The flight of the East Prussian horses.
Edition: 1st U.S. edition
Publisher: Arco Publishing Co.
Published: 1973
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Translated from: ger
Translation of: Die pferde mit der Elchschaufel
Format: Hardbound
Number of pages: 143
Subjects: Trakehner horse.; Horse breeds -- Germany.
Work titles: Pferde mit der Elchschaufel. English.
Description: This is the story of the history and fate of a breed of horses. Trakehnen, a stud set in most beautiful surroundings, was once the Newmarket of East Prussia. At this stud, founded by King Frederick Wilhelm in 1732, a half-bred or warm-blood breed of horses was bred to perfection. In its heyday, when over 400 brood mares grazed the tree-lined paddocks, the stud and the Province exported horses all over the world. During its history, Trakehnen had to be evacuated four times before invading armies; on the last occasion there could be no return to their native land. Only 700 mares and about 32 stallions completed the 900 miles of their flight to the West from the inferno of war in the winter of 1944–5. The mares made the journey on foot, most of them unshod, pulling wooden field wagons driven by the surviving women, old men and children. Most of these mares were in foal; very often they had to spend the night still harnessed to their wagons out in the freezing cold, and often went unfed. The story of the Trakehnen horses and their trial has been traced from letters, talks with survivors, visits to East Prussia, and a careful study of the material available The endurance and stamina of this famous breed of horses allowed the present-day brood mares to survive the terrible trek and the aftermath of the war years, until once again the horses could continue to breed in new surroundings.—Blurb
Notes: Translation of Die Pferde mit der Elchschaufel, 3d ed. Berlin, Parey, 1966.

Bibliography: p. 143. Includes three maps plus several black and white photo plates. Binding: blue cloth with dust jacket

COCC COPY MISSING AND BILLED.