| A Noble Horses of the old Kingdom: The Trakehner |
The Trakehner is one of Germany's oldest warmblood breeds. The Teutonic Knights discovered a
small, primitive horse, the Schwaikenpferd, native to the Baltic area around East Prussia in the 13th
Century and used it to breed military horses. Later, farmers used the horses for light work.
small, primitive horse, the Schwaikenpferd, native to the Baltic area around East Prussia in the 13th
Century and used it to breed military horses. Later, farmers used the horses for light work.
Alas, fate would deal as fatal a blow to the magnificent Trakehner horse breed as it did to the East
Prussian people in the great flight out of East Prussia at the end of World War Two. The orders
came at the very end of the war, as the Red Army was closing in fast, to evacuate the horses from
the Trakehnen stud farm. The rescue of about 800 of the best horses was attempted, and after being
hand selected by their heart-broken owners and breeders, the horses were desperately sped out of
East Prussia by train and on foot.
Prussian people in the great flight out of East Prussia at the end of World War Two. The orders
came at the very end of the war, as the Red Army was closing in fast, to evacuate the horses from
the Trakehnen stud farm. The rescue of about 800 of the best horses was attempted, and after being
hand selected by their heart-broken owners and breeders, the horses were desperately sped out of
East Prussia by train and on foot.
Many of the horses were pregnant. For two and one half months
on the horrible, frantic 600 mile flight, the horses' feed ran out
and many mares lost their foals, became ill or went lame. Many
perished along with the refugees when they slid into a watery
grave in the frozen Baltic and others were gunned down along
with their owners by the Soviets circling overhead. Witnesses
encountered many of the noble horses dead along the route, shot
to death and flattened by Russian tanks. At the end, some were
even eaten by the starving refugees.
on the horrible, frantic 600 mile flight, the horses' feed ran out
and many mares lost their foals, became ill or went lame. Many
perished along with the refugees when they slid into a watery
grave in the frozen Baltic and others were gunned down along
with their owners by the Soviets circling overhead. Witnesses
encountered many of the noble horses dead along the route, shot
to death and flattened by Russian tanks. At the end, some were
even eaten by the starving refugees.
Sadly, most of the horses, together with their documentation, fell
into the hands of the occupation forces and were shipped to
Russia, to be lost forever. The private owners and breeders, also
fleeing for their lives, hitched their heavy wagons to another 800
or so of these horses, and headed west in the infamous "Trek''
during brutal winter weather. Others were simply set free.
into the hands of the occupation forces and were shipped to
Russia, to be lost forever. The private owners and breeders, also
fleeing for their lives, hitched their heavy wagons to another 800
or so of these horses, and headed west in the infamous "Trek''
during brutal winter weather. Others were simply set free.
At the time, many Trakehnen horses could be identified only by the Ostpreußische Elchschaufel, the
East-Prussian moose horn branding of a single moose antler brand on their right hip or by the double
moose antlers on their left hip. Today, all Trakehner breeding stock has to undergo rigorous grading
methods to maintain the high standards.
East-Prussian moose horn branding of a single moose antler brand on their right hip or by the double
moose antlers on their left hip. Today, all Trakehner breeding stock has to undergo rigorous grading
methods to maintain the high standards.
A very dedicated Dr. Fritz Schilke of the East Prussian Stud Book Society attempted the difficult
task of locating all of the East Prussian horses that had made it to the West, and in 1947, the West
German "Trakehner Verband" was established with a Trakehner Stud Book that continued to
document the breed. Later, unlike other German breeds, the Trakehner had no mother state and
could not depend on government funding. Therefore, re-establishment of the breed originally
depended on the determination of its members and the generosity of others.
task of locating all of the East Prussian horses that had made it to the West, and in 1947, the West
German "Trakehner Verband" was established with a Trakehner Stud Book that continued to
document the breed. Later, unlike other German breeds, the Trakehner had no mother state and
could not depend on government funding. Therefore, re-establishment of the breed originally
depended on the determination of its members and the generosity of others.
By the time they reached the West, only about 100 of the Trek
horses had survived and they were in horrible condition. Others
had spread out all over Germany, but only a few hundred of the
original 80,000 Trakehners in East Prussia survived. However,
these few tough, strong surviving horses became the founders of
today's hardy Trakehner horse breed. The last original Trakehner
was Keith, born there in 1944 and died in November, 1976.
horses had survived and they were in horrible condition. Others
had spread out all over Germany, but only a few hundred of the
original 80,000 Trakehners in East Prussia survived. However,
these few tough, strong surviving horses became the founders of
today's hardy Trakehner horse breed. The last original Trakehner
was Keith, born there in 1944 and died in November, 1976.
The results were very successful and the best quality, the
Trakehners, were reserved for his army, and the average horses
sold as riding horses which were sometimes bred with everyday
'East Prussians local horses. The Trakehner evolved into an
outstanding, beautiful and respected horse the world over. By
1918, 60,000 mares were bred to East Prussian stallions each
year. After the Treaty of Versailles limited Germany's army to
100,000, the horses were again reduced to farm work and heavier
reinforcement sires were used to make the horses stronger.
Trakehners, were reserved for his army, and the average horses
sold as riding horses which were sometimes bred with everyday
'East Prussians local horses. The Trakehner evolved into an
outstanding, beautiful and respected horse the world over. By
1918, 60,000 mares were bred to East Prussian stallions each
year. After the Treaty of Versailles limited Germany's army to
100,000, the horses were again reduced to farm work and heavier
reinforcement sires were used to make the horses stronger.
Landstallmeisterhaus in Trakehnen, left
He chose the best horses from seven of his royal breeding farms,
and established a stud farm in East Prussian at Trakehnen and
had his soldiers clear the forest between Stallupönen and
Gumbinnen. In 1739, the king gave the stud farms to his son, the
future Friedrich the Great. It became state property after his
death and was named the Königlich Preußisches Hauptgestüt
Trakehnen. Between 1817 and 1837, Arabian, Turkish, and
Thoroughbred blood was added to the Schwaike mares.
and established a stud farm in East Prussian at Trakehnen and
had his soldiers clear the forest between Stallupönen and
Gumbinnen. In 1739, the king gave the stud farms to his son, the
future Friedrich the Great. It became state property after his
death and was named the Königlich Preußisches Hauptgestüt
Trakehnen. Between 1817 and 1837, Arabian, Turkish, and
Thoroughbred blood was added to the Schwaike mares.
In the 1920s and 1930s that the breed was improved and it won
medals in various steeplechases as well as in two Olympics. By
the 1930s, there were more than 10,000 breeders and 18,000
registered mares.
medals in various steeplechases as well as in two Olympics. By
the 1930s, there were more than 10,000 breeders and 18,000
registered mares.
Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia, needing a faster, sounder horse,
established the breed for his soldiers in 1732. War tactics had
changed and required a lighter horse with more endurance and
speed than the heavier horses previously needed to carry armor
and haul heavy equipment.
established the breed for his soldiers in 1732. War tactics had
changed and required a lighter horse with more endurance and
speed than the heavier horses previously needed to carry armor
and haul heavy equipment.
