The 2025 breeding season begins and the Holsteiner Verband's stallion keeping has some interesting new additions: Keaton II will begin his career as a sire at the Marbach Haupt- and Landgestüt, but will also be available with fresh semen through the Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH.
Keaton II by Kannan-Contendro I
HOL | *2022 | 166 cm | bay | UELN: DE421000255322 | breeder: Rudolf Schmitt, Wöhrden
The premium stallion of the recent Holsteiner Verband grading was absolutely in the top range of the lot as a jumper. “An outstanding jumping horse with loads of ability“, breeding director Stephan Haarhoff said about the reasons for awarding premium status to the stallion. “Keaton II demonstrated good judgement all the time with every jump excellently transacted.” Already his full brother, Keaton I, had been awarded premium status at his grading and confirms the high expectations both through the quality of his offspring as well as an international advanced level jumper under the saddle of Rolf-Göran Bengtsson.
Sire
His sire Kannan has been among the top sires in the world according to the official sire ranking for years now. Sport horses such as Olympic champion Nino de Buissonnets, Quabri de L’Isle and Molly Malone clearly reflect his qualities as a sire. Ability, carefulness and willingness to perform are qualities he is known to pass on to his offspring with great reliability.
Damline
In the past, his dam sire, Contendro I, was one of the most frequently used stallions in Germany and sired successful shop jumping offspring such as Codex One, Conthendrix and Holiday by Solitour. Moreover, Contendro I enjoyed an international reputation as an eventing sire, and headed the WBFSH ranking for years. On the bottom of his pedigree, Keaton carries famous sires such as Ramiro and Landgraf I, the TB stallions Der Löwe and Royal Wash, and the mare Nigella, a half-sister to the licensed stallions Lancer I - III. In the Holsteiner breeding programme, Keaton’s mare family 4847 has come to notice for sport horse produce such as Carlos Boy, Lysander, Quel Homme de Hus as well as the licensed stallions Cascadello I and II and Lancer I - III or Cachas.
Keaton II by Kannan-Contendro I-Ritual
Photos: Janne Bugtrup
