Caletto II

Caletto II is shaping as the most important son of the jumping super sire, Cor de la Bryre. In the WBCSH top fifty rankings for 1991-2000, Caletto II ranks 16th thanks to the jumping efforts of 14 progeny - the most highly ranked being Operette la Silla and Classic Touch.

As is so often the case, Caletto is the product of one of those mares that makes a breeder - Deka. Bred by Holstein breeder, Klaus-Martin Both, she produced eleven living foals before she died at the age of 23 - the eleventh being Caletto III. Deka is by Consul, the best son of the influential Thoroughbred, Cottage Son.

Amazingly all Dekas foals have competed at the highest level. All but one of her sons went on to become licensed stallions, and her daughter, Nathalie is the dam of a KWPN approved stallion! In 1973, Deka was bred for the first time to Cor de la Bryre, producing Cordeka who with Herbert Bloecker competed successfully in showjumping and eventing competitions. Bred to Cor de Bryere the following year, Deka produced the first of the three stallion full-brothers, I, II and III. There was a fourth product of the cross, born in 1976 who never made it to licensed stallion status. Caletto II was born in 1979 and Caletto III in 1984.

Caletto I was approved in Neumunster in 1977 and passed his performance test at Medingen the following year. Posted to the Woehrden stallion station, he has almost completed his breeding duties for his first season, when he was kicked by a mare in the genitals, and despite the best of veterinary attention remained infertile for months afterwards. The Holsteiner Verband sold him to the showjumping rider, Michael Ruping and he went on to earn DM101,693, as well as a team bronze at the 1983 European Championships - it seemed his breeding days were over!

Caletto I`s younger full-brother Caletto II was a sensation right from the start and was acclaimed Champion of his stallion licensing in 1982 - he was considered the perfect Holsteiner type. He also showed wonderful jumping technique, and later proved this in the showjumping ring with Herbert Bloeker, where the stallion won many tests for riding horses. At a regional show in September 1984, after being proclaimed best in the show, Caletto II was waiting to go into the arena, when he reared up, fell over and broke his neck!

The distraught Holstein breeding authorities contacted Michael Ruping and persuaded him to test Caletto I once again - after a break of five years, the stallion was now producing fertile semen! Caletto I resumed his successful breeding career in 1986 and in the latest WBFSH standings was represented by 12 progeny who have taken him into 28th place in the 1991-2000 rankings - finishing 5th in the 1999/2000 standings. His most successful jumper has been Virtual Village Calvaro. He has also been a successful sire of stallions, most notably Camaro, Cantus and Cartusch. Just how great a loss, Caletto II has been is shown by the fact that he is ranked 16th in the standings for the past ten years, with his two megastars, Operette La Silla and Classic Touch contributing the bulk of the points. Calletto II’s son Caretino jumped internationally with Bo Kristoffersen and later with Ludger Beerbaum, and is himself the sire of Caretano Z, who was leading the 2000 TNT Sires of the World Standings, when he tragically died following colic complications.

A third full-brother, Caletto III was born in 1984. He too has embarked on a dual career - in the competition arena and the breeding barn, but he has yet to emulate the feats of his two famous brothers.