Hipiczna infrastruktura byłych Prus Wschodnich

n the late nineteenth century there was marked an increase of interest in physical culture in East Prussia. Activists organized sports associations and debated on the preparation of base that was necessary to achieve their aims. Horsemanship sport on the European continent was started in the military circles, and therefore the first manege sites were launched next to cavalry units and then horse-riding schools. In this current the Stud Trakehnen (in Trakeny) was a well-functioned one and played an important part, there were bred and prepared horses for the army. However, from the beginning of the new century equestrian tournaments have already started to gain popularity. There were also created horse racing tracks for organization of horse riding races. There were becoming more popular services of saddlers and wheelwrights at craft guilds. The dynamic process of development was interrupted by the World War I but soon afterwards an impressive racecourse started to be constructed in Insterburgu (1919). The victory of Prince Sigismund in the historical Comprehensive Saddle Horse Competition (1927) and the world record of a shot up from the Military Sports Club „Hindenburg” Emil Hirschfeld justified the need for further investment. It is no coincidence that there also was at competitions in Prussia the propaganda and enlightenment minister, Joseph Goebbels. A great impact on the development of equestrian facilities had a well-known at the time specialist in equestrianism and higher equerry, Gustav Rau.