Washington sentinel., 1899-02-18
TT, = .,,s SENTINEL
Horse Breeding in Germany.
BaaHint0n DEdrazme.

Graditz is within easy reach OF
Berlin, situated within a short dis
tance of the interesting old town
of TorPau, on the Elbe, and it is
on some OF the meadows along the
banks of that river that the horses
have their best grazing; but l was
not struck with Graditz as a speci-
ally good place for growing young
animals. The paddocks are much
too dry and sandy, and, though
excellent crops appear TO be grown
there and a bountiful harvest was
being reaped, it is not the soil for
really good grassland. The stud
consists OF fifty-three very carefully
selected thoroughbred mares, most
OF them with plenty OF bone and
size, and FIVE thoroughbred stall
lions, among them being the re-
ce atty purchased Australian-bred
Carnage, the Irish-bred Delphos,
old Flageolet, and the famous ST.
Gatien, Almost the handsomest
foals, however, that / saw there
were by Matchbox, now standing
IN Kisber, in Austria. Count
Lehndorf, whose fame as one OF
the highest authorities on horse
flesh is world wide, lives a good
deal at Graditz in a charming old
hunting lodge, and the arrange
ment Of the yards and boxes, pad
docks, and notably the boxes for
sick horses, are almost as perfect
as it is possible to make them.
Trakahnen is altog gether different
from any stud I have seen in Ger
many, and is historically most IN
terestiug. 1t was founded in the
year 1852 by Frederick the Great,
VINO inherited it from his father,
and improved it very much, living
there a great deal IN a picturesque
old house now occupied by the
veterinary surgeon, and planting
some wonderful avenues Of oaks,
which have grown into exceed.
inglY fine trees, and are quite
feature OF the place. Frederick
the Great bequeathed the place to
the State, with the proviso that the
Kings OF Prussia should every
year have the right to take forty OF
the best horses at a nominal sum
a right that is strictly exercised at
the present day, as the Trakehnen
horses are much priced by the
Emperor, than whom no one more
thoroughly appreciates having in
his carriages horses that can go
both far and fast. In the centre Of
the estate, which comprises some
4I5o hectares (nearly a55 acres,
or, to be accurate, 2.47I acres), is
situated the charming residence OF
the director, Captain Won Oettin-
gen, the hotel, post Office, stallion
stables, exercising yards for young
horses, a house with room tor some
sixty grOoms, and most of the chief
buildings in connection with the
stud in general. The estate is di-
vided into twelve farms, on each
OF which, though differing some
what IN size, a complete set Of most
substantial red brick buildings in
placed, with an excellent man
ayers house, and big yards and
boxes, for the economical working
OF a stud farm and agricultural
farm combined. Some idea OF the
size OF the undertaking NAV be
formed when it is mentioned that
the hands ordinarily employed
number 600.
Irakehnen is situated at the ex-
treme northeast corner OF Prussia,
within few miles oi the Russian
frontier, in one of the finest agri-
cultural and pastoral districts to
be seen in Germany. 1t was said
to have been originally a marshy
moor, but is now divided into large
fiat arabic fields and excellent pas.
lures, and is kept in a high state
OF productive power by the best
system OF cultivation, and the ap-
Plication of lime to the grasslands.
1t is worth a PASSING notice that as
Ireland was originally the home
fthe elk, so was Trakehnen famed
tor that animal, and an elk's horn
IS the Trakehnen brand placed
upon all horses bred there. The
estate has still some stretches Of
woodland abounding in roe deer,
which may be frequently seen
grazing in the same fields as the
horses; excellent roads run for
miles under the noble avenues, and
the care with which everything is
managed is everywhere manifest.
In Frederick the Greats time
the stud was chiefly kept to pro-
duce horses tor the Court, and it
was not until the end OF his reign
that the further development took
place OF using some OF the stations
that were not considered good
enough for the Kings stud for the
mares OF the country people, such
favorable results ensuing that the
question of establishing stations
for Govern ment stations through
out the country soon demanded
the attention OF the authorities.
The stud passed through many
vicissltudes. During the war
troubles in 1896, it was removed
bodily to Russia. and many mares
we're lost, owing to the cold and
severity Of the march, both at that
time and later period in 1913 in
the fight to Silesia. 1t was not
until after the wars we're over that
the stud settled down again to a
state Of normal development, and
Herr Won Burgsdorf was enabled
TO attempt the dream Of hisslife,
which was to breeo stations which
should be capable OF producing