In this case the owner wished to commemorate a certain horse which he owned - a famous stallion Young Bogatyr'. Another horse-lover commissioned the portraits of two horses of English and Norwegian breed. The third never got in the details of a certain breed but decided to have just a painting of a beautiful harnessed grey horse. Presumably such paintings were not a mere decoration of the interior but aimed to commemorate and represent some of the owner's favourites.
   "Through wonderful combination of Arabic and English breeds the Earl produced a new type of riding horse - the type which is now represented by his famous Fierce, who wouldn't bend beneath his heavy rider a bogatyr-nobleman, when the last all in sparkling golden garments showed off at Moscow festivals, being escorted by a great suite. It reminded something in- between the Oriental splendour and ceremonial mediaeval tournaments" (M.I.Pylyaev, "Staraya Moskva").