Portrait of the Trakehner breed: From soldier horse to versatile athlete

‍Trakehners are the oldest riding horse breed in Germany and can look back on over 290 years of breeding history. This can be traced back seamlessly to the founding of the main stud in Trakehnen, East Prussia. Today, the former military horses have established themselves in the equestrian sports scene, particularly in the disciplines of eventing, show jumping, and dressage. Trakehners are considered to be very rideable, willing to perform, and versatile riding and sports horses.

Interior: Character of the Trakehner

Not least because of their high thoroughbred content, Trakehners are spirited and energetic horses. They are sensitive, strong in character, and strong-willed and therefore less suitable for beginners and children. Experienced riders are more likely to be able to challenge and encourage these willing, resilient, and strong-nerved animals. These are characteristics that are very useful in equestrian sport today. In the past, however, these characteristics were important for use in the military and as carriage horses.

Despite their strong character and temperament, it is part of the Trakehner breeding goal to breed horses with a sociable character. They should be friendly and responsive to people. Horses that are anxious, nervous, or difficult to handle are not desired according to the breeding objective.

Exterior: physique and appearance of the Trakehner

Trakehners are medium-sized horses with a height of between 160 and 170 cm. Despite their large, rectangular frame, they still have a light build, which gives them a noble, harmonious, and elegant appearance. Their muscular body enables them to perform well in show jumping courses, over long distances, or cross-country.

The head is slender and dry, yet expressive. The large, alert eyes reveal the thoroughbred and Arabian influence of a Trakehner. The neck is harmoniously arched and ends in pronounced withers. The shoulder is set obliquely, allowing the forehand to swing forward freely. The foundation is dry and correct.

Stallions and mares must have a gender-typical expression.

Trakehners can come in all coat colors, although browns, chestnuts, and blacks are frequently bred. Pied and pinto coats are rather rare in Trakehners. However, piebald coats are also selectively bred and are considered a specialty, as only a few breeders focus on this coat pattern.

Movement sequence

The conformation of a Trakehner forms the basis for the desired movement sequence, which is laid down in the Trakehner Verband's breeding program as follows:

• Spacious corridors 
• Diligent, tactful gaits
• Elastic, swinging and light-footed movements
• Trot with long suspension phase
• Canter with energetically forward stepping hindquarters
• Loose swinging back
• Free in the shoulder with forehand swinging straight forward
• Knee action is desired

Thanks to their movements, Trakehner horses cut a fine figure in the dressage arena as well as in show jumping and cross-country. Especially when jumping, you want to have horses that are well-considered when jumping and show elegance and intelligence. The overall sequence of a jump should be characterized by flow and rhythm.

Suitability: What are Trakehner horses suitable for?

Trakehner horses are very versatile sport and leisure horses that excel in dressage, eventing and show jumping. Nowhere else are so many Trakehner horses represented as in eventing. In recent years, however, many Trakehner breeders have also turned their attention to dressage talent.

Trakehner breeding began with the breeding of carriage horses, which is why Trakehners are still suitable for driving today. However, very few stables concentrate on breeding driving horses or pure show jumping.

Trakehner horses are rarely found in western riding.

The long breeding history of the Trakehner

Trakehner breeding dates back to the 13th century, at the time of the Teutonic Knights. The foundation stone for systematic breeding was finally laid in the 18th century in East Prussia, in the town of Trakehnen, which gave the breed its name. The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm bought the main stud farm in 1732 and initially began breeding endurance carriage horses.

The breeding goal changed when military horses were needed for the army. Arabians and English Thoroughbreds were therefore crossed in for more speed and grace. With the first performance tests and precise documentation of the pedigrees, an even better selection of the breeding horses was pursued.

As early as 1787, the brand we know today was introduced to indicate affiliation: a moose shovel, as the heraldic animal of East Prussia had been a moose. A distinction was made between two types of horses: Those that were born at the main Trakehnen stud and those that were born elsewhere. Foals bred directly in Trakehnen were given a single shovel and could be called Trakehners. All other horses that were not born in Trakehnen but descended from Trakehners were given a double moose shovel. This may also explain why today we only know Trakehner horses with a double moose scoop because none of these horses were born directly in Trakehnen. Horses with double branding should not be called Trakehner, but are called East Prussian Warmblood of Trakehner descent, or East Prussian for short.

But with the end of the Second World War in 1944, many people, including the horses, had to flee East Prussia. This sealed the end of the main Trakehnen stud farm. The few remaining horses were evacuated to the later occupation zones and the main studs in Neustadt/Dosse and Graditz. With the end of the main stud Trakehnen, all horses bred thereafter are strictly speaking East Prussian warmbloods. However, the name Trakehner has become so well established that only the double moose shovel reminds us that these horses were not bred in Trakehnen.

It took a long time for the Trakehner breed to recover after the expulsion from East Prussia and return to the quality level it had before the war. There was simply a lack of mass to be able to make sufficient matings. Over time, however, more and more thoroughbred Arabians, Shagya Arabians, Anglo-Arabians and English thoroughbreds were crossed into the Trakehner breed until the proportion of thoroughbreds accounted for around half.

Today, Trakehner horses are often used to refine formerly heavy warmbloods, which is why Trakehner horses are important ancestors of modern German riding horses.

