Russian horse - a breed of horses bred from the Oryol-Rostopchin blood. In the XIX century, it was these horses that were valued above all among cavalrymen, and were also used for riding halls. In the XX century, the original breed was lost, and attempts to restore it for a long time ended in failure.
Historical vicissitudes
In the 80s of the last century, Russian horse breed horses yet has been recreated. The event happened thanks to the efforts and talents of the horse breeders of the Timiryazev Academy. The novelty was registered in 1999. Today, these are the only horses in whose veins the blood of the famous Oryol-Rostopchin horses flows.
Standards
There are official documents regulating what is the Russian horse breed of horses.
The growth parameters shown in the table are valid for horses from four years old.
Males, cm | Females, cm |
165-170 | 161-166 |
A young horse is shorter, but by his four-year-old should reach the specified standard height.
Other options
For Russian horses the following types of coloring are allowed:
- bay, including dark;
- raven wing;
- karakova.
As follows from the listing, mainly horses of dark stripes are found. But brown, red color is extremely rare. If a young horse turned out to be of an unformatted color, it does not participate in further selection.
Very rarely, among representatives of the named breed, you can see carriers of atypical suit (gray or mulled). The specimens whose heads and extremities are decorated with large white marks are rated low.
Appearance, type
Russian horse breed horses are strong animals that look very elegant. They are characterized by forms and lines characteristic of riding animals. The body in shape is closest to the square.
By design, the horse meets the standards set for all similar animals in sport. At the same time, breeders are striving to ensure that her type most closely matches Oryol-Rostopchinsky.
Now this sports breed of horses is still actively developing. As professional horse breeders say, over time the existing heterogeneity will be completely eliminated. This can be achieved by breeding inside the breed. Another effective method is consolidation.
health and beauty
Russia's sports horses are surprisingly aesthetic, and yet the Russian horse is rightfully the best example of such animals. Her constitution is harmonious, her muscles are strong, she has powerful tendons and ligaments.
This medium-sized sports horse has a head, and the structure of the skull is such that the forehead is wide enough and straight. Concave lines are less common. The eyes of the horse look strictly, they are expressive and beautiful. The ears are usually medium and the neck is long.
The purebred horse is characterized by a clear outline of the nape, the height at the withers is average. The blades are also medium. The thoroughbred Russian riding breed of horses is distinguished by a straight back and slightly deflated croup, where powerful muscles are located.
The sternum of the horse is deep, usually of medium size. The horses of this breed are characterized by false ribs. The legs of the horses are correct, smooth, beautiful, without flaws. You can also admire the hooves - they are all of the correct form.
Attractive Russian horseback with its beautiful mane, to the touch like silk, but quite thick. Beautiful thick, long tail.
The animal is not easy
The Russian horse is known among breeders for its intelligence and penchant for contacts. The horses of this breed are characterized by curiosity. These are energetic animals, kind, lively, active.
It is worth remembering that such dressage of horses is unacceptable, as if you are handling only sports equipment. The animal feels this attitude, and when rude on the part of the rider responds the same, which creates an abundance of problems.
But if the rider is skilled, sensitive and attentive, the horse will show maximum understanding and obedience. Many note that the horses of this breed tend to cooperate.
In cities now there are phlegmatic, indifferent specimens, visually similar to Russian horses. Such obedient, spineless, unattractive animals were often found at first when the breed was bred. Now, such behavior and the appearance of a horse indicate either unclean blood or bad dressage.
Breed breeding
Of course, the maintenance of sports horses is difficult and requires a high level of responsibility. When planning to get an animal, you need to remember that Russian riding is a specialized breed, it was created to participate in trips.
For young representatives, special tests are carried out to assess the ability to carry loads. Largely thanks to such tests, taking into account their results and choosing the best individuals, horse breeders managed to achieve great success in breeding in just a few decades.
Horses in sport
Russian horsemen boast the rhythm of paces. All copies are good at learning and quickly absorb information. Many individuals are characterized by a high hopping technique.
