AMERICAN TRAKEHNER FOUNDATION The
Gives Back and Promotes the Breed’s Heritage
Te American Trakehner Foundation (ATF) was formed in 2002 by a group of friends of the Warmblood Horse of East Prussian Origin (Trakehner). Tese like-minded individuals sought an avenue to preserve the breed through both charitable giving as well as promotion via education and competition. To this end, the American Trakehner Foundation became a fully qualified 501(c) (3) charity.
Historical Roots The Trakehner, which is the oldest Warmblood riding horse breed in the world, has a rich and unique history. Its stud book is older than the General Stud Book of the Thoroughbred. The breed was and still is widely used to improve the riding characteristics of most Warmblood horse registries, including Dutch Warmbloods, Hanoverians, Holsteiners, Oldenburgs and Westphalians. The Trakehner was the
primary mount of the German Cavalry for over two centuries, and the Trakehner breed dominated modern-day Olympic equestrian competitions until and including the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. World War II had a devastating impact upon the breed. In the winter of 1944–1945, East Prussia was overrun by the Russian Army, and the central breeding station at Trakehnen was, for all practical purposes, destroyed. A few hundred horses survived “the Trek” of roughly 700 miles to make it to relative safety in the West. Some of the primary breeding herd was captured by the Russians and moved to Kirov, Russia. This stud still exists today. The flight of the East Prussian horses from their easterly homelands to the West during the bitterly cold months of December 1944 and January 1945 is one of the greatest sagas of equine and human history. From a stud book
74 January/February 2012 by Margaret MacGregor, ATF Trustee
numbering nearly 27,000, only about 1,600 horses survived. Because of the very difficult economic conditions in the immediate post-war period, the breed further decreased in numbers until only about 700 mares and 60 stallions survived. The Trakehner breed has been rebuilding ever since this time period. When one considers the humble post-war new
beginnings, it is remarkable that such a large number of purebred or part-bred horses have risen to the top in performance so quickly: Abdullah*Pg*E*, Windfall*Pg*, Peron*Pg*, Hockey, Moorlands Totilas, Blue Hors Matine, TSF Seacookie, Imperio, to name just a few. Despite the length of time as an established breed, the Trakehner remains an elusive concept to most casual observers and to many horsemen as well.
What is the American Trakehner Foundation? The Board of the American Trakehner Foundation comprises solely volunteers. These volunteers, headed by their President David Beattie (Watertown, WI) believe fully in the mission of the Foundation. Its stated purpose is the “promotion of the Trakehner horse of East Prussian origin, primarily though education and the fostering of national and international amateur equestrian sports competition, including the making of grants to individuals and organizations on a true charitable basis and in furtherance of the stated purposes.” Funds for grants are received both by direct donation, as well as through fundraising efforts. One of the largest fundraising
efforts to date was the Foundation’s Benefit Charity Auction held at Spindletop Hall, Lexington, Kentucky, during the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Items auctioned at the event included: trips to the Caribbean and the United Kingdom
Above: Fiona Allen and her gelding Isengart (by Lauries Crusador xx, out of Ilexa III by E.H. Parforce) were ATF grant recipients. Photo by PICS OF
YOU.com
American Trakehner Association
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