven beyond any doubt that he is the dominant showjumping stallion in North America today. From his early beginnings as a prodigy in the amateur classes through his spectacular performances today in the world's biggest classes, he has shown the world that success in sport is synonymous with good care, good training, good management, and genuine enjoyment of jumping - alongside extraordinary inborn talent."
Not only himself a successful competition horse and also impeccably-bred Holsteiner stallion, Capone impresses many with his good nature and charming ways. Equally at home on a trailride with friends as he is in the victory gallop at Spruce, Capone breaks many North American misconceptions about stallions. With his breeding duties neatly interwoven into his training and competition schedule, Capone demonstrates the sound mind and gentle soul that is prized by so many who breed horses not just to look good and win, but also to be genuine friends and partners in life.
Capone himself has benefited from the care and love of many people throughout his career, from his early grooms and managers through his powerful relationship with his gifted rider, Kyle King. However, since his earliest days in North America in 1999, Capone's unique bond with trainer, mentor, and friend Douglas Spink has played a central role in his life. From their early days together trail riding in Oregon when Capone was a 3 year old colt, through his progression through the local competitive circuit despite then-common panics about "dangerous stallions" being unwelcome at horse shows, and through his first Grand Prix class with Doug in the saddle in 2001, Capone and Doug have been through a lifetime of challenges and success.
Employing an unashamedly unconventional approach, Doug always structured Capone's education around a love of jumping and a respect for the horse's intrinsic pride and enjoyment of a job well done. Rather than pounding him with repetitive exercises and demoralizing "breaking," Doug worked with this exceptional stallion to show him the ropes, and to educate him in the finer points of honing his inborn jumping talent to a fine edge.
With an unwavering dedication to the horse, Doug micro-managed every element of Capone's life: nutrition, stabling, groundwork, chiropractic, acupuncture, and 1000 other details to ensure the handsome stallion felt confident in his place in the world. Today, the result is a stallion with unmatched self-confidence, graceful presence, and a calm assurance that he has someone in the world who will stop at nothing to ensure he is safe and secure. The lifetime bond between the two has only deepened over the years, even as Capone has stepped into the limelight and a life on the road as a showjumping superstar. Today, the team managing and caring for Capone is much more than just Doug, but the special bond between stallion and mentor - friend and friend, true partners - lives on.
Capone has produced so far three full foal crops, with more mare owners every year choosing him for their breeding stock. So far, we see Capone foals with a strong "stamp" from their handsome father. Compact, athletic, elegant, and well-balanced, his foals also stand out strongly with their super temperaments through friendly minds, generous hearts, and a kind eye that is immediately recognized as "a Capone" the world around. Pedigree
This pedigree was generated with: Equine Estates Pedigree Generator v2.
Home of Holsteiner stallions Capone I and Cantour |
Capone's pedigree represents the pinnacle of jumping bloodlines in the Holsteiner breed, which is itself the preeminent breed globally in the production of International-level showjumping superstars. Capone I (pronounced Ca-PO -nay einz, as his younger fullbrother, Capone zwei, was approved for breeding in Germany in 2000 and now stands in Eastern Germany as a successful young stallion in his own right) is by the international superstar jumper sire Contender. While Contender hardly needs introduction, it is worth remembering how he became so famous, namely his reputation for production of both outstanding sporthorses and breeding mares, as well as most notably his production of stunning stallion sons the world around. Contender's approved sons in the Holsteiner registry alone number well into the double-digits, and he is used by nearly every warmblood breed in Europe as an important improvement sire. 
Recently in conversation, the Chairman of the stallion selection committee of the Holsteiner Verband in Germany confirmed his belief that Stamm 890 is now considered by some to be the preeminent Stamm line in producing jumping sporthorses in the entire Holsteiner breed! Damsire Ladalco, himself not used extensively in breeding, is nowadays being seen in more and more pedigrees of young stallions presented to the Verband for approval. 
Concluding their first week at the Masters, Capone and Kyle move up to 1.45 meters on Friday - the only classes bigger than this at "the Masters" are International-level events held under FEI regulations. With a stunning double-clear performance in front of a cheering crowd that includes thousands of spectators and admirers from around the world, the pair stuns observers as Capone is the youngest entrant in the class. Earning 4th place behind only international superstars such as Eric Lamaze and Jann Candele, Capone and Kyle are rightly hailed as "the next big thing" on the showjumping circuit.  |
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