About Russian Trotter Horses

Russian Trotters originated from the cross-breeding of native Russian Orlov Trotter horses with imported American Standardbred stock around 1890. The breeding goal was to develop a Russian racing horse that could compete with American Standardbred horses. While Russian Trotters were very successful, they were eventually bred to their original styles of Orlov Trotters and Standardbred variations around the middle of the nineteenth century.  

By 1950 the Russian Trotter breed was considered established, although some cross-breeding with American stallions continued. A stud-book was established in 1927. Russian Trotters are widely found, from the Baltic to Siberia. In 1989 there were approximately 290,000 in the USSR, of which some 27,000 were considered purebred.    

Russian Trotter horses are found in the cold fields of Russia. They are generally used as harness horses, but can also be used for competitions or for transporting passengers. They can also be found in Ukraine, Moscow, Belarus. There they are still currently found in racing in tracks that are popular in Moscow and in St. Petersburg.    

They are generally very tough creatures that can withstand any task, but are also quiet and gentle. They are easy to train when they are young and are full of life and energy.  

Russian Trotters are around sixteen hands tall. They have a straight head, a regular sized wither, long legs, and a sloping croup. They can be bred in chestnut, gray, bay, and black variations. They can be spotted easily with their long and defined legs, which are ideal for running and racing. Ordinarily, they can also have shiny coats of fur and wear a very alert expression on their faces.