Orlov Trotter Breed Guide – Characteristics, Health & Nutrition

The Orlov Trotter is a rare Russian breed known for their elegant appearance, trotting ability, and noble history. Once used for harness racing throughout Russia, these horses declined in popularity after the rise of the less-refined but faster Standardbred.

Orlov Trotters originated during the rule of Catherine the Great at Count Alexei Orolv’s Khrenovskoy stud. Today, state stud farms continue to preserve the breed despite challenges imposed by conflicts and cross-breeding trends.

Although rare in other parts of the world, Orlov Trotters gained recognition in the early 21st century for their success in international sport. This adaptable breed is now considered a versatile pleasure horse and a living link to a rich cultural heritage.

This breed profile will discuss the history, characteristics, health problems, and nutritional needs of the Orlov Trotter horse breed. Keep reading to learn more about feeding and caring for these horses.

Orlov Trotter Horse History

Orlov Trotters are the most famous Russian horse breed. Most purebred Orlov Trotters today are found at Russian and Ukrainian stud farms, where breeding programs are dedicated to preserving the breed and its unique history.

Origin

These horses get their name from Count Alexei Orlov, who first developed Orlov Trotters at his Khrenovskoy stud in the late 18th century.

All Orlov Trotters can trace their ancestry to Smetanka, a purebred grey Arabian stallion that Count Orlov purchased in Turkey to stand at his stud. Breeding records describe Smetanka as a large, long-backed horse with an extravagant trot. ^[1]

After Smetanka’s untimely death a year after Count Orlov purchased him, an autopsy revealed he had an extra rib responsible for his unique conformation. ^[1]

Despite his short breeding career at the stud, Smetanka sired several influential offspring. A cross between the Arabian and the Danish mare Isabelline produced the stallion Polkan in 1778.

Polkan sired Bars I, the first Orlov Trotter. Born in 1784 to a grey Dutch mare, Bars I was taller than most Russian horses and renowned for his fast trot and beauty. Count Orlov crossed Bars I and his sons to his large herd of mares to further refine the breed. ^[1]

Historic Use

Count Orlov’s original breeding program at the Khrenovsky stud aimed to produce healthy, hardy horses with the constitution to survive the local climate. Orlov trotters were bred for trotting ability, but breeding stock also had to meet strict aesthetic standards. ^[2]

Muzhik, a famous Orlov Trotter gelded for his white markings despite being the fastest horse on the stud, inspired famous Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy’s novella Kholstomer. ^[3]

The noble appearance of the breed attracted the attention of Russian Tsars and nobility, but Count Orlov famously only sold geldings to protect his breeding stock. This rule continued after his death, until the Russian Crown took ownership of the stud.

The large, hard-working horses were popular all-around working mounts and elegant harness horses. Historical artwork often portrays Orlov Trotters in a troika, a traditional Russian harness of three horses abreast with the middle horse in a shaft bow.

Orlov Trotters also dominated harness racing in Russia throughout the 19th century.  But crossbreeding with faster Standardbreds to produce the Russian Trotter threatened the breed’s survival in the late 1800s. ^[4]

Russian horse breeding faced significant challenges during the Russian Civil War and World War II. Populations of horses further declined during the Soviet Union. But today, renewed commitments to preserve Orlov Trotters have helped the breed recover.

Breed Registry

The International Committee for the Protection of the Orlov Trotter was established in 1997. While purebred Orlov Trotters are rare in North America, some crossbred descendants of Orlovs are eligible for registration with the Orlov-Rostopchin Sporthorse Association.

Intro to Equine Nutrition

Gain a deeper understanding of your horse's nutrition needs. This free introductory course provides a foundation for horse owners to learn how to balance your horse's diet.

Enroll Now

Breed Characteristics

Centuries of selective breeding produced a uniform breed type in Orlov Trotters. Although only a small breeding population is left today, new research into the heritability of desired Orlov characteristics has helped to continue improving the breed. ^[5]

Conformation

Orlov Trotters have an average height of 16 hands. These horses are generally larger than other harness horse breeds but still have characteristic driving horse conformations. These conformations allow Orlov Trotters to trot with speed and stamina. ^[6]

The ideal Orlov has a large head with expressive eyes and a long, elegantly arched neck.  Like their founding sire, Orlov Trotters have long, muscular backs. Their chests are broad, and their ribs are well-sprung. The legs should be sturdy, with prominent joints and clean tendons.

Colours

Foundation breeding programs prioritized producing horses with grey coats, which is still the most common coat colour in the breed. Orlovs can also be black, bay, or chestnut.

Temperament

Orlov Trotters are known for their intelligence and friendly temperaments. They are loyal and sensitive horses that develop close bonds with their owners. Many trainers also find these horses learn quickly and have willing work ethics.

