Ingrid Klimke has a new eventing youngster from the Uta Gräf talent factory

Dark chestnut with white legs and a wide blaze, plus a blue eye – there’s no question that Ingrid Klimke’s new addition is a real eye-catcher. His name is Cotton Eye Joe and he is a five-year-old Holstein gelding by Cadilo (by Casall-Diarado) out of a dam by Cascadello-Cassini. So this is a concentrated load of jumping talent. He was bred by Hans-Jürgen Scheel and was previously owned by Stefan Schneider. But today Uta Gräf wrote on her social media that the gelding has found a new home with riding champion Ingrid Klimke.

“Our Cotton Eye Joe has been sold to Ingrid Klimke in Münster and moved into his new home two weeks ago. We are very grateful for the time we spent together and proud of his journey. Now a new chapter begins and we are very happy to know that he is in such experienced and appreciative hands. We are excited to see what the future holds for this new team and wish them all the best.”

No tournament experience yet

Cotton Eye Joe has not yet seen a competition arena, but he has seen a cross-country arena. Under the watchful eye of former national coach Hans Melzer, under whose aegis Ingrid Klimke won two Olympic gold and one silver medal, she rode the chestnut over fixed jumps, where he presented himself fearlessly and with great ability, as Uta Gräf’s social media account reveals.