The Ideal Sporthorse

Why the Trakehner?

The Trakehner breed has a special place among Germany's warmblood registries. Since all other breeds are more or less restricted to a state and several have state studs partially financed by the government, stallion prospects are approved and performance tested in an efficient manner to find those few exceptional breed representatives. Because it operates nationwide and without federal funding, a tough selection process is the only way the Trakehner Verband can ensure only top horses are approved as potential breeding stallions.

The largest German warmblood registry, the Hannoveraner Verband, has far over 10.000 registered mares and several hundred stallions. By contrast, some 4.500 mares and 280 stallions are registered in the Main Stud Book or Stud Book. Trakehners, Thoroughbreds, Arabian, Shagya Arabs and Angloarabians, make up the Verband. The Trakehner is the only warmblood breed with a „closed" stud book: quality Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Angloarabians are allowed, but no other wamblood is ever used.



Selection criteria

Selection in Trakehnen had always been uncompromising. Over long distances in fox hunting and steeplechase races, the young Trakehner colts had to prove themselves. In the old days, the stallion performance test took one year to be completed. But by this very strict selection, the Trakehner breed established its world famous reputation as the "Rolls Royce" of warmblooded horses. The goal of the East Prussian breeders was to produce a great number of equally rideable and cooperative horses. The general East Prussian mare was more or less "tested" every day, in the fields of the farms, pulling lage loads, also when in foal. No farmer had the money to own mares only for breeding purposes. Mares that were unable to live with these performance requirements were sooner or later removed from the farm. This is especially true for horses that had temperamental problems or were hard to feed. Therefore, through natural selection, horses who were strong, willing, relatively easy keepers with outstanding temperaments were used for breeding.

The uncompromising nature is clearly evident today in the stallion selection process. Up to 300 two year old colts annually are presented at central inspections all over Germany. The commission travels about 3000 miles in 2 weeks and evaluates the colts. The prospects are presented in hand, on hard surface, at liberty in an arena and free jumping. The evaluation is concluded by in-hand walking, when the final announcments are made. Type, body frame, the quality of the gaits, character and the abilities over jumps are the criteria most important for a final conclusion. Out of this great number of colts, about 50 are permitted to be presented in Neumünster at the end of October for final approval. But before travelling to Neumünster, each colt must pass a vet check - including x-rays. By the way, the Trakehner Verband was the first breed association to require this, and was also the first to make free jumping part of the approval!



International Stallion Market in Neumünster

The stallion days in Neumünster traditionally begin on a Wednesday with the arrival of the horses. On Thursday morning the stallions are presented to the commission and the spectators for the first time on hard surface at walk and trot. The commission will have a good impression of the correctness of the candidates' gaits, the foundations and any malformations there. Additionally, the temperament of the horse can be evaluated in this electrified atmosphere. Friday morning begins with the free jumping, obviously necessary to see how the stallions react when confronted with new situations in the arena, how well they can balance themselves, if they learn from mistakes and also to test their ability over jumps. Friday afternoon is the triangle in hand. Here again, the correctness and quality of gaits is evaluated. The stallions walk up to the commision, stand in a 90° angle in an open frame (all four legs visible), trot around the triangle two times and leave the arena straight away from the commission. This is also the part where natural balance, rhythm and the so important "Antritt", the immediate impulsion in changing gates, is evaluated. Also, good judges will determine here, if colts have a natural ability to sit and "tuck under" as they approach corners of the triangle and have to shift speed and body weight to keep their rhythm. Saturday morning marks the time of the at liberty stage. Voted "most interesting" by many spactators, this is the time to see the stallions at free play with their power, and to get a glimpse at their canter. Saturday afternoon is the time of the walk rings, where all colts come into the arena for the last time. The commission will stand int he middle and evaluate each horse again, and commit to a final verdict. It will either be "nicht gekört", not approved or "wird wieder vorgestellt", the colt is invited back for a second round of walking. For those few selected to appear again, it is traditionally the saturday afternoon at 5PM, when their final verdict is awaited with a lot of anticipation and thrill. The athmosphere in the famous Holstenhallen could not be more electrifying. "Gekört" is approved, and again, the commission will say "nicht gekört" to a few. It is now that they will also invite preliminarily not approved colts back after their performance tests. And it is now that the commission will announce, who will be a premium stallion. Those few, usually not more than 4-6 colts, reappear on sunday morning. Their final appearance will leave them in the order of Champion, Reserve Champion and Premium stallions for the auction that takes place later that same day.

The approval process is clearly marked by several important features. It is obvious that an approved stallion meets the highest standards regarding movement, temperament and jumping abilities. However, specialists have a chance as well, meaning when a stallion shows outstanding jumping potential, but the trot is not the best, he still will find his way into the breed. In recent years, we have also witnessed a new, very importasnt trend: approval of stallions after their performance careers have kicked off. The beginning was made by Dr. Reiner Klimke's outstanding grey Grand Prix stallion Fabian, who was approved as an 8 year old with a few wins at Grand Prix level under his belt. Today, it is very common to approve successful performance horses. in fact, it almost seems it is easier for them to get approval once they have established a record at Grand Prix. A trend that is not only growing in numbers, but that goes into the right direction of only approving horses that have proven themselves beyond doubt. In recent years it would include stallions like Biotop, Almox Prints J or Kaiserkult TSF.

A concluding remark about performance

One criterium more important for the Trakehner than for any other breed is type. Type does not only mean the expression of the face, but is expanded to include a harmonious body with long lines and a large frame hinting towards the thoroughbred influence in this breed. Since the Trakehner not only is a formidable riding horse, but also has a duty refining other warmblood breeds, this is a very important factor. However, the breed did suffer a lot from the times of breeding beauty over performance.

With the approval, the stallion has not yet earned the permission to breed. First, the stallion has to pass his 70 day test or an equivalent (usually two qualifications for the Bundeschampionat in Warendorf, the world's toughest and most prestigious young horse competition). Stallions that do not go through the testing process my gain permission through outstanding sport success at the German national advanced levels (S-class) or higher.

Because of its very unique history, the Trakehner was developed as, and continues to be, the ideal sporthorse. The combination of Arabian blood for intelligence and stamina and English Thoroughbred for toughness, size and courage has -over the centuries- developed a modern riding horse that is one of the most intelligent and sensitive in the world. This noted sensitivity is perhaps a reason why many hold a prejudice against the Trakehner.

We accept that the Trakehner is not the horse for everyone. However, those of us prejudiced in favor of this noble breed equate the intelligence and sensitivity to the difference between making an omlette and a souffle. Both are wonderful egg-based dishes, but the lightness and air of a perfect souffle requires patience and skill found only in the most accomplished chefs. A heavy hand ruins a souffle, but a light, deft touch - and perhaps a bit of poetry of soul - produces a little bit of heaven here on earth . . . the same can be said of our Trakehner