The horse now known as the Russian Riding Horse is a beautiful and exotic animal. The head is exquisite - dished with large expressive eyes set on top of a long, swan-like neck. The horse possesses strong, clean legs with a superb top line. The predominant and preferred color of the Russian Riding Horse is black, but they can also be found in bays and browns.

The horse once known as the Orlov-Rostopchin is a willing and versatile worker. The breed is known for their quiet temperaments and willingness for training. Because of this, they are an ideal mount for dressage – a sport known as “horse ballet” that tests a horse's grace as well as its responsiveness to commands. Despite their regal appearance, these horses were kept outdoors and required to perform rigorous tests in order to retain rigorous constitutions and hardiness.

The fate of the Russian Riding Horse was determined by a contest between two aristocrats. Count Orlov, the man responsible for the Orlov Trotter, and Count Rostopchin were two Russian breeders with common philosophies. Upon their death, their studs were bought by the Crown and were merged to allow the formation of the Orlov-Rostopchin. This horse combines the type, dressage capabilities, and size of the Orlov Trotters, with the speed and endurance of the Rostopchins. In those early days, Russian breeding practices were dominated by teachings of a French naturalist named Buffon. His methods were far from successful, and the breed was subsequently bred back and improved until it became what is now known as the Russian Riding Horse.

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Russian Riding - Horses for Sale