KD Trakehners, LLC is owned and operated by David Beattie and Kevin O'Meara
Kevin and David bought their first broodmare 14 years ago.
David Beattie, Owner
David Beattie, an Executive Officer of Aon Risk Services of New York Inc., retired at the end of 2004 to devote himself full time to the business of breeding jumping Trakehners. President of the American Trakehner Foundation, Co-chair of its Corporate Regulations and Grievance Committee and a member of the Association’s Finance and Risk Management Committee. He has two sons, two daughters and four grand children.Phone:
917-697-6854
FAX: 920-696-3760
Email: Dbea851137@aol.com
Kevin O’Meara, Owner
Kevin O’Meara, trained as an engineer at Colorado State University, retired from RPS Tool and Die as a senior tool maker/designer in 2006 to devote himself full time to KD Trakehners LLC. He has one son.Fernando Muhaded , Trainer
(biography coming soon)
Silvia Geyer, Trainer
Horses have been a passion of mine ever since I can remember. Being born and raised in Austria, horses were all around me. When I was younger, I knew I wanted to work with them for a profession. I seriously began to pursue working with them as a career, in 1999 and I enrolled at the Professional School of Agriculture - Specialized Department of Horse Economy in Austria. During my third year, I completed a full year of practical training at two different stables. The first six months were with the upper level dressage trainer and show rider Isabella Willibald, and the next six months at Friesian stable HTC-Hellmayr. In 2003, I graduated with honors and was ready to put my training to use.
I then went to work for Trakehner Gestüt Gorlo, one of Germany’s largest and internationally acclaimed breeding farms. Here I started young horses under saddle and prepared them for, and showed them at competitions. In addition, I advanced the skills of mature horses, enabling us to compete at higher levels. The experience and knowledge I gained at this farm, in addition to my formal training, established a strong base for a career in training and competition.
Toward the end of my tenure at Trakehner Gestüt Gorlo, I had a strong desire to learn to train for and compete at the higher levels. It was at the specialized Practical Training Program designed and conducted by Olympic Rider Ingrid Klimke where I felt I could rapidly learn new skills. Under the guidance of Ms. Klimke, I was trained in the Classic German riding method and I was able to feel what it is like to ride experienced schoolmasters. We frequently worked with younger horses and I learned how to bring them to the top.
I met David and Kevin in Spring of 2005 while I started their stallion Blitz und Donner under saddle. They were pleased by my work with Blitz and offered me a job on their farm as a trainer. Inspired by their passion for horses, and intrigued by the idea of working and living in America, I gladly accepted their offer.
Lauren Merkle, Trainer
I was born and raised in Howell, Mi, and have been around horses all my life. Growing up, my mother was a riding instructor to beginners and recreational riders, so I spent a lot of time in the barn, learning as much as possible. From a young age, I groomed for my uncle at horse shows, traveling to local, regional and world shows. My successes began early with a walk trot National Championship, and six years later showed my own horse to a World Championship in Ideal Pinto Western. From there I started training and giving lessons as my youth show career came to an end, and successfully helped many recreational riders reach their goals or work through difficult situations with their horses. Realizing that I would eventually like to get back into the show arena prompted me to start seeking apprenticeship and working student jobs in an effort to further my own skills and become a more diverse rider. Although I come from a strongly western oriented background, I hope that jumping, dressage, and the world of the English sport horse will take my riding to new levels.