CHAPTER VIII 



THE ORLOFF TROTTER 



This breed is comparatively unknown in America, being of 

 Russian origin and not much bred outside of that country. 



The origin of the Orlof f dates back to 1 780. Count A. G. 

 Orloff-Tschesminsky, from whom the breed takes its name, made 

 a journey to Constantinople in 1780 as the emissary of Cath- 

 erine II of Russia. The Sultan of Turkey sent back to Russia 

 a gift of the Arab stallion Smetanka, an animal of superior 

 breeding and unusual size and strength. This Arab was bred to 

 a Danish mare, from which came a horse foal that was named 

 Polkan 1st. The result of this union, bred to a big Dutch mare 

 known as a " Hartdraver," produced another male foal, which 

 was designated Bars 1st, which is regarded as the first repre- 

 sentative of the true Orloff breed of trotters. While in the 

 evolution of the breed outcrosses with mares have been made, 

 the line of descent from Bars 1st on the sire's side has been 

 carefully guarded. 



The characteristics of the Orloff are of a variable nature, as 

 based on those shown in America. Mr. Jacob Heyl thus con- 

 cisely describes the Orloff : 1 



In the first thirty years of our century (nineteenth) the Orloff trotters 

 showed such pronounced type that it was difficult to distinguish one from 

 another. The average height of the Orloff horse of to-day is from 15! to 

 16 hands. To the casual observer they hardly give the impression of great 

 quality, — at least not such as would warrant the presumption of extraordinary 

 performances. 



The head is small and clean, the face wide between the eyes and almost 

 invariably dished. The ears are small, the eyes large and full, though some- 

 what sleepy when the horse is at rest. The neck is well connected, but 

 inclined to be a trifle thick in the throat, arched beautifully, and carried 

 very high, rising high from the withers. Owing to the rise of the withers, 



1 Breeders' Gazette, August 16, 1893. 

 54 



