Why Trakehner horses in particular?

Our story - Connected across generations

A story that connects generations

"Life can be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

The story of Gut Eich begins long before our current farm. It is characterized by courage, solidarity, and a deep connection to the Trakehner breed. It is a story of origin, loss, new beginnings, and the values that have guided our family to this day.

Our roots

The story of Gut Eich is a journey through time and across borders. It tells of courage, connection, and a deep devotion to the land and its animals. Our family roots reach back to the rugged landscapes of Scotland and the historically rich expanses of East Prussia.

The origins of our line lie in the Scottish landed gentry. Seeking new paths, my grandfather's ancestors once traveled across the Baltic region until they finally found a new home in East Prussia. There, in the heart of a culture steeped in tradition, a circle was completed that continues to shape our family and our passion for Trakehner breeding to this day.

In this new home, two worlds collided: My grandfather Otto Fox (1898–1973), a descendant of these Scottish immigrants, met my grandmother Anna Bock (1906–1992). She came from a long-established, wealthy, and highly respected East Prussian family. Together they founded a large, vibrant family with nine children and continued to run my great-grandfather's estate, where Trakehner breeding had been the heart of our daily lives from the very beginning.

It was the vast, endless landscapes of East Prussia, the fertile fields, and especially the noble Trakehner horses that formed the foundation of our work. These horses were never merely working animals – they were companions, pride, and the soul of the estate. The profound knowledge of this breeding program was passed down through generations like a precious treasure and forms the strong foundation for the passion that we proudly continue today in Breddorf.

Escape from East Prussia

With the end of the Second World War, our family's life changed drastically. Like many other families, we too had to leave our home. During the escape across the frozen Vistula Lagoon, my grandmother harnessed our strongest Trakehner horses to the wagons.

They carried our grandmother Anna and her children westward for weeks through snow, ice, and extreme danger. These experiences have profoundly shaped our family to this day.

The extraordinary loyalty, endurance and strength of the Trakehner horses made them far more than just riding or breeding horses – they became lifesavers.

The Trakehner – horses with history

This escape from East Prussia is considered one of the most formative chapters in the history of Trakehner breeding.

The world-famous Trakehnen State Stud Farm also had to flee in haste before the advancing front. Humans and animals embarked on a months-long, relentless trek westward. The losses were unimaginable: of the approximately 25,000 registered horses in East Prussia, only a small fraction, around 1,200 animals, survived the devastating hardships of this escape. The heart of the breeding program was particularly hard hit: of the stud farm's more than 350 highly prized broodmares, only 28 mares ultimately reached their western destination alive.

It was precisely these few, strong-willed, and resilient survivors who, through immense effort, laid the saving foundation for all modern Trakehner breeding as we know it today. This extraordinary legacy, which speaks of an indomitable will to live and absolute loyalty, fills us at Gut Eich with deep respect and boundless gratitude every day. It is an honor for us to carry this precious flame forward.

Where there is love, the impossible becomes possible.

Love is not shown in grand words, but in the things of everyday life – in patience, care, and responsibility. It gives us the strength to accept challenges, overcome setbacks, and look to the future with confidence.

This attitude has been with our family for generations. It shapes how we interact with one another, how respectfully we treat our animals, and the passion with which we now continue our Trakehner breeding program at Gut Eich. Because we are convinced: Where people act with heart, trust, cohesion, and values arise that last far beyond generations.

Our future: Keeping tradition alive

For us, tradition doesn't mean dwelling on the past. It's the obligation to respectfully preserve what has proven its worth while simultaneously having the courage to forge new paths.

With love for animals and passion for Trakehner breeding, we are further developing Gut Eich – as a modern place of trust and quality.

"Tradition is not about preserving the ashes, but about passing on the flame."

We dedicate ourselves to this fire every day.