Horse
Pronunciation:
Orl-of Trot-ta
Breed Description:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse was developed in the 18th century as a smart, elegant carriage horse and for racing. Subsequently, the breed has been used to improve other Russian breeds.
These horses are muscular in build and they move freely. The back is fairly long and straight, and the neck is long and naturally arched. The withers are quite high. Well bred Orlov Trotters have an elegant conformation, with strongly built, powerful legs. They are most commonly grey in color, but bay and black are found. Chestnut is a very rare color in this breed.
In recent years, Russians interested in harness racing have tended to work with faster breeds of Russian and American trotters, rather than Orlov Trotters. However there are still a few studs in Russia that breed the Orlov Trotter, and continue to concentrate on producing a better racing trotter. But there are only a total of approximately 800 mares, which is a problem as a breed with less than 1000 females is seen as an endangered species. Because of this problem, the International Committee for the Protection of the Orlov Trotter was established in 1997, to ensure that they don't die out.
Temperament:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse has a quiet nature and a willingness to work.
Height:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse averages a height of 16 hands, or 64 inches at the withers. The breed standard expects a barrel length of 5 foot 4 inches and a depth through the girth of 6 foot one inch.
Weight:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse generally weighs around 990 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse has a few common conformation faults which can cause problems. They can tend to be over-long in the leg, and this can cause weak cannon bones and tendon problems.
Living Conditions:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse, originating from Russia where there are long, cold winters, and very short, cool summers. They are adaptable to many different conditions, as they are used to being kept in fields and plains or in stables.
Exercise:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse is a racing horse, and should be worked on a regular routine to keep fit for competition.
Life Expectancy:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse has a long life span, usually around 25-35 years. One famous sire, Kvadrat stood at stud until he was 32 years old.
Grooming:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse is a fairly easy to keep horse, as they are adaptable to different conditions. To keep the coat from getting thick, these horses should be groomed daily.
Origin:
The Orlov Trotter breed of horse is one of the oldest and most popular breeds of horse in Russia. The breed was developed by Count Alexis Grigorievitch Orlov who began working on the breed around 1780. He had acquired a white Arab stallion from the Sultan of Turkey, which he crossed with his best mares at his Orlov Stud outside Moscow. Count Orlov had Danish, Dutch, Mecklenburg and Arab mares which he combined in an endeavor to find the perfect match. In 1788, with the help of his manager, V. I. Shishkin, they found that the best results came from mixing the Arab with Danish and Dutch mares. This combination produced the fine Orlov Trotter’s foundation sire, Bars I, in 1784. Bars I was then put to other Arabian, Danish and Dutch mares as well as English half-breeds and Mecklenburg/Arabian crosses. From 1834 onwards, regular training and graded trotting race programs were developed for this breed. 