Horse
Pronunciation:
ˈjip-sē ˈva-nər
Breed Description:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse is a striking pinto horse originally bred in England by Gypsies to pull their caravan wagons from place to place. Gypsy Vanners are built like draft horses with luxuriant manes and tails and extensive feathering, usually white, from the knees to the feet. The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse is most frequently piebald or skewbald, but also may be solid colors. All colors are accepted and valued. Gypsy Vanners often have white blazes on their face and white socks on all four feet. They are relatively short overall, and have somewhat short necks and short backs, with rounded withers that facilitate both harness use and bareback riding. Their well-muscled legs and sizeable hooves provide a good foundation for their smooth gaits. The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse is considered strong, intelligent and athletic, with remarkable stamina. In addition to being excellent driving horses, Gypsy Vanners have good gaits, and are thus well suited to dressage.
Temperament:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse has an extremely gentle and tractable temperament, in part due to the fact that they traditionally live in an intimate family setting and have been bred to be exceptional family horses. Their easygoing temperament also makes them well-suited to new riders and to riders with physical or emotional challenges.
Height:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse stands 14.2 to 15 hands high.
Health Problems:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse does not have any known breed-specific health problems. They are reported to be remarkably sound horses.
Living Conditions:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse is known as an unusually easy keeper. Gypsy Vanners traditionally live in intimate proximity with their human companions.
Exercise:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse is a good mover for long-distance travel.
Grooming:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse has routine grooming requirements.
Origin:
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse originated with the Gypsy population in England, where they were bred to pull the colorful Gypsy caravan wagons from place to place. The Gypsies bred their horses to be extremely gentle, as they lived intimately with their human companions, to have the stamina to travel long distances, and to be strikingly beautiful. The main breeds used to create the Gypsy Vanner breed of horse were Friesians, Shires, Dales Ponies, and Clydesdales.
The Gypsy Vanner breed of horse had no official name when it was introduced to the United States. Two horse breeders from Florida, Dennis and Cindy Thompson, fell in love with a Gypsy Vanner that they happened upon in England in 1994, and later imported three stallions and fourteen mares to their farm in Florida. The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society was created in 1996. Gypsy Vanners became popular immediately when they were introduced to the U.S. public in 1998, and there are now about 150 Gypsy Vanners in the United States.
