The Troika

he troika, from which our marketing center takes its name, is a Russian carriage or sleigh turnout, which became a symbol of Russia. What is more, it joined many languages.
The troika's origin is rooted in the expanse of the country and the necessity of overcoming long and difficult paths at great speed. Three horses pulled the mail coach or the nobleman's carriage easier and faster.
In summer the troika is driven on wheels, in winter as a sleigh. As there is snow half the year round in many regions of Russia, driving the troika with a sleigh is more popular even in summer.The center horse moves in an extended straight forward trot, while the horses on either side gallop smoothly and swinging with outward bent heads. This produces the harmony of movement, which reminds one of a three–headed bird hovering in the air. The driver has four reins in his hands, two for the center horse and one each for the outside horses.

The harness

The present form of troika driving has been customary only since the middle of the 19th century. The center horse, firmly put between the wooden shafts under the Duga, moves in an extended straight forward trot, while the horses on either side gallop smoothly and swinging with outward bent heads, led by the coachman with only a single rein. This produces the harmony of movement which reminds one of a three–headed bird hovering in the air.
     Down to the smallest strap of the harness everything is relevant and has its specified purpose. Each driver puts together the decorative elements of a troika: the colorful duga, usually painted with light blue flower motifs, and the bells which can be heard for miles around. Metal chains and decorations, rosettes and stars, leather tassels or brushes adorn the different harness parts.
     The duga known for centuries in singles, forms together with the collar the centerpiece of the troika turnout. The wooden parts of the collar are usually made of willow or elm. Firmly attached by leather straps at the upper end are tongs. The lower ends are free and only firmly tightened when hitching. In both halves of the tongs there are two openings, one above the other, to fasten the collar straps, the so–called guzhi. These straps of equal length serve as connection between collar and shafts which is in addition fastened to the duga and thus has the effect of a spring. When hitching the horse the ends of the duga are pulled together. Thanks to their elasticity the duga and guzhi reduce the pushing of the collar against the horse's neck and shoulders particularly for the knocking movements on poor paths.
     Other elements of the harness are the breeching, the back strap and loin straps as well as the traces and the reins. Loin and back straps, tied to the shafts, hold the harness and prevent it from "dancing."
     Each driver puts together the decorative elements of his troika. Especially colorful is the duga, usually painted with light blue flower motifs. The different harness parts are adorned with metal chains and decorations, rosettes and stars, leather tassels or brushes.

Troika horses

The best troika horses are Orlov trotters. The training begins at the age of three and a half to four years for the center horse and two and a half for the outside horses. The perfection of the full artistic potential requires up to ten years.
The duga horse should be slightly stronger and 5 to 10 centimeters taller, of convincing conformations with a well–formed neck and proud head carriage, with ground cover at a walk and a trot. As the dominating horse of the troika, its character and disposition as well as a well–balanced temperament are of decisive importance. The side horses must convince by a certain harmony.

Troika races

Troika races have always been extremely popular in Russia, especially in winter. Here is how a contemporary describes troika races on the ice of the Moscow River in the 1880s:

The ice course was surrounded by a wooden fence, and a huge grand stand was built. The stand, the embankment and two bridges were always crowded. Russians love the troika, its broad, daring, audacious soul. There is something hazardous and intoxicating in the troika, it is really like flying. What a deafening shriek escaped from a hundred thousand mouths when a winning troika crossed the finish line.

In 1956 annual troika driving competitions were resumed in Moscow. To begin with, only the coachman sat on the troika, later two co–drivers were added. For the sleigh races only speed counted, not the vehicle itself nor the horses. The choice of the carriage was left to the driver.
Not so at the "Russian Winter" Festival. Here driving style and beauty of the horses and harness, carriage or sleigh, dress and figure driving are assessed on a 10–point–system. The horses are judged on matching color, type and their correct size, though different breeds are allowed. Apart from beauty and elegance of carriage and harness the most important criteria for victory in the Troika Championship are the perfection of dressage and the harmony of movement.
We can produce Troika turnouts of Orlov trotters with a carriage and harness, along with elementary troika driving training.

A collection of Duga bells
and a horse–station bell

The troika that won an award
at a London exhibition
Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge