ORLOV TROTTER

Although rare, this Russian breed showcases true talent in harness as well as under saddle.

- SAMANTHA JOHNSON

Sometimes the history of a horse breed is strongly influenced by one particular animal. This was the case with Figure, the foundation stallion of the Morgan breed, and the mare Old Granny, the foundation mare of American Cream Drafts. In Thoroughbreds, there were three notable foundation stallions: the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerly Turk. In other cases, it's an individual human that is deeply important to the history of a horse breed. And that's the case with the Orlov Trotter.

You can't tell the story of the Orlov Trotters without talking about Count Alexei (sometimes spelled Alexey or Aleksey) Orlov of Russia. Count Orlov was born in 1737 and lived until 1808, serving in the Russian military during the time of Catherine the Great.

History tells us that after Count Orlov retired from his military career, he was able to pursue his interest in livestock breeding, and it's been said that he developed or refined an impressive number of livestock breeds during his lifetime.