While most Orlov Trotters are generous horses with a strong will to please riders of any level, personalities can vary between individuals. Beginner riders should have expert guidance to ensure they don’t inadvertently reinforce undesired behaviours in these intelligent horses.

Disciplines

Orlov Trotters are still used for harness racing in Russia today. However, Orlovs aren’t as fast as Standardbreds and typically participate in races restricted to purebred Orlov Trotters.

Russian troika racing has become popular as a modern hobby celebrating historical traditions. These races often use sleds pulled by Orlov Trotters over snow in the winter.

The Orlov Trotter’s talents are well-suited to competitive driving. But most owners use Orlovs for recreational riding and driving. Popular riding disciplines for these horses include endurance, jumping, and dressage.

Orlov Trotters and crosses have also made it to the top of international equestrian sport. Balagur, an Orlov Trotter stallion with previous careers in the circus and mounted police, competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games in dressage.

Orlov Trotter Health

Orlov Trotters are generally healthy and long-lived horses, with many famous breed members enjoying long competitive careers into their late teens. However, they are susceptible to similar health problems as other harness racehorses.

Genetic Diseases

Several genetic studies have examined the Orlov Trotters, particularly focusing on the impact of cross-breeding and limited population size on the breed’s genome.

Surveys from countries housing Orlov Trotter studs indicate breeding populations of fewer than 1,000 individuals. Such small populations can lead to increased inbreeding, which poses potential risks for the breed’s health and genetic diversity. ^[8]

Interestingly, one study found that crossbred Orlov Trotters had significantly higher heterozygosity (genetic diversity) and reduced inbreeding coefficients compared to their purebred counterparts. Higher inbreeding coefficients can increase the risk of health issues in small breedind populations, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. ^[9]

Further research is needed to determine if Orlov Trotters are susceptible to the same genetic diseases as their Arabian ancestors. ^[7] However, one study found no evidence of PSSM Type 1 genes in a sample of Orlov Trotters.

Health Problems

Orlov Trotters that compete in harness racing are susceptible to similar health problems as other racehorses. These problems include athletic injury, joint disease, and gastrointestinal conditions.

Intense training programs can increase wear and tear on the Orlov Trotter’s joints and musculoskeletal system. Studies in Standardbreds show trotter racehorses have a higher incidence of tendon and suspensory ligament injuries than Thoroughbred racehorses. ^[10]

Other studies found gastric ulcers in 52.5% of harness racehorses. Increased stress and high-energy diets can contribute to a high prevalence of gastric ulcers in performance horses. ^[11]

Care and Management

Whether your Orlov Trotter is a competitive racehorse or a beloved pleasure horse, all equines need quality basic care to meet their physical and behavioural needs.

Collaborate with your veterinarian, trainer and other equine health practitioners to implement a preventative wellness plan that includes:

• Veterinary Check-ups: Schedule routine veterinary visits to detect and address health concerns promptly.
• Vaccines: Adhere to a vet-recommended vaccination plan to protect against infectious diseases.
• Dental Maintenance: Schedule a dental exam and teeth floating at least once a year. Senior Orlov Trotters may need more frequent care due to dental issues.
• Parasite Control: Implement a deworming strategy to guard against internal parasites.
• Hoof Maintenance: Schedule regular farrier appointments for hoof trimming and balance.

Regular farrier care from a qualified professional can also reduce your horse’s risk of athletic injury. Frequent trimming helps maintain hoof balance and limits excess strain on the tendons and ligaments of the lower leg.

While many racehorses and competition horses live in stalls, prolonged stall confinement can contribute to stress and a higher risk of gastric ulcers. Daily turnout reduces stress and promote strong bones, tendons, and ligaments.

These intelligent, athletic horses thrive in programs that provide regular exercise and mental stimulation. Daily grooming also enables these horses to bond with their owners.

Orlov Trotter Nutrition

Nutrition is essential for keeping Orlov Trotters healthy and performing their best, no matter what their job is. Orlov Trotters with competition careers need a diet tailored to their high energy demands.

Weight Maintenance

Most Orlov Trotters are relatively easy keepers, meaning these horses should easily maintain their weight on a balanced diet. But horses with racing careers may need higher energy feeds to support their intense training and competition schedules

The modern Orlov Trotter horse descends from breeds with a predisposition to equine metabolic syndrome. Feeding an appropriate diet and maintaining your horse at a healthy weight are important for reducing the risk of metabolic problems. ^[12]

Regularly check your horse’s body condition score to monitor for changes in their body weight. A body condition score of 5 on the 9-point Henneke scale is considered ideal. If your horse is underweight or overweight, work with an equine nutritionist to modify their diet.