The history of the breed is rich and glorious. Often, Russian horsemen took part in the Olympic Games, bringing victory to their owners in the World Cups. It is impossible not to mention the fact that in Russia this particular breed is now the best in terms of athletic performance. The first position has been maintained for two decades now.
How did the story begin
The current Russian horse traces its history to the breed that Count Orlov-Chesmensky bred in his possessions. He was the owner of the Khrenovsky plant, where experiments were conducted to create the very best horses of the time. Breeding, breeding activities aimed at obtaining an animal:
- beautiful;
- frisky;
- strong;
- the right one.
It was supposed to be a large horse with a good character and harmonious appearance, with strong and strong legs. Attention was paid to the elegance of the horse and the elegance of its forms, as well as the performance of the movements.
The tasks were to develop a breed that was intelligent and obedient, kind and easily trained. The horse had to cope with significant physical exertion, to be efficient and hardworking.
A well-known contemporary of Count Orlov-Chesmensky V. Witt wrote about those studies that were conducted at the plant. He noted in his notes that the Khrenovsky plant became a springboard for creating such a horse that would be good both in the campaign, and in the parade, and in the arena. If the studies were successful, the animals would be suitable for service in the ranks, for transitions, including heavy and long ones. High breed, brilliant performance and spectacular appearance - everything was paid attention to.
It was not easy to achieve the desired
Both the count himself and his peasants took part in the work. It seemed impossible to achieve the desired, so the task was so complicated. But unprecedented efforts were made to achieve it.
It was necessary to get the best specimens of the most famous breeds and cross them. So, in the work were used Arabian horses and English mares, resorted to a rush of blood of Danish, Spanish horses. Each instance was selected extremely carefully, evaluating a number of parameters.
The amazing result that the graph was able to achieve with its employees was largely due not only to the quality of the biological material, but also to the technical equipment of the workplace. In those days, it was an unprecedentedly high level. In addition, the plant strictly followed the rules and regulations, carefully treated animals and competently raised young individuals. Horses at the Khrenovsky factory were tested and trained with enviable regularity.
The effort paid off
The forces applied to the work, financial and time costs gave an amazing result. Beautiful, strong horses were created that were fully consistent with the task. And engravings depicting the perfection of the invented breed have survived to this day.
Count Orlov was able to breed, which attracted attention not only in his native country, but captured the whole world. Such horses soon became a welcome addition to the collections of riding animals of the most famous horse breeders in the world. In 1867, three horses of Oryol blood received the highest marks. History has preserved their names to this day: Frant, Pheasant, Torch.
Further development of the breed
After another quarter century, another horse breeding factory was opened in the village of Voronovo. Its owner was Count Rostopchin. The breeder set himself the task of breeding high-class riding horses. The method of crossing used by the count was similar to that used earlier by Orlov-Chesmensky, and the new breed obtained in the village of Voronovo was close in its parameters to the Orlov blood. However, it is worth recognizing: the Rostopchin horses did not reach the Oryol horses.
What happened in practice? The cavalry of those times, considered one of the strongest, was staffed with horses from both Count Orlov-Chesmensky and Count Rostopchin. For ordinary people, the difference between horses was often not obvious, so they were all combined into one category of high-class horses for cavalry, calling for clarity the Oryol-Rostopchin horses. The name did not live long.
The beautiful breed attracted more and more attention. In 1893, the horse Buddy took part in an exhibition in Chicago (the breed was already called more and more often Russian riding, not Oryol-Rostopchinsky). The stallion received the highest award. Seven years later, during the Paris equestrian exhibition, the Russian horse was handed the gold medal - Bayanchik. And despite such public love, more than once the breed was on the verge of extinction.
Russia went through war after war - sometimes external conflicts, sometimes internal, because of which it was not possible to maintain a mechanism for breeding unique horses. Although previously the population was numerous, in the 20th century only a few horses remained from it. Budenny tried to recreate the breed, and only scientists working on horse breeding at the Timiryazev Academy were able to achieve real success.