Orlov Trotter Horses – Origins, Appearance, and Body Type

The Standardbred Orlov Trotter Horse has been selectively bred for over 230 years. Its origins date back to ancient times, when it was originally used to pull heavy carriages. These horses were used for their heavy pulling ability and adapted well to the rugged roads of their homeland, where winters can be particularly hard. Here, we look at the origins, appearance, and body type of this horse.

Standardbred Orlov Trotter Horse

The Orlov Trotter Horse is an elegant, powerful, and fast breed. It was the first breed of horse to set a world speed record. In pre-revolutionary Russia, it was considered the fastest horse, covering a mile in 2 minutes, 8.5 seconds. The Russian government favored this breed over other types, separating race tracks for Standardbreds and Trotters. The breed was later developed through extensive breeding with Standardbreds, and racing standards improved.

The Orlov trotter has a long back, broad loins, and muscular croup. They are very athletic and hard-working, and can survive on pasture alone. Although they do require supplementation, they can live off of grain and hay. These horses were bred to adapt to the Russian climate and are renowned for their calm temperament. This breed is good for many types of riders.

The Orlov trotter horse’s speed is also an important factor in its performance. The average 1600-meter time for an Orlov is 2 minutes, 20 seconds. And they are exceptionally fertile. One Orlov stud can produce up to 80 foals per 100 mares. Their live birth rate is high, at approximately 78-85%. These horses have an excellent life span and robust constitution. One mare, Gondola, lived 27 years and had 17 foals.

Origins

The Orlov Trotter Horse is a large, speedy, and surefooted horse that can be trained to perform different jobs. This breed has a quiet temperament and can survive on pasture, but does need to be pampered with supplementary grain or hay. During their breeding history, the Orlov Trotter has demonstrated its health and stamina, so it is a hardy animal.

The Orlov trotting horse’s lineage originated from crossing European mares with Arabian stallions. The Russian king, Catherine II, granted Orlov land in Voronezh as a reward for the coup that brought her to the throne. Orlov took great care of his bloodstock and only sold geldings. The rule of Orlov continued for twenty years after his death. Eventually, the Khrenovsky stud farm was handed over to the Russian Crown.

Count Alexei Orlov founded Khrenovskoy Stud Farm in Russia in 1774 and purchased the silvery grey Arabian stallion, Smetanka. Although Smetanka died the following year, he sired five foals. This horse was bred with Isabelline, a Danish mare from the Frederiksborg royal stud farm. This combination resulted in the two stallion that are known as Orlov trotters today, Polkan (1778) and Bars I (1784).

While Orlov horses are taller and stronger than Standardbreds, they are quiet and calm in temperament. In addition to their impressive stature and athleticism, the Orlov is a great choice for many people. They are versatile workers and do well in stressful situations. A well-trained Orlov trotter can work any terrain. And with a calm temperament, they can be trusted to stay calm under pressure.

Appearance

The Orlov Trotter Horse has a distinctive, sturdy appearance. It stands 17 hands high with a long, wide back and well-developed hindquarters. Its head is large and elegant, with prominent, expressive eyes. The Orlov breed is easy to maintain, but can sometimes be spirited. When left alone for a long time, it may develop unwanted behaviors that are often attempts to attract attention.

The first Orlov trotter horse to be judged was Balagur. It was Korelova’s first time competing on a horse of his breed, but the horse didn’t seem to like her. Balagur refused to work when he didn’t want to, and he ran constantly in an extended trot. At one point, he stood in the indoor arena, refusing to move.

The Orlov Trotter is taller than most trotters, averaging around 17 hands in adult size. They have a large head, large, expressive eyes, a high-set’swan neck’, well-sprung ribs, and a long back. Their legs are strong and square-set, with well-defined tendons. Orlov Trotters are grey in color, but can also be found in chestnut, black, and bay.

The Orlov trotter was used extensively during the Soviet-German War. After this period, the number of Orlov stallions started decreasing. In 1982, the Orlov studbook contained only 432 stallions. Their number decreased dramatically as the Soviet Union began to mechanize the farming process. A corresponding reduction in breeding stud farms followed. It was an undoubtedly good thing for the Orlov.

Body type

The Orlov Trotter is a breed of horse that is unique in its type. These horses have long and lanky bodies, muscular withers and necks, and a short, straight pastern. The Orlov Trotter has an exceptional temperament and beauty. These horses are capable of fast travel and are often used as harness horses. To learn more about the body type of Orlov Trotter horses, read on!

Count Orlov bred this horse, which is now known as the Orlov Trotter. This breed originated in Russia. This breed was created by crossing the Orlov Trotter with Percheron and Ardennes stock. Another feature of the breed is that it is well known for its milk-producing abilities. Fermented mare’s milk has a long tradition in southern Russia and is a popular medicinal drink in Central Asia.

The Orlov breed originated in Russia and was later exported to different climatic zones. The breed’s popularity spread to the Perm and Pskov regions, as well as to Kirgizia and Altai. In modern-day Slovenia, the Orlov breed is the leading breed improving native breeds. Its body type is a combination of a medium-height body, long legs, and a muscular neck.

Colors

The colors of an Orlov trotter horse are gray, white, and pink. Balagur is a small grey stallion with a pink nose that made the Olympic Games in dressage. He is one of the most successful Orlov trotters. Alexandra Korelova trains her Orlov trotters. But, Balagur was no simple horse. When he disliked his rider, he refused to work. He kept running in an extended trot. Once, he stopped in an indoor arena, refusing to move.

The Orlov Trotter is one of the most versatile breeds. It has spread throughout the country and developed into specific lines. The two most common standard types are Dubrovski and Khrenov. Khrenov is the most primitive of the breed, while the Novotomnikov is the cleanest looking breed. The Perm type is larger and coarser than the other three types. But no matter the type, an Orlov trotter is sure to please.

The Orlov breed spread to different regions of Russia, including the Perm, Kurgan, and Pskov areas. In addition, it has spread into Kirgizia and Altai territory. Its strong bone structure allows it to excel in both sports and everyday life. Although the Orlov has some issues, it is easy to train. Unlike some horses, these animals are spirited, and can develop unwanted behaviors when left alone for too long. These behaviors usually occur to get attention from humans.

Characteristics

The Orlov trotter horse was developed as a result of crossbreeding in the Voroniezh region of Russia. The horse breeders tried to produce fast trotting horses for equestrian use in their area using various types of cross breeding. In addition to the Voroniezh breeds, French natural philosopher Buffon also advocated cross breeding, which has contributed to the development of the Orlov trotter.

The first trotters were the Bars I. These were the first true Orlov horses, and they were named after the owners’ family. They were crossbred with several European breeds in the 1770s, including Danish, Dutch and Mecklenburg horses. After the Bars I stallion died in 1778, Orlov’s son-in-law, Count Alexandre Shishkin, took over the stud farm. Anna was not very adept in horse breeding, and the quality of Orlov trotters declined.

Orlovs are taller than Standardbreds. Their bone structure is substantial and the stout build of their bodies is ideal for driving. These horses are also easy to maintain and have a friendly disposition. These horses are energetic and playful, but can also exhibit impulsive behavior. If left alone for too long, the Orlov can develop undesirable behaviors in order to gain attention. These behaviors are not uncommon amongst the breed.

The Orlov gene pool is highly diverse. The Stud produced several famous stallions, such as Kvadrat and Pion. Kvadrat, the Stud’s main sire for almost 25 years, was the most prolific phenotype producer and was used extensively to artificially inseminate mares from many stud farms. Kvadrat sired over 600 foals.