A troika is a traditional Russian harness driving combination, using three horses abreast, usually pulling a sleigh. For sale At full speed a troika can reach 45–50 kilometres per hour (28–31 mph), which was a very high speed on land for vehicles in the 17th-19th centuries, making the troika closely associated with the fast ride. The troika was developed in Russia during the 17th century, first being used for speedy delivering of mail and then having become common by the late 18th century. It was used for travelling in stages where teams of tired horses could be exchanged for fresh animals to transport loads over long distances. Prior to this time, only groups of three or more people could use three horses, and a single person or two people had the right to only drive a single horse or a pair. Decorated troikas were popular in major religious celebrations and weddings. The troika was a part of both urban and rural culture. /Wikipedia/ Pencil drawing on Stonehenge paper 11X14 in., 2010 ............................................. For sale