Dr. Tim Holekamp was elected President of the American Trakehner Association at its 36th annual convention in Jacksonville, Fla. Holekamp and his wife Cheryl own New Spring Farm in Columbia, Mo. and are possibly best known for their acclaimed Trakehner stallion Windfall*Pg*, a U.S. Olympic team bronze medalist.
“We started in 1984 with two Trakehner mares that we bought at the ATA auction in Columbus, Ohio,” said Holekamp, explaining that it took just one trip to an ATA convention for him to seal a relationship with the breed and its association.
“I was struck by the people, and Cheryl by the horses. Many of the members back then were Germans, even some East Prussians. The excitement of first-hand contact with a fascinating chapter of history drew me into the scene. I am awed by the commonality of devotion to the Warmblood Horse of East Prussian Origin among the most diverse group of humans one could ever imagine. What is found in every one is an absolute commitment to preserving and furthering this amazing breed of horse. I really am thrilled to be in this leadership position and to have a chance to help this breed of horse and its human friends.”
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The convention was attended by 115 members and included a Quadrille of nine Trakehner stallions and a gelding, and a pas de deux performed by Cheryl Holekamp riding Windfall, with the second horse being a Windfall daughter. Cheryl is near licensing as an “R” rated dressage judge after earning her USDF Rider’s Achievement Silver Medal in 2003 and her Gold Medal in 2006 on her homebred Trakehner studbook-registered mare Hera*Pg*.
Other new ATA officers installed at the convention are Becky Armstrong of Castro Valley, Calif. as Secretary and Trustees David Beattie of KD Trakehners in Waterford, Wis., Kim Hunter of Twin Gates Farm in Argyle, Texas and Karen Stopek of Stopek Stables in Adel, Iowa. Brad Kerbs remains a member of the Board of Trustees as the immediate past president.
