Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
American Trakehner Association
Worth Their Weight in Gold
Trakehner Mounts for Young Riders by Kim MacMillan
Dee Kochensparger/MacMillan Photography T
rakehners and young riders, they just seem to go together. Over the history of the FEINorth Ameri- can Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC)
a number of Trakehner horses have been the trusted friends and medal-winning partners for junior and young riders. Te history of the Trakehner horse is the story of how
they willingly worked with their riders and caretakers to do their jobs and take care of their human counterparts. Teir famous “Trek” is not only the story of the survival of the breed, but is also the story of these horses rescuing their East Prussian owners at the end of World War II as the people fled from Russian invasion. Originally in service as world-class cavalry horses and steadfast farm work horses, then later as sport horses in many disciplines, the Trakehner horse has truly done it all. And in many instances their human part- ner was a junior or young rider. Each of these pairings of a Trakehner horse with a young person is a special story.
About the North American Junior Young Rider Championships Te NAJYRC began as an eventing challenge competition between the youth of U.S. and Canada in 1974. Seven years later, in 1981, a dressage championship was added and in 1982 show jumping championships were added to the roster. By 2011 reining and endurance had been added to the sched- ule for a total of five recognized sports. Te competition is now a fully recognized Fédération Equestre International (FEI – the international governing body for equestrian sports) event with championship classes for Juniors and Young Riders from anywhere in North America who range in age from 14 to 21.
Gold Rush Te most recent competition in 2013 was no exception to
the medal-winning tradition, with Trakehner horses and their capable riders taking home five gold medals (three in dressage and two in eventing) at the NAJYRC held in July at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. In dressage the Junior individual gold medal was won by Lindsey Holleger, Wigham, Georgia, riding her gelding Friedensfürst (foaled
62 January/February 2013
2002, by Donaufürst *Ps*E*, out of Feodamee von Kroten- bach by E.H. Hohenstein, bred by Erin Brinkman, Spica Dressage, Wellborn, Florida). Lindsey and Friedensfürst had finished just out of the medals the year before (2012), taking home the fourth place ribbon in their first year at the NAJYRC. Lindsey had been
riding Friedensfürst, a.k.a. “Fenway,” for four years when she won the gold at the NAJYRC in 2013. Tey came up the levels together with the help of her trainer (and Fenway’s breeder) Erin Brinkman. “I’m really proud of that because we’ve come a really long way,” Lindsey says. “I love him to death. He’s so special and he tries his heart out for me every time I go in the ring. It’s like a dream come true. I’m still on cloud nine right now. I’m happy and proud of my horse.” Te 2013 Junior dressage freestyle gold went to Lau-
ABOVE: Lindsey Holleger and Friedensfürst by Donaufürst *Ps*E* competing at the 2013 NAJYRC. TOP OF PAGE: Lindsey and Friedens- fürst in their victory gallop after winning the Junior individual gold medal in dressage at the 2013 NAJYRC.
rence Blais Tétreault of Montréal, Quebec, and her geld- ing Lowelas (foaled 2001, German approved stallion [now gelded] by Khokkey [Hockey] 41, out of Lugowen by Inster Graditz, bred by Hans-Ernst Wezel, Germany). Laurence and Lowelas also helped their Junior team from Quebec to win gold. “Lowelas is awesome to ride and is a sweetheart around the barn. He’s really cuddly,” says Laurence about her horse. Te same year there were also two team gold medal win-
ning Trakehners in eventing. In the CCI 2* Young Rider Division, Mary Atkins Hunt of Mobile, Alabama, rode her 12-year-old gelding Nuance (foaled 2001, by Donaufürst *Ps*E*, out of Novelty by Hailo *Pg*E*, bred by Jean Brink-
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