Designer Trakehner By Erica Larson
because of its elegant way of moving–the light, springy, floating trot, and soft, balanced canter. With its characteristic, powerful hindquarters, and strong joints and muscles, the breed also produces outstanding jumpers. The Trakehner is keen, alert, and intelligent, yet very stable and accepting and anxious to please.” If there was ever a horse that fit that description, it’s the young Trakehner Project
T
Runway, fondly known as Devon. Owned and ridden by a recent high school graduate, this colored Trakehner has quickly risen to the upper levels of three-day eventing and shows no signs of slowing down.
TWO PATHS COLLIDE Devon is three-quarter Trakehner by the famous stallion Windfall *Pg*, who is owned by Dr. Timothy Holekamp of New Spring Farm of Columbia, Missouri, and was ridden by Darren Chiacchia. Windfall’s overall 12th place secured the bronze medal for the United States eventing team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He was also the winner of the first short-format Rolex Kentucky CCI**** Three-Day Event the same year. Devon’s dam is the half-Trakehner mare Polarschecke (by the Paint stallion Sacred Indian), whose dam, Polarprism—also bred by the Holekamps—was by their advanced level event horse Amethyst and out of a purebred Tarino daughter. Born in 2004 at the Holekamp’s Missouri farm, Devon began his training under saddle at three, with Cheryl Holekamp giving him solid basics and the start that each
successful horse should have. In late 2007, Devon was moved to Darren’s Florida base, where he was slated to continue his training. As it turned out, he was sold within two weeks to a buyer who could not resist him. California native Max McManamy
grew up in the saddle. A dedicated equestrian, she’s been competing
successfully in eventing for most of her life. She also is a recent high school graduate, and was determined to find a way to balance her schoolwork and horse work. At age 15, Max found a
Left: Max and Project Runway a.k.a. Devon compete at Rebecca Farm in 2010. Photo courtesy Joshua Walker/USEA. Above: The pair tackles cross country at Galway Downs in November 2010. Photo: Amy McCool
program that worked for her and allowed her to continue competing with her upper level eventer Beacon Hill, and also start looking for a young horse to bring up the levels. “I graduated high school last year from the Templeton High Independent
Studies program,” she explains. “It was a great way for me to be able to travel to shows and not get penalized for missing so much school. It also allowed me to be able to take classes at the local community college and earn college credits. I have one more semester before I can transfer in as a
college junior.”
“Balancing the horses and school is definitely an art,” she continues. “I am very dedicated to my horses, yet I still know that unless I maintain a 4.0 GPA, I cannot ride. So I always
SPECIAL TRAKEHNER SECTION Warmbloods Today 49
he Trakehner of yester-year was a warhorse. The Trakehner of today is an athlete. “It is a superb performance horse with natural elegance and balance,” reads the American Trakehner Association’s website. “It excels in dressage
American Trakehner Association
A
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