Orlovskaya breed of horses: characteristics, photo and description

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Orlovskaya breed of horses is a pearl in the crown of Russian horse breeding. Even the most distant person from this at least once in his life heard the expression "Orlov trotter". Swift and unstoppable, proud and beautiful, these horses, whatever you say, are a match for their homeland, for which, in turn, they have become a national treasure.

What prompted Count Orlov to take up horse breeding

XVIII century in Russia is a turbulent time, marked by a series of coups d'état. It was on the eve of one of them that Count Alexei Orlov, a favorite of the future Empress Catherine the Great, traveled with her from Peterhof to the royal palace to overthrow Peter III from the throne.

But just a few miles before reaching the place, the Neapolitan horses, discharged from abroad, simply stood up, they were so driven. The whole operation was going downhill, the fate of the conspirators, and indeed of all of Russia, hung in the balance. I had to quickly look for replacement horses in the surrounding villages.

After this incident, Count Orlov set out to breed a Russian breed that would be hardy,beautiful, fast and never let you down, getting up halfway from home. But more than one year will pass from the idea to the realization of this Count's dream.

Horse named Smetanka

After the brilliant victory of the Russian fleet in the battle of Chesma, Alexei Orlov visited the Turkish Sultan, where he bought a tall, light gray Arabian horse for absolutely fabulous money (50,000 rubles). This purchase was to be the cornerstone in the creation of his new breed.

A horse named Smetanka was brought from Turkey to the count's stud farm near Moscow in the village of Ostrov for about two years. But his breeding career was short-lived. He lived away from his homeland for only a year, leaving behind 4 stallions and a mare.

Either the long road over the occasion crippled the he alth of the hot handsome Arab, or the accident, which the stable workers talked about for a long time, one way or another, the horse died.

It was rumored that the groom pulled the bridle too sharply when the horse was drinking, he stumbled and hit his head on the stones. The animal could not be saved. The groom was found hanged in the hayloft.

History of breed development

In selection everything is decided by chance. You can cross different breeds for years and end up with nothing. But fate smiled at Alexei Orlov this time as well. All 4 sons of Smetanka from a dun mare of Danish blood were very interesting in terms of selection, especially the last one, named Polkan.

Polkan adopted a lot from his overseas father –beautiful posture, high growth, and most importantly, a fast tireless trot, in a word, everything that the retired count wanted to get. This horse began to be crossed with Dutch and Mecklenburg draft mares and as a result received another diamond - a stallion named Bars I. It even more clearly expressed the draft forms, the grace of Arabian horses, and, of course, the ability to frisky trot.

It was Leopard I who became the main breeding animal at the new stud farm of Count Orlov - Khrenovsky, built in the Voronezh province, on lands donated by Catherine II. Bars I covered both Norfolk trotting mares, and Dutch, and Danish. At various times, the Oryol breed of horses was fed with fresh blood, but all animals born in Khrenovsky were descendants of Bars I.

Characteristics of the Oryol breed of horses

People said about the Oryol trotters: "And under the water, and under the governor." Indeed, tall, hardy, stately and fast, they could be used almost everywhere, such is she, this Oryol breed of horses. In Russia, animals were used as both riding and draft animals, plowed on them, and went to war with them.

Orlovskaya trotting breed of horses belongs to the category of large. Her height at the withers is 162-170 cm with a weight of 500-550 kg. These horses are massive and lean at the same time. The Oryol breed of horses is distinguished by powerful strong bones, agility and ease of movement, thin, but surprisingly strong legs.

Headorlovtsev rather large, slightly elongated, with a beautiful chiseled profile. The lower part of their forehead is slightly convex, below the bridge of the nose, on the contrary, there is some concavity.

The neck of Oryol trotters is often compared to a swan, its curves are so graceful. The body is rounded, fairly wide and somewhat elongated.

The image is completed by lively, inquisitive, very expressive eyes and large mobile ears.