The Trrakehner breeding program

Trakehner breeders make sure that their horses are as purebred as possible, which means that only a few other breeds may be used for breeding. Apart from Arabians and thoroughbreds, other horse breeds are taboo. To maintain the purity of the Trakehner, breeding is subject to a strict breeding program consisting of three options: The GP Program, the Elite Program, and the Linear Description.

The GP program (breeding progress through targeted mating) focuses on the mares. The aim is to achieve higher quality from a smaller population of selected broodmares, i.e. foals that are genetically superior to others. This should have a positive influence on breeding and sport. The broodmares are selected based on three criteria: Their results are made up of their performance, offspring performance, and ancestor and relative performance.

The elite program has been awarding elite titles since 1995. These are a seal of quality that is noted as a title in the horse passport. The elite title is intended to highlight Trakehner sires who stand out in particular due to their performance and that of their offspring.

The linear description is not a means of ranking or placing horses. It comes from practical experience and is intended to help breeders select and mate their breeding stock. Judges make notes at performance tests, foal shows, licences, free jumping competitions or mare registrations. This makes it easier for the breeder to understand the score awarded. This makes the evaluation process more transparent. The judges' notes are summarised in a data record and evaluated. The evaluation is in turn made available to the breeder so that he can take it into account when planning the mating.

This system is already being used by other associations and in other countries. The Trakehner Verband uses the data entry forms and software of the Oldenburg system.

Famous Trakehner stallions

• Charly Chaplin (1970-2000): licensed in 1987, elite stallion in 2004. Successful up to Grand Prix level, numerous successful daughters and sons, including Polarzauber.
• Polarzauber (1996-2012): Licensed in 2002. Successful under Dorothee Schneider up to advanced dressage level. Despite numerous successes (61 victories), he received little acceptance in breeding (only seven sport offspring).
• Caprimond (1985-2014): Licensed in 1987. Went down in Trakehner history as the youngest stallion to be named Elite Stallion in 1995 and Trakehner Stallion of the Year in 1998. Stamp stallion with many successful offspring in dressage (e.g. Hohenstein), who was still successful in Grand Prix at the age of 19.
• Hohenstein (1991-2013): Premium stallion, licensed in 1993, named Stallion of the Year 2002. Successful up to advanced dressage level. Passed on his outstanding rideability to his successful offspring (30 licensed stallions, more than 100 state premium mares).
• E.H Sixtus (1989-2022): Licensed in 1991 as reserve champion, stallion of the year 2001, successful show jumper up to advanced (S) level. He has had a significant influence on Trakehner breeding and has over 300 registered offspring who are successful in dressage, show jumping, eventing, and driving up to advanced levels.
• Kostolany (1984-2013): Licensed as Champion Stallion in 1987, and Stallion of the Year in 2009, he passed on his dual disposition to his offspring, who can be found in eventing, dressage, and show jumping.

‍Diseases typical of the breed

Due to many years of breeding, some diseases have crept in, which can occur more frequently in Trakehners due to increased susceptibility. These include moulting, colic, laminitis, and ear infections. The diseases can have various triggers, but an imbalance in feeding, exercise, and hygiene plays a decisive role. For example, being overweight, eating too much starch and sugar, too little exercise, and stress can lead to colic, laminitis, and moulting. These diseases can be prevented as far as possible by keeping horses in a species-appropriate manner and feeding them according to their needs.

In recent years, many Trakehner breeders have increasingly focused on the hereditary metabolic disease MIM (formerly PSSM2). Muscle integrity myopathy is a genetic mutation in which the muscles and their function are damaged. As MIM is anchored in genetics and is therefore hereditary, several associations of horse breeders, including the Trakehner, Hanoverian, and Oldenburg associations, have joined forces to keep an even closer eye on the development and health of horses using state-of-the-art laboratory analysis.

FAQs: Frequently asked questions about Trakehner horses

Are Takehner horses suitable for beginners?

Trakehners are known for their spirited and strong-willed nature. Their fire makes them less suitable for beginners. Although Trakehners are very open-minded horses, they are more suitable partners for more experienced riders due to their pronounced willingness to perform and rideability. Trakehners want and need to be challenged and encouraged, otherwise their friendly nature can turn into stubbornness and over-excitement.

Nevertheless, each horse must be considered individually. For example, there are Trakehner horses that are very suitable for children's and youth horses.

‍Is a Trakehner a thoroughbred?

Despite their high proportion of thoroughbreds, Trakehners are warmbloods. At the same time, they are similar to thoroughbreds in many respects in terms of temperament and willingness to perform.

How much does a Trakehner cost?

There is no fixed price for a Trakehner, as this versatile breed depends on its disposition, pedigree, and past successes. If you look around when buying horses, Trakehner foals can be purchased for as little as €10,000. For riding horses with first performances, the price range can extend from € 20,000 to € 40,000. And you don't even have to go to an auction for this.

The most expensive Trakehner stallion of all time (Kap Verde by Helium) was sold at auction in 2023 for €350,000.

‍Are Trakehner horses a world heritage site?

In 2022, the Trakehner was named an intangible cultural heritage by the German UNESCO Commission. This makes them the first ever living cultural asset in the German equine sector.

The great commitment of the Trakehner breed was particularly recognized, among other things for its detailed documentation, which can be traced back to the beginnings of breeding 290 years ago. Furthermore, the Trakehner breed is characterized by its cross-border exchange of knowledge and skills. The Trakehner Verband was also praised for its openness so that educational and informational offers are made available to attract the public to the breed.

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Author: Mirjam-Sophie Freigang