Part II: The first Trakehner century

"When traveling on Reichstrasse I, the street created by Napoleon, from Königsberg and Insterburg further eastward, one will reach a point between Gumbinnen and Stallupönen, where the street is slightly elevated from the rest of the country side. It is here that one cannot resist this view towards the South, looking over this vast green, park-like expansion, which reaches all the way to the horizon. Here, God's creationist power and humankind's will for perfection in an combined efford created something truly outworldly. Here is Trakehnen, the home of the noble East Prussian horse." (excerpt taken from "Menschen, Pferde, weites Land" by Hans Count of Lehndorff).

Gripping words written by one of East Prussia's famous horsemen. Welcome to Trakehner International's second part of the history of Trakehnen and its people and horses. This part will cover some historic numbers and facts, which we hope you will find interesting!

Visionary men 1786-1850:

Seated in Berlin, Trakehnen was first governed by the so called "Oberlandstallmeister", a stud master and manager highest in rank of any stud managers in the royal stud farms. Yet the most important decisions were reached at the farm itself, and it was here that legends were created! The first Stud Masters in Trakehnen might have had different ideas about breeding horses, but one thing most of them had in common: a deep love and appreciation of English and Arabian horses. Carl Heinrich August Graf von Lindenau was the commander of all Prussian studs from 1786 to 1808 and is today seen as the founding father of the Prussian Stud Management. During his time of reorganisation, Trakehnen's world famous herds were established, where mares were collected according to their color. Also depending on the amount of blood and different phenotypes, mares were divided among the two main breeding goals of riding horses and carriage horses. Blacks were bred at Gurdzen (1787 - 1944), bays were kept at Kalpakin (1787 - 1897), chestnut sin Guddin (1787 - 1896) and a mixed herd was maintained at Bajohrgallen (1787 - 1944). Another mixed herd was bred at Trakehnen (1787 - 1924). Also, the first acquisition of war remounts fell under von Lindenau's era. That was in 1788. Less than 50 years later, Prussia was finally independend of its shopping for war horses in foreign nations.

In 1787, Friedrich Carl Ludwig von Brauchitsch officially became the first "State Stud Master of Lithauen", living at Trakehnen itself. He created the stallion depot stations for the local breeders and founded the state stud farms in Trakehnen, Insterburg, Oletzko, Ragnit and Marienwerder. SInce 1787, the single moose antler with seven spikes was used as a brand to distignuish between riding and driving horses at Trakehnen. It was branded on the right hip.

The foundation stallions of the Trakehner breed: Left: The favorite stallion of Oberlandstallmeister Graf von Lindenau: Nedjed ox, an oriental stallion that Landstallmeister von Burgsdorff bought in London in 1826. He spotted the grey Arabian in front of a carriage. Right: Turk Main Atty from the Orient, who, like no other influenced the herds at Trakehnen and in the local breeds. Through his sons and daughters, his line can be traced all the way to today.

The stud of kings:

Per amendement in parliament, King Friedrich Wilhelm I ordered 1101 horses to Trakehnen, among them 513 brood mares. Since the big fortune the King had expected did not surface during the first years of Trakehnen's existence, he simply gave the farm to his son Friedrich II in 1739. A genius move was the proclamation of Johann Friedrich von Domhardt as president of the province Prussia. He was a strong supporter of Trakehnen and the local breeds from 1746 to 1781. Secretly and at their own risk, Domhardt and the war minister Wlömer stationed 11 stallions as state stud sires: Arrak, Berlock, Blitz, Bravo, Cato, Gallant, Pistol, Skies, Sprunk, Tarrock and Tybo. These were very popular among the local farmers and without knowing it, these men had created the first working State Stud. After the death of Friedrich the Great in 1786, Trakehnen became state property.

Trakehners on the run:

1806/07: Napoleon defeats the Prussian army in the battle of Auerstedt and Jena and devastates the land. Over 75,000 horses were lost in East Prussia. Trakehnen's horses fled, ironically, to the Russian city of Szawlen. Only a few years later everything changed with the battle of Leipzig in 1812/1813. The Trakehners feld again, this time to Ratibor and Troppau in Schlesien. After the war is over, East Prussia had lost over 100,000 horses! Wilhelm Carl Friedrich von Bursgdorf was in charge of Trakehnen for 35 years, until 1842. For him, the horse breeding and remount business was closely linked to farming. Since 1817, remount stations were in operation, where 3 year old horses were kept for a year before their began their service with the cavalry. By 1832, Prussia had secured anought war mounts to be truly independend. By 1839, Trakehnen held its first auction.

In 1843, 30 English thoroughbred mares were stationed at Trakehnen to begin a purebred herd for blood horses. Even a training barn and race track were built. However, in 1866 this branch of the breeding business was transferred to Graditz, which should later become Germany's most important State owned TB breeding farm. Famous private East Prussian farms during this time included those in Georgenburg (pictured left, built in 1352), Cassuben, Waldaukadel, Szigupönen, Schlobitten, Löbzallen, Schreitlaugken, Stammaitschen, Königsfelde, Ragnit and Göritten. They were all in existence during the 18th century. In fact, the oldest, still existing German stud book, beloning to the Knight Count Dohna-Schlobitten, dates back to 1623!

History in context: 1730 - 1820 in the world ............................................................ and with horses!