Trakehner Breed Profile

Before German unification in 1871, Germany was made up of a number of different states and locally organised breeding areas. As a result horses bred in Hannover became known as Hannovarian and Horses born in Westfalia are called Westfalian, etc. The Trakehner is the exception to this rule, as they are known as Trakehners wherever they are born, the studbook is governed soley on bloodlines. Trakehner stallions where and are still widely used to refine and improve other warmblood breeds, Trakehners are the most important and outstanding of all warmblood breeds, one of my favourite Trakehner stallions Hohenstein is graded into the Oldenburg, Hannovarian, Rheinland, Westfalian, Bavarian, Saxony Anhalt, and Berlin- Brandenburg studbooks. Only a few select thoroughbred or Arabian sires are accepted into the Trakehner studbook which is a closed studbbook.

The Trakehner horse was developed in the early 18th century by King Wilhelm I of Prussia. Later Frederich the great, seeing the need for a new type of cavalry mount for the Prussian army, required a lighter more comfortable horse with more endurance. The king wanted officers to ride attractive horses to make them proud, but which were solid enough to stay sound with a ground covering trot which would enable them to travel quickly and efficiently. He combined seven of his royal breeding farms and in 1732 moved them all to the new royal stud at Trakehnen .The selection of breeding stock was as important then as it is today , the aim being from then on “ nothing but pure gold must be used for breeding at Trakehnen.” Trakehnens purpose was to no longer just breed horses, but to produce state breeding stallions of the highest quality.

History was to deal the Trakehner a nearly fatal blow, after being halved during World War I, the remaining herd was again threatened during World War II as soviets were closing in on the lush and beautiful area around Trakehnen, the order came quickly to move about 800 horses to safety, unfortunately they did not go far enough west, and most of them along with there documents fell into the hands of the Russian occupation forces and were shipped to Russia, or killed.

The remaining heard was saved with the determination of private Breders, and what followed was a horror story that went down in history, "TheTrek” began, hitching there precious breeding stock to wagons laden with a few personal possessions and all the feed they could carry, these proud people along with their horses began their journey to safety, it was the dead of winter, snow deep on the ground and many of the mares heavily in foal. The East Prussians headed West literally running for there lives, for two and a half months and for 600 miles the nightmare continued, as they reached the shores of the frozen Baltic sea they were surrounded by the advancing soviet troops, the only escape was to cross the treacherous expanse of thawing ice, at times covering the ice at a gallop to stay ahead of the breaking Ice, many did not make it across this expanse.

As the last the survivors limped into West Germany, the once proud and beautiful 8000 horses were down to less than 1000, only the hardiest had survived "TheTrek”, these horses became the founders of todays Trakehner horse. A very noble and hardy breed !

Breed Profile - The Trakehner

The Modern Trakehner is a true sports horse,being without doubt the most important and influential of all Warmblood breeds, they are renouned for their grace, power, magnificent movement, natural jump, outstanding beauty, tremendous stamina and ability to perform in any sphere, they are naturally balanced and free moving, but best of all they are extremely intelligent keen to learn, alert and always eager to please and your very best friend.