Con Air ♂ †

About Con Air

Con Air is a (died 2014) Bay Holstein showjumping stallion foaled in 1997, by Contender out of a Carolus I dam.

Con Air, a Holstein stallion born in 1997, stands as a paragon of showjumping excellence with a rich lineage recognized in the equestrian community. Sired by the legendary Contender and out of Fair Lady IX, Con Air's pedigree is rooted deeply in prominent Holsteiner bloodlines including Calypso II and Cor de la Bryere. Bred by Ernst Chr Teegen, this bay stallion was known for his impressive height of 172 cm, a quality that complemented his athletic prowess and commanding presence in the show ring.

Early in his career, Con Air garnered recognition through successful participation in young horse competitions, initially competing under Danish riders Tina Westerlund and Lars Bak Andersen. His talent shone brightly with Andersen, where he contributed to Denmark's Nations Cup triumphs. The pinnacle of his competitive journey came with German rider Otto Becker; together, they clinched the Hachenburg Grand Prix and were part of the victorious team at the Samsung Cup Final in Barcelona in 2008. Subsequently, Argentine businessman José Maria Larocca acquired Con Air, with whom he performed admirably at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Con Air concluded his competitive exploits in 2011, marking his final appearance at the Grand Prix of Fontainebleau. Unfortunately, this distinguished stallion passed away at the young age of 17 due to a heart attack in France, leaving behind a significant legacy within the international showjumping realm.

Con Air's influence extends beyond his own achievements as he sired a number of successful showjumping horses. His progeny, like Cornwall BH, Coach, and Conrad Z, have made a notable impact on the sport. Coach, under the skilled hands of Elizabeth Madden, and Conrad Z with Gregory Wathelet, have soared to the 1.60m classes. Cornwall BH, under Amanda Derbyshire, notably placed second in a 1.55m class and eighth in the 1.60m Grand Prix at a CSI4* event in Wellington in 2023. Other offspring like Eiffel de Hus and Crack Bel Z further underline Con Air's legacy in producing top-level showjumping horses that excel on the international stage.

Con Air died in 2014 at Beligneux Le Haras, France (heart attack). Breeding may continue via frozen semen — confirm availability with the stud.

Origins and pedigree

Con Air (1997) is a Holsteiner stallion bred by Ernst Chr. Teegen, by the great Contender out of Fair Lady IX, a Carolus I daughter whose dam Bonni is by Landgraf I out of a Calvados I mare — stacking Capitol I, Landgraf I and a doubled Cor de la Bryere in four generations. In Claus Schridde's Holstein Stallion Lines he is described as an extremely large-framed performance model in classic Holstein presentation, with enormous ability and high-quality caution. He stands about 1.72 m, bay.

In sport

Con Air's career ran in three chapters. Produced in Denmark, he was successful in young-horse classes with Tina Westerlund and then Lars Bak Andersen, jumping on Danish Nations Cup teams at Poznan and Copenhagen. Passed to Germany's Otto Becker, he was part of the winning team at the 2008 Samsung Final in Barcelona and won the Grand Prix at Hachenberg the same season. Sold to Argentina's Jose Maria Larocca, he was registered with the FEI as “Con Air 7” and contested the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington; his last recorded international start was the Grand Prix of Fontainebleau in 2011.

As a jumping sire

Con Air stands 67th in the WBFSH jumping sire standings (2025 final). His best-documented young horse is the mare Con Cara (2007), winner of the five-year-old final at the 2012 FEI World Breeding Championships in Lanaken under Toni Hassmann — clear in both rounds. Older offspring have won at Grand Prix level: Connington took the Grand Prix of Toledo in 2013 with Carlos Lopez Fanjul, and Conrad won the Grand Prix at Bonheiden in 2014 under Gregory Wathelet.

Narrative researched cite-and-link and independently verified — sources below. Editorial policy.

Researched by the EquiWiki editorial desk · Publisher: Harriet Smith · Editor: Lee Smith · cross-checked by two independent AI models.

Watch Con Air jump — 4 clips