04/30/07

Our Gypsy Horses - Click on them for more information and pictures

Gypsy Horse Information
  They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.  From the new teeny tiny ones (12h) to the Drum type Gypsies (16+h) - there's literally one to fit all your needs.  There are as many stories to tell about this breed as there are people to tell them, not to mention all the names associated with this type of horse (Irish Cobs, Tinker Ponies, Gypsy Vanners, Colored Cobs, etc.).   Bottom-line...they are all the same horses just with different names depending on the region and the people referring to them.  In fact depending on whom you speak to some of these names are not "politically correct."  For example we've heard from people that Tinker is a slang derogatory term for them, yet in Germany that's what they're called.  Another debates is over the vanner name.  We spoke with four different gypsy horse breeders in England and Ireland whom informed us that the name vanner is a word used to describe a heavy horse that pulls a milk wagon or van, not the colorful cobs with heavy feathering.  They told us that you "wouldn't be doing your horse any favors to be calling your horse a vanner."  In England they are referred to as Coloured Cobs and in Ireland, Irish Cobs.  They certainly don't call them Gypsy horses either...so what does a person refer to these horses then...  In America a cob is referred to as a size, hence a naming dilemma.  We have chosen to pay respect to our gypsy friends and simply use the term Gypsy Horses or Cobs - it's simple and politically correct.

If you're looking to purchase you're first gypsy horse be sure to do your homework.  Often times a gypsy horse can be crossed with a trotter (similar to a standard bred) and you'll get a colored horse with little feathering which is not a purebred gypsy.  Be sure you're gypsy horse has feathering from the knee down and it covers the front of the hoof - this is a good indicator of a true gypsy.   There have been rumors that people have imported in gypsy horses into the USA only to find out they received what is called a "half-legged" or a gypsy cross that only has sprigs of feathering.  

In a nutshell (and to the best of our understanding), Gypsy horses originated in England and Ireland.  They were bred by the Gypsy or Romany travelers.  These horses were bred to be hearty, beautiful horses (with tons of hair (feathering & mane) and color) that could pull their living wagons, and be good natured for the Gypsy children to play around and ride to town.  Most Gypsy travelers couldn't read or write and so there is no written documentation of their breeding history.  However, these horses are prized possessions for these people and they have taken great pride in breeding them for conformation, movement, temperament, and style.  And these people know these horses and their breeding history.  Here is a picture of one of their most well known foundation sires affectionately called, "The Old Horse."

  
Old Horse Pictures Courtesy of BF Shires & Gypsy Horses www.gypsyhorses.com

What beautiful good natured horses for children.  "Posh Pets" is what we've coined as the catch phrase for them, and they are worth every penny.  They are so calm and sweet natured.  They literally baby-sit your children.  We wanted a sane, smaller horse for our children that still had the stamina to go on trail rides with us and not jar my child's teeth loose on the trot while trying to keep up.  The Gypsy horse was the answer.  Children and adults alike find them adorable and kind. 

Our Son riding his new gypsy mare, Tori, after 1 week being under saddle at a 4H Horse Clinic.