Origin: England and Ireland
Height: 13-15 hh
Colors: Piebald or Skewbald
Build: Muscular and compact, with a very large barrel
Attributes: Extremely gentle, calm and caring
History of the Gypsy Vanner Draft Horse
There is no exact known history of the Gypsy Vanner draft horse. It is believed that the Gypsy Vanner drafts are descended from Shires, Clydesdales, Friesians and Dale Ponies. The Gypsy Vanners are still bred by Romany families in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Romany people are also known as Gypsies. In England and Ireland these horses are known as Romany Horses.
The Romany people required a horse that would match their itinerant lifestyle. So it was with this in mind that they began to breed their own horses. These horses were required to be strong in order to pull their caravans yet gentle enough to interact with numerous children. The Romany people do not tolerate animals that might endanger lives. Any horse considered a threat to safety is banished immediately. Such intolerance influenced breeding and resulted in exceptionally calm and gentle horses.
Another trait that the Romany breeders selected for was almost a guard dog-like behavior. The early Romany horses would snort and paw to wake up and warn their owners when they sensed intruders or any other form of danger. As well as pulling caravans and doing other miscellaneous heavy work, the Gypsy Vanner horses were often used to teach children to ride.
The only known breed registry for the Gypsy Vanner horses is here in the United States (See Gypsy Vanner Draft Horse Links below). The only source of information on the bloodlines of the Gypsy Vanner horse is in the memories of the Romany breeders, who have an amazing oral tradition that includes the bloodlines of their horses.
Characteristics of the Gypsy Vanner Draft Horse
Appearance and Conformation of the Gypsy Vanner Draft Horse
The Gypsy Vanner horse is similar in build to the Shire or Clydesdale. The Gypsy Vanner horses tend to be more compact and sturdy than other drafts. They have very hard bones. They have very large, hardy hooves, used to the steady impact of the roads. The Gypsy Vanner's legs are very strong, with flat knees and a massive amount of feathering, both on the back of the legs and on the front. The barrel of the Gypsy Vanner is very wide and deep. The connection from the back to loins should be nice and tight. The shoulders of the Gypsy Vanner should slope well, giving the horses a very free and graceful movement. The croup and hindquarters should be large and rounded. Finally, the mane and tail should be silky, long and flowing. The Gypsy Horse draft horse is a very study horse with a great deal of endurance and versatility. They are not huge, but they are very well-built horses, with a lot of muscle.
The color of the Gypsy Vanner is another of its unique traits. The Gypsy Vanner is found either in piebald (large irregular patches of black and white) or skewbald (large irregular patches of white and any other color, generally brown). This was an important factor for the Romany breeders and not only because the colors made the horses more beautiful and flashy. Each Gypsy Vanner draft horse has its own very distinct set of markings, no two spots are identical. The patterns became a method to identify an owner's horse.
Temperament of the Gypsy Vanner Draft Horse
Gypsy Vanner draft horses are amazingly calm, gentle, docile and friendly. The Gypsy Vanner also have the amazing ability to act in an almost watchdog-like fashion. One of the more rare traits that the Gypsy Vanners display is that of loyalty. The Gypsy Vanners are famous for putting their owner's well-being above their own. Among enthusiasts the Gypsy Vanner horses are known as "golden retrievers with hooves." They are also highly versatile horses and willing workers.
Uses for the Gypsy Vanner Draft Horse
The Gypsy Vanner draft horse can be used for almost any type of work. The Gypsy Vanner draft horses excel at pulling wagons and carriages as well as hauling larger loads.