A troika from the Vladimir region took part in the Championship of Russian troikas

August 12, 2023 at the Moscow Stud Farm No. 1, the Championship of Russian Troikas “Winged Heart of Russia” was held. The tournament brought together industry professionals and lovers of traditional carriage riding.

The troika from the Vladimir region, led by an experienced master-rider Vasily Minchev, again competed for the championship prizes, performing with the Pokrovsky Territory program, and took 3rd place in style.

As part of the Vladimir Troika, the handsome Oryol trotters, the Bobyr horseback and the Irbis and Camelot horses, performed.

Master equestrian Vasily Minchev moved to the Vladimir region from Yaroslavl, competed at the Championships of Russian trios in the racing format. Having become the head of the equestrian unit in the Bogdarnya ATK, he began to engage in traditional carriage riding, and is the winner of the Vladimirsky Trakt tournament.

The theme of the tournament this year was “The History of the Russian Troika”: from fair skating and merchant carts, to Pushkin’s travels, robbers, collective farm trips and a dashing ride to a restaurant with gypsies. Spectators saw troikas for different purposes, different breeds of horses and different periods of history.

Six triplets from the Moscow, Vladimir, Tver, Nizhny Novgorod regions competed in the skill of driving on the route. This year, for the first time, masters of triple riding competed both in single riding and in the ability to quickly make a triple. The competition was held in three rounds. In the first round, the participants rode the route on the root for time and cleanliness. The second round is a three-time competition. In the third round, the troikas drove along the route for cleanliness and agility.

The first place both in parkour and in style was taken by the troika of the Moscow stud farm No. 1 under the direction of Alexander Kaurkovsky (horses: root Grenadier, harnessed Sopot and Zhelanny). The second place went to the trinity of KSK “Ballad” from the Moscow region under the control of Anastasia Sorokina (horses: root Malva, harness Jack and Marmalade). The third place went to last year’s winner Leonid Smagliya in the troika of Akron PJSC (horses: Kamerist, harness horses Bratsk and Kapellmeister).

As part of the event, a demonstration brood of horses of national breeds and domestic breeding was held. Anatoly Shishkov, master of sports, head coach of Acron’s Odintsovo branch, presented to the public the Hanoverian mare Rada (Radomes – Diva), born at Moscow Stud Farm No. 1. In 2019, this pair became the winners of the Eurasian Show Jumping Championship. In 2023, the Rada ended her career, the spectators of the championship warmly escorted the mare to a well-deserved rest.

The tournament was also accompanied by a fair, where local artisans and farmers brought their products. The cotillion in the ladies’ saddles of the Society of Ladies’ Riding Fans and the performance of the Cossack choir of the Red Star Song and Dance Ensemble of the Strategic Missile Forces under the direction of Pyotr Matrenichev caused a special delight of the audience. The young guests of the tournament rode ponies and learned about a new exciting equestrian activity – hobbyhorsing.

Also in the foyer of the Grand Arena of the MKZ No. 1, an exhibition was held by the legendary Russian artist-hippologist Alexei Glukharev, who became famous for portraits of famous horses, paintings and drawings on equestrian themes.

The championship was organized by the Rosplemkonzavod Association, Akron PJSC, Moscow Stud Farm No. 1 and the Society of Carriage Riders.