I’m thinking this should be my next horse if I’m lucky enough ever. Any good places to buy them? I like there size, substance and kissability.
The place I board breeds a few of them every year. They’re pretty cool. They’re DEAD quiet, super hardy, very tolerant, don’t get rattled. They’ll pack anyone around. They aren’t going to be high-level athletes, but they have a lot of value elsewhere.
Just be prepared to groom a LOT. All that hair needs a ton of grooming.
[QUOTE=skipollo;8584141]
The place I board breeds a few of them every year. They’re pretty cool. They’re DEAD quiet, super hardy, very tolerant, don’t get rattled. They’ll pack anyone around. They aren’t going to be high-level athletes, but they have a lot of value elsewhere.
Just be prepared to groom a LOT. All that hair needs a ton of grooming.[/QUOTE]
LOL…perfect…I love grooming and I feel like I’m done with showing, but, I like to make my pony look pretty and just ride around these days.
Import one from the UK or Ireland. You can’t get out of bed without stepping on one.
[QUOTE=Caol Ila;8584659]
Import one from the UK or Ireland. You can’t get out of bed without stepping on one.[/QUOTE]
If you wait another minute, you can probably find one on this continent… as cheaply as you could there, less the import costs.
These horses certainly were A Thing before 2008. I wonder if they are still selling for the prices they were back then when they were a novelty item.
OP, I suggest you’d sit on one before you buy it. I think a “push ride” and the trot of a horse more-or-less bred to pull could be uncomfortable. And if you just want a pleasure horse, why buy anything other than Cadillac Comfortable? Oh, and I’d also try to figure out how “orthodox” or not it’s back will be. It can be a bitter pill to swallow when the shape of your horse invites you to spend more than its purchase price on a saddle that will fit.
Import is very expensive (at least 8500 but if you find on over seas for 1k and import it may be cheaper). Are Vanners still selling for 20k on the regular here in the states??
[QUOTE=mvp;8584683]
If you wait another minute, you can probably find one on this continent… as cheaply as you could there, less the import costs.
These horses certainly were A Thing before 2008. I wonder if they are still selling for the prices they were back then when they were a novelty item.
OP, I suggest you’d sit on one before you buy it. I think a “push ride” and the trot of a horse more-or-less bred to pull could be uncomfortable. And if you just want a pleasure horse, why buy anything other than Cadillac Comfortable? Oh, and I’d also try to figure out how “orthodox” or not it’s back will be. It can be a bitter pill to swallow when the shape of your horse invites you to spend more than its purchase price on a saddle that will fit.[/QUOTE]
Yes…I have always tried out horses before I bought them and a gypsy vanner would be no different.
I have friends who have a Vanner stallion they joust with. He is a huge blast to ride, and loves being groomed/fussed over, which is a bonus with all his hair. 
Not sure if he is typical for this type, but he’s smart, very sensitive to aids and surprisingly quick. He is just under 14.2, but round and solid enough to take up my leg (and I’m tall/mostly leg) which I appreciate.
Definitely not a drafty ride at all, which I was surprised about. He was much more like the Morgans I used to ride, but when he spooked, it was an in-place spook rather than the sideways teleport.
Airfern, so they really have to watch his diet, even with him being in a decent amount of work. I would have one in a heartbeat if I found a nice one without the huge price tag.
I don’t have one, but I should remedy that. I have worked with one and let me tell yah, he was the kindest, sweetest, easiest, most wonderful horse ever. Gosh now that I think about it I have been wanting a shorter packer type, what a perfect idea. Super nice horses and in my eyes worth the price. But then I am a bit horses crazy, and not good in the self restraint department.
[QUOTE=Ladylexie;8584064]
I’m thinking this should be my next horse if I’m lucky enough ever. Any good places to buy them? I like there size, substance and kissability.[/QUOTE]
I don’t have one, but I met some at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto a few years back, and they were adorable little things. About 14 hands, dead quiet, cute as buttons. COTH seems to hate them as a rule but I think they are lovely.
How CoTh has changed. Used to be that the Gypsy Vanners were trashed on CoTh. (I know nothing about them.)
[QUOTE=EKLay;8584737]
I have friends who have a Vanner stallion they joust with. He is a huge blast to ride, and loves being groomed/fussed over, which is a bonus with all his hair. Not sure if he is typical for this type, but he’s smart, very sensitive to aids and surprisingly quick. He is just under 14.2, but round and solid enough to take up my leg (and I’m tall/mostly leg) which I appreciate.
Definitely not a drafty ride at all, which I was surprised about. He was much more like the Morgans I used to ride, but when he spooked, it was an in-place spook rather than the sideways teleport.
Airfern, so they really have to watch his diet, even with him being in a decent amount of work. I would have one in a heartbeat if I found a nice one without the huge price tag. :)[/QUOTE]
A woman at our barn bought one (a cross, I think) thinking it would be a dull, quiet horse for older-lady trail rides. No way - he is forward, a cute mover but quick, and much more to the liking of her daughter and the pony clubber-type kids who like a little go. The above poster’s reference to the Morgan is a great comparison.
[QUOTE=shezabrazenmare;8584836]
How CoTh has changed. Used to be that the Gypsy Vanners were trashed on CoTh. (I know nothing about them.)[/QUOTE]
Ok why would horse people trash any breed that is just stupid aren’t they all horses.
[QUOTE=Ladylexie;8584857]
Ok why would horse people trash any breed that is just stupid aren’t they all horses.[/QUOTE]
Any over priced fad is going to get trashed on CoTH. And that’s what they were a decade ago. Didn’t the Majikal Gypsy Vanners fart rainbows too?
1 Like
[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8584865]
Any over priced fad is going to get trashed on CoTH. And that’s what they were a decade ago. Didn’t the Majikal Gypsy Vanners fart rainbows too?[/QUOTE]
I think they are beautiful so please please don’t take this thread down that road. That isn’t necessary to make that sort of snarky comment about a breed of horse. All horses can be considered overpriced by some people.
No I won’t. I think they’re sort of neat too. I just would never commit to grooming that much white hair!
I linked to the 2003 thread when the price was WAAAY up there for this breed. I think this is where the rainbows originated … lol
There was one at the barn I boarded at–he was cute, shortish for his bulk (but Lucky was tallest horse in the barn so the Vanner was probably 15?), kind of lazy under saddle. The biggest thing was he was constantly being treated for scratches–the damp Michigan weather and long feathers don’t mix!
And I thought they paid WAY more than he was worth (had been shown in harness a bit then turned out, rather green, nice horse but nothing outstanding.) My friends in the UK cannot believe the prices Americans are willing to pay for what one termed “pikey cobs.” (Yes, I know what pikey means and that it’s not especially nice.) To them they’re grade mixes of drafts, some spotted, with a huge range of quality. The travelers have figured out they can sell the nice ones for a lot of money if they’re pretty to people who want to sell to America, so most of the ones over here probably came from nicer stock, but it wasn’t a long prized tradition of selective breeding of Majikal Ponies. If you ignore all the hype and don’t mind feathers, some are nice.
I ride one right now for lessons. About 7 years old I think. She is a sweet girl. Very smooth. This one isn’t dead quiet, but still a good girl.
