In 1732 Friedrich Wilhelm I established the Main Stud Trakehnen, and in the early 19th Century Thoroughbred and Arab stallions were brought to the stud. East Prussian farmers were encouraged to bring their mares, by then known for their hardness and quality, to Trakehnen's stallions, which allowed for the rapid transformation of the breed into much sought after army remounts; sure-footed, intelligent, and athletic. By 1918 60,000 mares were bred to East Prussian stallions each year.

In 1919 the Treaty of Versailles limited Germany's army to 100,000 troops and so the breed's focus was again turned to producing horses suitable to farm duties. For this purpose, heavier reinforcement sires were used, the most successful being Ararad, Dampfross, Hyperion, Pythagoras and Tempelhueter. These stallions, while refined, possessed much substance and bone. Their influence is still seen on the modern Trakehner.

Dampfross was killed 1937

Dampfross 1916	Sire: Dingo 1893	Tresor 1877
		Unknown
	Dam: Laura 1905	Passvan 1881
		Unknown