HISTORY

Before 1945 | After 1945

Initially, production of horses for the cavalry was the main task of horsebreeding in East Prussia. State Equerry von Oettingen already pinned his hopes on thoroughbreds, for example Tempelhüter's father Perfectionist xx. His successor Graf Sponeck continued this breeding strategy. The horses' virtues - toughness and willingness to work - later turned out to be important advantages when equestrian sport was thriving after the First World War.

At the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, Trakehner horses won six gold medals and one silver medal. When gelding Nurmi (born in 1925, breeder: Hans Paul, Rudwangen) won the gold medal in military, ridden by Oberleutnant Ludwig Stubbendorf, a legend was born.

In 1944, 15 000 members were registered at the East Prussian Studbook Society (ostpreußische Stutbuchgesellschaft). 750 stallions were approved for Trakehner breeding. The number of breeding mares totalled 14 000. In Königsberg, 160 stallions per year aspired to the title gekört (approved). When the Trakehner population was in full bloom, it was estimated to include 25 000 mares and 1 200 stallions - a figure that seems almost incredible, even today!

However, on October 17th, 1944 the situation changed dramatically:

At five o'clock in the morning, the highest authority gave orders to vacate Trakehnen. In January 1945, if not earlier, even the last people had understood that East Prussia would have to be surrendered. People and horses left the area, while many were already gone, on a 1000 kilometre flight westward.

Losses during the much-remembered trek over the frozen Frisches Haff (Vistula Lagoon) were severe. At times, the horses would draw wagons through icy water deep enough to reach their bellies. Of a population that once numbered 30 000 horses, only 1 500 animals remained, spread throughout the whole of Germany during the turbulent post-war time.

The declared aim of East Prussian breeder families was to rescue their best mares. Names such as the privaPhoney-owned Kassette or Gundula as well as Main Stud mares such as Donna and Herbstzeit were to contribute to conserving a breed consolidated over centuries, by becoming foundresses of mare dynasties. Altogether, only 27 mares from the Trakehnen Main Stud were saved.