Concorde, Chris Kappler’s first grand prix horse, died April 12 at Hunterdon in Pittstown, N.J. He was 30.

Sired by Young Wolfsburg and owned by the Southern family, Concorde was foaled in 1978 at Spruce Meadows (Alta.). While teaching a clinic in Edmonton, Alta., George Morris spotted the chestnut gelding and arranged for Kappler to try him at the Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.) in 1986.

Kappler purchased the temperamental gelding and established a rapport with him quickly, winning three grand prix classes by the end of the year, including the $30,000 Grand Prix of Indianapolis (Ind.), the $25,000 Grand Prix of St. Louis (Mo.) and the $25,000 Danada Grand Prix (Ill.).

In 1987, Kappler made his U.S. Equestrian Team debut on Concorde at The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. The pair finished the year with a Midwest Horse of the Year title for Concorde and Midwest Rider of the Year title for Kappler.

When he was retired in 1993, Concorde had accumulated more than $500,000 in prize money, competed in the FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, and won among others the Prix de Penn National at Harrisburg (Pa.), the $100,000 Autumn Classic Grand Prix (N.J.), the $100,000 American Jumping Classic (Ohio) and was a three-time winner of the Grand Prix of Indianapolis at Trader’s Point (Ind.).