| The Trakehner is a European warmblood horse that is | | | | left in the world and the Trakehner population had |
| the oldest and most highly-bred of all the German | | | | reached rock bottom. |
| warmblood breeds. It is today's only purebred riding | | | | Trakehner Warmbloods were then imported into Great |
| horse breed that was systematically created from the | | | | Britain in 1960 by the Muschamp Stud and have |
| indigenous Prussian horses. The breed's name comes | | | | steadily gained in popularity since. In fact, Trakehner |
| from the world-famous royal main stud farm that was | | | | Breeders Fraternity (TBF) is licensed by the Trakehner |
| established in 1732 in Trakehnen by King Friedrich | | | | Verband GmbH in Germany to brand registered |
| Wilhelm 1 in what used to be East Prussia (Germany) | | | | horses with the distinctive double Elk horn emblem with |
| but is now part of Russia. This was where the | | | | an inverted ' V 'beneath it to denote "British Bred". |
| foundation for the breed was laid and all bloodlines can | | | | Today however more than 5000 broodmares and 300 |
| be traced back to this source. | | | | stallions are registered with the Trakehner Verband |
| King Frederick Wilhelm I of Prussia wanted his soldiers | | | | GmbH in Germany which makes the Trakehner one |
| to have reliable transportation that was faster, sounder | | | | of the most significant German riding horse breeds. |
| and with more endurance than that of his | | | | American Trakehner Association, (ATA) was founded |
| contemporaries, so he opened the stud farm in 1732 | | | | in 1974 and not only registers the American bred |
| where he established the Trakehnen stud by using the | | | | Trakehners, but also brands them. Purebred |
| indigenous Schweiken horse as a base. In the | | | | Trakehners are eligible to receive the double moose |
| beginning, these Prussian horses were plain, stocky, yet | | | | antler and curved under-bar, while part-bred |
| strong and hardy, but they needed some added size | | | | Trakehners are eligible for the ATA design. If the |
| and refinement. This Schweiken, or Schwaike, is a | | | | horse already has a brand from another registry, |
| larger descendent of the Konik pony which is a direct | | | | however, it cannot have ATA brand. Branding is |
| descendent of the primitive Tarpan and the | | | | optional, but is encouraged as a way to showcase the |
| Schweiken, which flourished for many centuries in the | | | | Trakehner breed and as both identification and as a |
| region, shows the Tarpan's extraordinary natural vitality, | | | | theft deterrent. |
| hardiness, strength and powers of endurance. | | | | The Trakehner Warmblood Horse is a large equine, |
| When Count Lindenau took over the stud | | | | standing 15.3 to 17 hands, with the average at 16-16.2 |
| management in 1787, he eliminated 2/3 of the stallions | | | | hands. It has great substance and boning, yet shows a |
| and 1/3 of the broodmares and began allowing private | | | | surprising refinement; more so than any other |
| breeders to bring their mares to be serviced by the | | | | European Warmblood. It has an attractive head |
| royal stallions. Later, during 1817 to 1837top quality | | | | perched on a long neck with high withers and a deep |
| English Thoroughbreds and purebred Arabians were | | | | chest. It is a superb performance sport horse with a |
| introduced in small quantities to the small native | | | | natural elegance and balance that excels in dressage |
| Schweiken mares; a practice that is still followed today | | | | because of its elegant way of moving. It has a light, |
| under strict approval conditions by the West German | | | | springy, "floating" trot and soft, balanced canter, both |
| Trakehner Verband. Various other breeds were tried, | | | | made possible by its deep, sloping shoulder, a |
| but eventually the breeding directors limited themselves | | | | moderately long back and medium length pasterns. |
| to Thoroughbred and Arabian crosses to the | | | | The breed also produces excellent jumpers due to the |
| Schweiken since the results were exactly what the | | | | powerful hindquarters, good feet, strong joints and |
| King Wilhelm I was looking for: a balance between the | | | | muscling. The Trakehner is bred in only solid colors. |
| size, nerve, spirit and endurance of the Thoroughbred | | | | The Trakehner horse has grace, power, magnificent |
| to the bulk, stability and nobility of the native breed with | | | | movement with natural balance and fantastic athletic |
| further refinement coming from the Arabian. The | | | | ability, but the most outstanding characteristic of the |
| selection process for the King's cavalry mounts was | | | | Trakehner is its friendly, accepting, eager-to-please |
| strict and allowed only the best to be bred, while the | | | | temperament. They are keen, alert and intelligent and |
| average horses, the culls, was sold as riding horses. | | | | have a level headed ability to undertake intense work |
| Before World War II, the Trakehners were the most | | | | and concentration when asked. With all these |
| successful sports horses and hunters and the 1936 | | | | characteristics, the Trakehner Warmbloods continue to |
| Olympics saw Trakehner Warmbloods win six gold | | | | excel in most equine disciplines, though most especially |
| medals and one silver medal. But by the end of 1944, | | | | in show jumping and dressage. |
| horse breeding in East Prussia came to a sudden end | | | | However, the European Trakehner Warmblood should |
| when families fled westward in the face of the | | | | not be confused with the Russian Trakehner |
| Russian invasion and the survivors owed their lives to | | | | Warmblood, which is a slightly different breed. The |
| their Trakehner horses carrying them there. From the | | | | Russian Trakehner is rangier and lighter in weight and |
| main stud Trakehnen only 27 broodmares could be | | | | its legs have generally cleaner lines, especially the |
| saved ahead of the invasion, but fortunately the breed | | | | cannons and the fetlocks. It is an excellent mover, and |
| continued to live on with the primary breeding area | | | | since the Russian Trakehner Warmblood horse is |
| now in West Germany. | | | | used to being kept in herds, it is more economical to |
| The Trakehner was first introduced into North America | | | | keep. Although it is not as enduring as the endemic |
| only in the late 1950s when the breed was first | | | | Russian horse breeds, the Russian Trakehner |
| imported to Canada and later into the United States. | | | | Warmblood horse does compares favorably with its |
| By 1956, there were only 602 mares and 45 stallions | | | | European warmblood cousin. |