1983 – 2011 168 cm Bay

Breeder: Lothar Völz

When he died at the age of 28, Caretino was the last of the seven stallion sons of Caletto II to enter the Holstein Studbook. The bay Caletto II – Metellus son from the stem 826 revealed his qualities at the stallion performance test, where he received a jumping index of 145 points.

He went on to win numerous young jumper classes showing his outstanding jumping technique. At 5 and at 6 years old, Caretino participated in the Bundeschampionate under Thomas Schöning.

Bo Kristoffersen took over the ride on him a year later and commenced competing at Grand Prix and Nations Cup level. They accumulated 40 placings at S level together.

Then Caretino went to Ludger Beerbaum’s stable but the shift of stables did not produce the expected success, and after a year, Caretino returned to Holstein to be used for breeding only, a decision much applauded by the mare owners.

Although he produced mainly jumpers, he also sired some good dressage horses, including Cockney, who won the 6 year old title at the Bundeschampionate with Nadine Capellmann before going on to compete successfully at Grand Prix. His son, Carpaccio won the 1994 stallion test at Medingen. The stallion Concord has wins up to Grand Prix dressage.

By 2007, Caretino had produced 650 offspring that were registered for competition with the German FN. At the time of his death, Caretino offspring had earned more than 3 million Euros.

Caridor Z competed with Jos Lansink at the 2002 WEG in Jerez and the European Championships at Arnhem and Donaueschingen. Another outstanding competitor is Cristallo who with Richard Spooner is one of the stars of the circuit in the USA, and winners of the €285,000 Grand Prix of Monte Carlo on the Global tour. America is also the home of Chica’s Way, a great international success under Janne Friederike Meyer.

Right from his first few crops, Caretino made a splash with his offspring. Ballerina won team gold at the European championships in Mannheim under Markus Merschformann, and Charlottenhof‘s Chandra was part of the German team taking home team gold at the European championships in Arnheim 2001, under Sören von Rönne. Caretano Z and Caridor Z with Jos Lansink, the full siblings Crocodile Dandy and Connally (Alison Firestone and Markus Renzel, respectively), Cathleen W with Marc Wirths, Carefina (Felix Hassmann), Carlo Cassini (Franz-Josef Dahlmann), Caresino with Hauke Luther and Celesino (Jürgen Kraus) are other highly successful horses by Caretino.

Chupa Chup with Bernardo Alves won the Hamburg Grand Prix.

 Caridor at the 2002 WEG with Jos Lansink, the pair were sixth

Others include Böttger’s Calandro who won a German Championship with Janne-Freiderike Meyer, Caldato with Hugo Simon, Cornwall W with Andreas Ripke, Chianti la Silla with whom Rolf-Göran Bengtsson won the World Cup in Monterey, as well as Chicka’s Way, who carried Janne-Friederike Meyer to a German Vice-Championship in 2007.

The jumping stallions Cheenook and Caretello B have produced excellent progeny.

The Holsteiner Horse notes ‘as a rule Caretino’s daughters are better than his sons; his offspring are considered variable.’

Over 50 sons have been licensed, and over 20 daughters have been awarded state premium status. His standout star is the stallion, Casall…

On the WBFSH sire rankings for 2014, he is in 18th place. On the 2015 rankings, he has moved to 14th with his points earners headed up by the mighty Casall, however by 2020, he has slipped off the rankings…

On the hippomundo database we find an admirable 91 on his progeny who have jumped 1.60!