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The Gypsy
Horse -
“Magic, Grace &
Power”
|
Romany woman
Courtesy of Harlequin Farm |
The word Gypsy evokes images of mysterious, brightly clothed
wanderers who traveled throughout the countryside in their
decorated caravans pulled by strong horses. Much of Gypsy
tradition is shrouded in secrecy and mystery, but from this
mysterious folk comes a horse that is treasured and admired the
world over, The Gypsy Horse.
The Gypsy folk did not originally call themselves
Gypsies. They held names that reflected their places of origin.
The term Roma, refers to various groups, or nations, or tribes.
These divisions generally reflect traditional patterns of
settlement in different geographic locations. Although
historically known as wanderers, the vast majority of today’s
Roma live in settled communities and are referred to as Gypsies,
Travelers, or Romany Folk, and sometimes the derogatory Tinker. |
Early Gypsies knew what was needed from
the horses they owned and used. Their horses needed to be strong
enough to pull their caravans which were extremely heavy. The
gypsy’s caravan not only was heavy in itself but also held the
weight of everything the family owned as well as the family
themselves. Most caravans were so heavy that everyone except the
very young and the very old would walk beside them as they
traveled from one place to the next. These horses needed to have
solid, weighty bodies, large bone, thick, strong necks and a
great layback of shoulder. They needed strong legs and large
feet. They had to be confident and unruffled in any situation
and completely solid and reliable in their interaction with
humans, especially the children. These horses needed to be tough
enough to withstand the harshest of weather and to subsist on
the most meager of food. They were required to pull a caravan
all day if necessary covering 40 miles or more on hard roads and
muddy lanes. A Gypsy’s horse had to have an absolute willing
work ethic and always do what was needed of them. Breeding these
qualities into their horses was a task that the Gypsy took, and
continues to take, great pride in.
During the First World War, horses were in great need by the
Army. The British Army bought many horses in the UK to be
shipped overseas to be used to pull carts, canons, carry
regiments into battle and the injured from the fronts. The only
horses the Army did not want were the COLOURED horses. These
horses were not good for camouflage and therefore remained home.
The resourceful Romany Gypsy found an abundance of affordable,
colourful and easily recognizable horses. |
Bow Tie -
Black Forest Shires
Rombaro
& Rosie -
Black
Forest Shires
|
Worthington - Harlequin Farms |
Sarsti
Gri - Purcell Farms |
WCF RK
Cruiser - Wild Creek Farm |
|
Dory -
Wild Creek Farm
Grayson - Black Forest Shires
|
During this time many of the Romany Gypsy,
who had previously traveled across Europe, decided to settle to
just traveling within England and Ireland. Several native breeds
such as the Fells and Dales roamed the countryside freely. The
Gypsies favoured the flashiness and availability of the coloured
horses. Coloured horses that could be easily recognized and not
easily “swapped”. They also favoured the hair, feather and hard
working, steady nature of the heavy breeds and desired the
sturdy, compact, sure footedness of the Fell and Dales Ponies.
They bred their horses using this mix of breeds, adapting their
required size and build to suit their needs and preferences. It
was in this manner that the Gypsies continued to breed, creating
the best possible horses for their way of life.
Through this selective breeding the Gypsy Cob diversified into
four categories.
- Up to 14.4hh, short, stocky, compact
ponies used for pulling working flat carts
- Up to 15hh, big, powerful cobs used
for pulling the caravans and heavier loads
- Over 15hh, cobs bred with
Shire/Clydesdale horses used for heavy loads and agriculture
work
- The Trotter, cobs bred with trotting
horses, used for road racing in sulkies
Today the Romany people have settled
into more modern housing, but they still take great pride in the
horses they breed and love to flash them in front of onlookers.
Many of their horses are used by non-Gypsy families as a great
all-around horse. They are also used in many riding schools and
trekking centres as safe and sane mounts for novice riders due
to their kind and willing natures.
Traditionally the Romany Gypsies did not keep written records.
Generations of breeding have been handed down from father to son
with no aid of documentation. |
Some of the
greats of this breed carry names such as “The Lob Eared Horse”,
“The Kent Horse” and “The Roadsweeper”. Today much work has been
done to establish documentation and the formation of a modern
data bank to preserve this wonderful breed.
The Gypsy Horse is known as the “Vanner” or “Cob”, also
sometimes referred to as the “Irish Tinker”. The Gypsy Horse is
akin to a mini draft usually standing between 14 and 15.2hh,
compact and sturdily built with a good deal of feathering and
hair. The neck and back are short and strong, providing the
horse with the strength needed to pull the caravans. Heavy
boned, with ample hooves and flat knees sustaining a body which
consists of a broad chest and heavy hips. The withers are
rounded, making the Gypsy Horse quite suitable for harness and
the bareback riding style of the Romany children. The abundance
of mane, tail and feather lends the Gypsy Horse its “Magical”
look that is true to its heritage.
Gypsy Horses come in a variety of colours, pinto and solid, with
the preference being pinto in pattern; either Piebald (black and
white) or Skewbald (any single colour with white, other than
black). Tobiano (white with large spots of colour, often
overlapping) and Overo (coloured with white markings). Also, an
unusual and highly prized pattern is the Blagdon (any solid
colour with white splashed under the belly.
The largest bred horses of the Gypsies are called “Drum Horses”.
These horses are taller than 16hh and are the result of
breeding a Gypsy Horse with a Draft breed, usually a Clydesdale
or a Shire. While they are still used for heavy work and
parades, the name actually comes from the fact that this was the
horse of choice which carried the drummer and the enormous drums
|
Galway
Warrior - Black Forest Shires
Sarsti Gri - Purcell Farms |
|
Drum Horse |
during Royal and other parades in England. The spectacular Drum
Horse while sharing much of its ancestry with the horses from
which today’s Gypsy Horse come, it is not considered a
“Traditional” Gypsy Horse. |
Learn more about
Drum Horse History here.
The Romany people were and still are
dedicated and knowledgeable breeders who have successfully
created one of the most popular and sought after horses in the
world. A horse that will charm anyone and be first and foremost
a true equine gentleman and lady.
To learn more about these incredible horses, please visit the
Featured Breeders sites as well as the different breed
registries below.written by Donna
Nearing |
Romany
King -
Wild Creek Farm |
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