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Trakehner is a horse breed. It is the most pure of the warmblood breeds, and is generally of a lighter type than most other warmbloods. The Trakehner stands between 15.2-17 hands high and can be any solid color, with bay, gray, chestnut and black being the most common. It is considered to be the lightest and most refined of the warmbloods, due to its closed studbook which allows entry of only Trakehner, Thoroughbred, and Arab lines. Owing to its Thoroughbred ancestry, the Trakehner is of rectangular build, with a long sloping shoulder, good hindquarters, short cannons, and a medium-long, crested and well-set neck. The head is often finely chiseled, narrow at the muzzle, with a broad forehead. Its gaits lack the high knee action often found in other warmbloods, and it is known for its "floating trot" - full of impulsion and suspension. The Trakehner possesses a strong, medium-length back and powerful hindquarters. The Trakehner is athletic and trainable, with good endurance, but is more spirited than most warmblood breeds. It breeds true to type, due to the purity of the bloodlines, making it valuable for upgrading other warmbloods. The breed's origins trace back to the native East Prussian Schwaike (now extinct), a small primitive horse first discovered by the Knights Templar in the 13th Century. Descendants of the Schwaike were used by East Prussian farmers for light utility work. |
