Volyshovo Estate Stables (Pskov Stud Farm No. 18)

The Volyshovo estate stables are the outbuildings of the former Stroganov estate in the village of Volyshovo, Porkhov District, Pskov Region, about 19 km from Porkhov. In 1923 the estate's horse yard became the base of Pskov Stud Farm No. 18, which bred Russian trotters. The estate itself is a heritage site of federal significance, while the old riding arena and part of the stables now stand abandoned.

History

The Volyshovo estate has some four centuries of history. Among its best-known owners were the Vasilchikovs, who turned it into a kind of hunting capital: the colonnaded stable built in the early 19th century served the hunt among other things. Later, under the Stroganovs, the estate's farm grew, and the St Petersburg architect Makarov designed what were described as "huge farms" for the family.

In 1923 a stud farm was set up on the basis of the estate's horse section and named Pskov Stud Farm No. 18. At first it bred Oryol horses, then switched to Russian trotters. That specialisation made it notable: its horses were in demand for racing as well as for leisure riding and hire.

During the Second World War the horses of Stud Farm No. 18 were evacuated to the Kirov Region. The journey took a year and two weeks, and despite hardship and disease, 17 horses returned to Volyshovo after the occupation. In the post-war decades the farm recovered and ranked among the five best stud farms in the USSR, testing its horses at the country's leading racecourses.

The stables and arena today

The stud farm in Volyshovo still operates, but in a very different way from Soviet times. Horses are now more of a sideline, and most of the farm's income comes from cattle. The arena where trotters were once trained is no longer used and has been abandoned.

The buildings of the estate ensemble are in a dangerous condition and are gradually falling into ruin, with a risk of collapse. In 2018 a fire destroyed the attic floor of the palace, after which the stucco on its walls and ceilings fell in. The buildings are best viewed from outside.

Getting there

Volyshovo is about 19 km from Porkhov, a 15 to 20 minute drive. Pskov is about 100 km away, with a bus that takes a little over an hour and a half. The stables and arena stand near the estate park and palace, so they are easy to see on one walk.