Unexplained weight loss in Orlov Trotters could indicate an underlying gut health issue that requires veterinary attention.

Sample Diet

The following sample diet is intended for a mature 450 kg (1000 lb) Orlov Trotter horse with normal body condition at maintenance (not exercising).

Note that this diet analysis is based on an average forage sample from North America and the NRC (2007) requirements. For a better estimation, submit your forage for analysis and consult with an equine nutritionist.

Forage alone can meet the energy and protein needs of Orlov Trotters at maintenance or in light work. However, hay and pasture will not meet all vitamin and mineral requirements, leading to nutrient deficiencies.

Mad Barn’s Omneity® is a comprehensive vitamin and mineral supplement formulated with essential amino acids, organic trace minerals, and a complete profile of vitamins. Ensuring these requirements are met can support hoof and joint health, immune function, and more. Omneity® also contains digestive enzymes and yeast to support gut health.

Omneity® P – Pellets

5 stars		85%
4 stars		8%
3 stars		4%
2 stars		1%
1 star		1%

582 Reviews

Learn More

• 100% organic trace minerals
• Complete B-vitamin fortification
• Optimal nutrition balance
• Our best-selling equine vitamin

Forage

A forage-based diet mimics natural grazing behaviour and supports optimal digestive health in all horses, including Orlov Trotters. Providing free-choice hay also reduces the risk of gastric ulcers.

Horses will typically eat around 2% of their body weight in forage daily on a dry matter basis. For an average 1000 lb (450 kg) Orlov Trotter horse, that is roughly equivalent to 20 pounds (9 kg) of hay dry matter each day.

Easy keeper Orlov Trotters in light work do best on low-starch, low-sugar grass hay. By providing lower calorie hay, you can feed a higher volume of roughage without contributing to weight gain.

Together, starch and sugar (ESC) are known as hydrolyzable carbohydrates (HC). This is the fraction of NSC that is digestible in the small intestine and contributes to insulin release.

Orlov Trotters in heavy work may need higher quality hay to meet their energy requirements. Avoid high-starch/sugar concentrates, which can contribute to digestive problems in Orlov Trotters. Fibre from forage should be the primary energy source in the equine diet. ^[13]

Alfalfa hay is an excellent energy and protein source for Orlov Trotters in heavy work. You can also consider feeding beet pulp which is a high fiber energy source with calories roughly equivalent to oats. The high calcium content of alfalfa and beet pulp also helps buffer gastric acid, potentially reducing the risk of gastric ulcers. However, feeding large amounts of this legume hay or beet pulp can lead to imbalanced mineral ratios. Hard working Orlov trotters can have their alfalfa or beet pulp balanced for major minerals with plain oats or wheat bran. ^[14]

Feeding hay in a slow feeder can ensure your Orlov Trotter has constant access to free-choice forage. Keep in mind that full-time grazing on fresh pasture can heighten the risk of pasture laminitis in Orlov Trotters with metabolic issues.

Feeding Recommendations

If you feed your Orlov Trotter grain-based concentrates, split the daily ration into multiple small meals to reduce the risk of digestive upset. Forage-based alternatives such as soaked alfalfa pellets or beet pulp are a safer, low-starch option. ^[13]

For performance horses that need a concentrated source of calories, substitute a fat supplement for some of their grain. Fat provides cool calories and is metabolically efficient for horses to use.

All horses need supplementation with vitamins and minerals to provide nutrients commonly deficient in hay. Choose a concentrated vitamin and mineral supplement that balanced the diet without adding extra sugar or starch.

Ensure your horse has constant access to fresh water and salt. Feeding loose salt with your horse’s daily ration can help meet their sodium requirement and encourages them to drink more water.

Consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist if you have questions before changing your Orlov Trotter’s diet.

Nutritional Supplements

When feeding your Orlov Trotter, the first priority is to balance their diet and ensure it meets their energy, protein, vitamin, and mineral needs. After balancing the diet, you can consider supplements tailored to your horse’s performance goals and individual needs.

• W-3 Oil is an omega-3 fatty acid and energy supplement that provides high levels of microalgal DHA and natural Vitamin E. This supplement supports joint health, skin and coat quality, and respiratory health in Orlov Trotters.
• Visceral+ is a comprehensive gut supplement that helps maintain stomach and hindgut health in Orlov Trotters. This veterinarian-recommended formula is designed to meet the needs of competition horses with intense training programs.
• MSM is an organic sulfur compound which supports comfortable movement and the normal homeostatic responses to inflammation.

Have questions about your Orlov Trotter’s feeding regimen? Submit their details online for a complimentary consultation with our expert equine nutritionists to receive personalized guidance.