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East Prussian
and Trakehner
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Compilation of information on the East Prussian is in progress and the article has not yet been published in the newsletter.
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Though the Trakehner is considered a German breed, it originated in East Prussia (present-day Poland), and most of its history is rooted there. Therefore, the Trakehner will be considered as a Polish breed from the perspective of Equinealities. The Germans did, however, play a very important role in maintaining the breed during and following the second World War. Detailed characteristics of the Trakehner will be included along with
its more complete history in the atricle on
Trakehners.
| Group |
Warmblood |
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| Influences |
Schweiken
Arabian
Throughbred
Turkoman
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| Characteristics |
16-16.2 hands
elegant head
large eyes
long, crested neck
sloping shoulder
prominent withers
strong back of medium length
rounded, muscular quarters
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| Colors |
any solid color
tend to be dark
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| Odd Facts |
It has supple paces and a tractable but spirited temperament. It is a good competition and riding horse.
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Overview:
One of the oldest, most elegant of the German breeds of warmbloods, it wass
bred at the Trakehnen stud, which was founded in 1732 by Frederick
William I of Prussia. The stud comprised a large area of drained marshlands, which proved to be ideal for rearing horses. The local Schweiken horse was used as foundation stock for the breed. It was a tough, active, little horse used on the East Prussian farms for centuries. Careful selection resulted in a high-class cavalry and coach horse.
Breeding at the original Trakehnen Stud was strictly organized. It was the center where breeding stock was thoroughly tested. Three-year-olds were trained, and 4-year-olds tested by hunting with hounds and competing in cross-country races. Only the best stallions were kept at the Trakehnen stud, while all second class stallions went to the state studs, the third class stallions went to private breeders. The remainder were gelded and used as Army remounts.
Upon the disruption of the stud, and the prospect of Russian occupation, a small group of refugees took 600 mares and a few stallions to the West. The majority of the breed was left behind in what became Poland and formed the basis of the Mazury and Poznan breeds. Meanwhile those taken across the River Elbe into West Germany in 1945 were used to carefully restore the breed. The Trakehner then became the one national breed of warm-blood in Germany and it is bred all over the country. Neumüster in the northwest is used as the auction and training center. The Germans took much care to multiply and restore the breed so that today's Trakehner is more true to type than most modern warmbloods. Today's Trakehners continue to pass along its distinctive characteristics proving the purity of its bloodlines.
Today its features of elegance, courage and stamina are in demand, and the Trakehner has been used to upgrade stock in Germany (particularly the Hanoverian and Baden Württemburg) as well as abroad in the U. S. and Sweden.
Physical Description:
The head is elegant and is broad between its large eyes. The face narrows toward the muzzle. It has a long and crested neck, the shoulder is sloping into its prominent withers. It has a strong back of medium length, with gently rounded, muscular quarters.
Origin:
It is generally accepted that the Trakehner originated from Germany (East Prussia), and the modern Trakehner we know is bred in Germany today. The original Trakehnen Stud was in central Poland in the Masury district and was destroyed during Warld War II. Many Trakehners were relocated by the Germans to preserve the breed from the advancing Russians. The remaining Trakehners were rounded up and used to establish the Masuren, which was later amalgated with the Poznan to the west into the new breed - the
Wielkopolski.
Other Facts:
The Turkoman stallion, Turkoman Atti was used to introduce Turkoman influence to the breed. The Trakehner became famous prior to World War II, so much so that there were more than 10,000 breeders and 18,000 registered mares. Every farmer in the area bred these horses due to the popularity and the breed's ability to thrive on the local land.
Once renowned as cavalry horses, in the 20th century Trakehners have become leading competition horses. The serious depletion of their numbers when their stud was destroyed enabled other breeds to compete with them to be a leading breed of sports horse.
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This article has not yet been published in the North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)
