Country of origin Italy Height 145–160 cm | Use trotting races Colour any | |
 | ||
Conservation status FAO (2007): not at risk Distribution nationwide, but particularly:
Campania
Emilia Romagna
Lombardy
Tuscany
the Veneto Similar Esperia Pony, Messara horse, Bardigiano, Camarillo White Horse, Sardinian Anglo‑Arab | ||
The Italian Trotter, Italian: Trottatore Italiano, is the Italian breed of trotting horse. It has been selectively bred exclusively for its racing ability. Varenne, one of most successful trotters in the history of the sport, was an Italian Trotter.
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History
The Italian Trotter has been influenced by the French Trotter, the Russian Orlov Trotter and the American Standardbred. The move in recent years towards races over shorter distances has led to greater reliance on horses of the American type.:151
The first trotting races in the Italian peninsula were held in the Prato della Valle of Padova (which at that time was in the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy) from 1808, some two years after the earliest official races at New Haven, Connecticut, in the United States. Selection of the Italian Trotter did not begin until the second half of the nineteenth century, when mares with aptitude for trotting were put to English Thoroughbred stallions.:152 The first notable Italian trotting horse was Vandalo, foaled in Ferrara in 1862. A genealogical stud-book was opened in 1896. The stud-book is closed – only horses born to registered parents can be registered; however, trotters registered elsewhere can sometimes be admitted if their racing record is exceptional.:152
The most celebrated Italian Trotter is Varenne, foaled in 1995, who raced in seven countries, won 61 of his 73 races, and whose winnings of over €6 million are thought to be a record.:152
Characteristics
The Italian Trotter has been selectively bred exclusively for its racing ability, particularly over short (1600–1660 m) and medium (2060–2100 m) distances; races over longer distances are no longer common in Italy.:153 There is no breed standard or morphological requirement of any kind. The most common coat colours are bay, chestnut and black.:153