American Trakehner Association Merit Awards Announced

Newark, OH, February 09, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The American Trakehner Association is pleased to announce its 2010 merit awards, which recognize Trakehner horses registered with the association and having superior performance careers, and those individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization.

Winning the Palmenblute Award is Stiletto *Ps* (by Martini *Pg*E* out of Suprecocious by Abdullah *Pg*E*), a stallion bred and owned by Jean Brinkman at Valhalla Farm, Wellborn, Fla. Named in honor of the best Trakehner broodmare and champion broodmare of all warmblood breeds in Germany prior to World War II, the Palmenblute Award is awarded annually to the ATA purebred Trakehner horse that has contributed the most through competition to promote the breed in North America.

The Trakehner Forderverein Award was donated to the ATA by the German organization that helps to promote Trakehners in international sport. Awarded annually to the most successful ATA purebred Trakehner in eventing, the award for 2010 is won by Copycat Chloe (by Stiletto *Ps* out of Copy’s Dancer xx by Alezan Dancer xx). Copycat Chloe was bred by Christy Riley Edwards, and is owned and ridden by Kelly Pugh. Pugh also won the gold medal with the individual young rider eventing title in 2010, riding Copycat Chloe at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships.

For the second year in a row, the Trakehner Verband Award has been won by Emperor (by Unkenruf *Pg*E* out of Mastel by Mahon), bred at Tylord Farm in Vincent, Vermont; owned and ridden by Tracy Durham. The award was donated by the Verband to recognize the most successful ATA purebred Trakehner competing in dressage.

The Casar Memorial Cup is a perpetual trophy awarded annually for the ATA approved Trakehner stallion with the year's highest score in eventing. The 2010 award winner is Zauberruf (by Hibiskus, out of Zauberlied II by E.H. Friedensfurst); bred by Phillip von Schoning, owned and ridden by Darren Chiacchia of Ocala, Fla.

Recognizing outstanding breeding success with an ATA studbook-registered Trakehner broodmare and her foals was made possible with endowment of the Gerda Friedrichs Memorial Award in 1975. For 2010, Tylord Farm in Vincent, Vermont is the winner for the mare Estelle (by Mahon *E* out of Ellena by Hessenstein), who had 9 foals including the 2009 and 2010 Trakehner Verband Award winner, Emperor, noted above.

The Karl-Heinz Barton Memorial Trophy is a perpetual trophy awarded to an individual who has provided exemplary service to the ATA. The 2010 recipient of this singular award is Kari Cassel of Cassel Rock Trakehners in Wellborn, Fla., in recognition of the many volunteer hours she contributed to work on the ATA website.

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