56 



THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



At all times the horse seems to trot within himself and be in perfect balance 

 without outward aid. 



The disposition of the Orloff is perfect and his docility admirable ; he is 

 a free, fearless driver. ... He is a horse of great endurance, trotting 

 mile after mile without any apparent fatigue. 



The above description is given by one who has not only 

 studied the animals of this breed in Russia but who has also 

 imported and owned them in America. 



There are apparently several types of Orloff s. Mr. M. W. 

 Dunham, who judged this breed at the Columbian Exposition in 

 1893, reports on the heavy type of Russian trotter, weighing 



from 1 100 to 1 300 pounds 

 and standing from 15! to 

 \6\ hands high; he also 

 reports on a lighter, finer 

 sort. Though credited 

 with great power and 

 speed, some of the fastest 

 ones have degenerated 

 into a coarseness of form 

 not sought after by 

 American buyers. The 

 lighter type is criticised 

 by American judges as 

 rather too long of back 

 and sloping of quarters, 

 and as having a higher 

 knee action and less speed than the American trotter. They are 

 commended as having great beauty of head, neck, and shoulders, 

 and as possessing much intelligence and endurance, besides con- 

 siderable speed. Yet they are too much like the American trotter 

 to be wanted here. 



The color of the Orloff is quite commonly gray, white, or 

 black, yet chestnuts and bays occur. 



Importations of Orloffs have been made to America on several 

 occasions. In the spring of 1877 four stallions and one mare 

 were brought over and sold at auction on October 13, all being 

 bid in by Lieutenant Ismailoff of the Russian army, at prices 



Fig. 18. Ouriadnik. First-prize Orloff trotter 

 at Columbian Exposition, 1893, ^ n c l ass of 

 six judged by Mr. M. W. Dunham. Owned 

 by Russian State Stud 



