Trakehner Siblings, Stallion Repeat Winning Breed History

Newark, OH, February 20, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The American Trakehner Association announced its 2012 merit awards, which recognize superior accomplishments by Trakehner horses registered with the association, as well those people who have made significant contributions to the organization through their volunteerism or with outstanding Trakehner breeding success. This year, one award-winning horse is the full brother of a previous winner of the same award, and another won the same distinction previously awarded to its sire.

Winner of the 2012 Palmenblüte Award is Sir Ricco (by Enrico Caruso *Ps*E*, out of Sonset *E* by Habicht), owned by Molly Fine and bred by Perlebach Trakehners. This is the second time a foal from this mare and stallion has won this award: the winner’s full brother Syncro, also bred by Perlebach Trakehenrs, won in both 2008 and 2009. The award was named in honor of the best Trakehner broodmare—and champion broodmare of all warmblood breeds—in Germany prior to World War II. This perpetual trophy was donated to the ATA by Herr Eugen Wahler of the German “Klosterhof Medingen” in 1978 and is awarded to the purebred Trakehner that has contributed the most through competition to promote the breed in North America.

Sir Ricco also won the 2012 Trakehner Verband Award, donated by the Verband to recognize the most successful purebred Trakehner in Dressage. According to owner Molly Fine, the horse is partially blind in one eye. Still, Sir Ricco was the U.S. Dressage Federation’s Region 2 Champion at Intermediare II and then the Region’s Reserve Champion at Grand Prix in his first year of competition at that level.

The Cäsar Memorial Cup is also a perpetual trophy and is awarded annually to the ATA-approved Trakehner stallion with the year's highest score in eventing. The 2012 Caesar Cup winner is Tagaelen (by Domritter, out of Tiered Response by Rombus) owned and bred by Kelley Willemze. In winning the award, Tagaelen is following in his sire’s hoofprints: Domritter won two consecutive Cäsar Memorial Cups in 1996-97.

Another perpetual trophy, the Trakehner Forderverein Award, was donated by the German organization that helps to promote Trakehners in international sport. Awarded annually to the most successful ATA purebred Trakehner in eventing, the 2012 award went to Abecca GS *Ps* (by Hilton GS, out of Amourette GS by Always Run Lucky xx), owned by Lance and Victoria McCue, bred by the late Gerhard Schickedanz.

Endowment of the Gerda Friedrichs Memorial Award in 1975 made it possible to recognize outstanding breeding success with an ATA studbook-registered Trakehner broodmare and her foals. For 2012, Michael Loew of King’s Windy Fields received the award for the mare Donauelfe (by Tarino, out of Donautraum vom Schimmelhof by Pregel). Designated an ATA “Honor Roll” mare for raising ten registered Trakehner foals, including two ATA “Horse of the Year” winners (Donaumonster and Donaukentucky), the mare was bred at the German “Gestüt Rantzau.”

The merit award presented annually at the finale is the Karl-Heinz Barton Memorial Trophy, donated in 1984 by Mrs. Marie-Luise Barton of Castell Imperator-Hof in Ill. in memory of her husband, for whom it is named. The perpetual trophy is awarded to an individual who has provided exemplary service to the ATA. The 2012 recipient of this singular award is Ingrid Andrews of Interlochen, Mich. She has served the association in various capacities, including as an advisor to the Board and corporate legal counsel for several years, and continues to serve as Chair of the Corporate Regulations and Grievances Committee and organizer of hotel events at the annual meetings.