Temper and behavioral patterns

The nature of the Oryol horse is quiet and docile. These animals are tireless workers, unquestioningly fulfilling everything that the owner requires of them. Many owners note their good disposition and friendliness to all living things.

However, do not think that these horses are quiet, meek and weak-willed, they are not. Still, the blood of their hot southern ancestor of Arab blood flows in them. And that means a lot. They are naturally very mobile, frisky and curious.

Orlov trotter suits

When you look at the photo of the Oryol trotter horses, it becomes clear that they do not have a certain color. Although one suit still prevails - gray in apples. About half of all Oryol horses have this coloration.

This breed of horses is so diverse, the Oryol trotter can be both bay and black. But the rarest specimens are nightingale and buckskin. The Oryol breed of horses received the gene responsible for the inheritance of cream coloration from the buckskin mare, the mother of that same Polkan.

Famous Oryol trotters

One of the most famous Oryol trotters was a stallionnicknamed Fortress. At the dawn of the 20th century, his name thundered on hippodromes throughout the country. People from all over Russia and foreign countries came to see the unsurpassed champion. Large, stubborn in a good way, he was really eager for victory, breaking all the records known before him. He raced 80 times, 55 of which came first.

An interesting fact is that when Krepysh was still at a tender age, he was called nothing more than a “mosquito with long legs” - he was such an awkward and clumsy colt. Who could have known then that this “mosquito” would turn into a stately dapple-gray stallion that made the Oryol breed famous all over the world.

Another representative of the Oryol breed of horses became famous in the post-war years. A stallion named Square, according to experts, was one of the most beautiful trotters in the world. He was inferior to other horses in agility, but won competition after competition thanks to his unprecedented endurance and perseverance.

There is a known case when the rider let go of the reins of the Square, because he thought that they would not win this time, and did not strain the animal in vain. Kvadrat decided in his own way, he not only did not slow down, but also caught up with his rivals and in the last meters he strongly stretched his head forward. The photo finish showed that he was the first to cross the finish line with the nose of the Square! How popular was the Oryol breed of horses then! Kvadrat's photo has graced the front pages of many well-known publications.

At the end of his sports career, the Square became a good producer, his blood flows in mostmodern Oryol trotters.

Features of care and maintenance

For years, Count Alexei Orlov has honed the features of his new breed. One of the criteria was great endurance and unpretentiousness. The mares were specially kept in rather cold stalls and fed on coarse whole oats.

But this does not mean at all that even today Oryol horses should be kept in similar Spartan conditions. For the he alth and well-being of the horse, he needs a clean and spacious stall that is regularly ventilated.

The floor of the stall should not have cracks and pits, as this can cause injury to the animal. Nowadays, special rubber coatings are often used, they reduce the load on the horse's legs. Straw or sawdust are used as bedding.

Daily, any horse needs to be brushed with a special brush made of natural hair, Oryol trotters are no exception. Also, after intense exercise, a sweaty horse should be immediately wiped off, since a hot animal can easily catch a cold.

The horse's hooves are carefully inspected and cleaned after each run. To prevent cracking and maintain a beautiful and well-groomed appearance, the hooves are lubricated with a special composition based on mutton fat, honey, wax and turpentine.

Balanced and regular nutrition is another important aspect of horse care. The basis of the diet is usually good hay and selected oats. The food should include vegetables and fresh grass in the warm season.

Cleanand the horse should always have non-cold water.

Prices for Oryol horses

The cost of such beauty primarily depends on why it is purchased. If you go to a private stable to ride from time to time, a trained horse 5-9 years old will cost 150-200 thousand rubles.

It's another matter if a rich sports career is predicted for the Oryol trotter. In this case, his parents and their titles, the external parameters of the horse and its agility are considered. The order of prices in this case will be different. For breeding, animals that are stately and meet all the parameters of the breed are also selected. Their price is sometimes sky-high.

The Orlovsky trotter is the same symbol of Russia as the matryoshka doll or the Tula samovar. Our task is to preserve this treasure, no matter how difficult times are, it is part of our history, part of our Russian heart.