[QUOTE=shezabrazenmare;8584836]
How CoTh has changed. Used to be that the Gypsy Vanners were trashed on CoTh. (I know nothing about them.)[/QUOTE]
but they fart butterflies, don’t they?
[QUOTE=SmartAlex;8584886]
No I won’t. I think they’re sort of neat too. I just would never commit to grooming that much white hair![/QUOTE]
Thanks!!!
[QUOTE=shezabrazenmare;8584836]
How CoTh has changed. Used to be that the Gypsy Vanners were trashed on CoTh. (I know nothing about them.)[/QUOTE]
I didn’t see where people were bashing them, just that all the ‘mystical, majickal’ hype to try and justify their staggering pricetag was being called into question.
I think they’re lovely horses, but all that hair would give me twitches. I have my own fat pinto, just without all the hair.
The marketing of these horses at the height of their popularity was just ridiculously over the top with sentimentality and hyperbole, which seemed to justify paying $20K+ for a small pinto horse with feathers.
Those kind of prices are generally reserved for horses that can win in performance divisions, but in this case it was mainly based on exotic looks and the marketing hype. Not that unusual in the world.
I am sure they are nice horses and fun to ride.
OP, if they are to your taste, the go for it! But managing scratches all.the.time is no fun. And I say that even when the horse is a TB jumper making money.
In your shoes, I’d look carefully at what happens in my home environment (some areas have those bacteria in the soil), and how well the horse’s skin is doing where he is.
[QUOTE=mvp;8585098]
OP, if they are to your taste, the go for it! But managing scratches all.the.time is no fun. And I say that even when the horse is a TB jumper making money.
In your shoes, I’d look carefully at what happens in my home environment (some areas have those bacteria in the soil), and how well the horse’s skin is doing where he is.[/QUOTE]
Ok. I do know that Friesans have gotten quite popular in my area and they are thriving so I’m really quite sure I could manage the scratches issue without a problem. My real issue would be the old finances and not so much the purchase price, but, day to day as I need to board and I live in quite an expensive area at this point. We will see…hopefully!
I worked with a very sweet and kind Gypsy Vanner. He could trail ride, drive, dabble in some dressage and give rank beginners lessons. He was a great horse. You will always find breed prejudice (with all breeds) but what are you to do? Haters gonna hate. 
As a previous post says, in the UK and Ireland ‘coloured cobs’ are two a penny, even to be found illegally fly-grazed all over the country http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/tag/fly-grazing It is only in the last 10 - 15 years that names such as ‘gypsy vanner’ ‘drum horse’ or ‘Irish gypsy horse’ came to be applied and prices spiraled upwards. They have became popular in Europe as horses for children learning to ride. ( I rode one called ‘Murphy’ in the South of France at Christmas, which was a bit odd for me, a Brit).
Some animals are common as muck but others are really excellent animals: quality is very mixed, but I suspect in the USA some effective selection has taken place since it costs so much to import. Height ranges from 12.00 - 17.00 hh and traditional breeders (often Travellers) tend to prefer piebald (black & white) or skewbald (other shades patched with white). For many, many years these cobs were the only coloured horses to be found in Britain - evidence of their lowly status. Breeding is mixed, often with Shire or/and welsh cob blood and/or ID and, one suspects, in the good ones, a touch of TB somewhere.
As lowly work horses, good temperament and great hardiness was essential. But also some speed and fire. (Look up any videos of ‘flashing’ Appleby horse fair). Trotting them in races is still popular, if of dubious legality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-iCsPtvChw Usually they are quiet and straightforward but willing. They can turn their hoof to a range of jobs and are popular in dressage at the moment, are seen out hunting, will do trekking with complete numpties safe on their back. Thus they are very good horses for the amateur owner. But they can also be clever as a barrel of monkeys and have the strength to push their owner around. So, like any horse, consistent handling is beneficial.
The large amount of hair is prized by traditional breeders and can be a selling point. The feather can be a real pain to look after, due to mud fever and mites.
Take off the hair and one can end up with a smart show cob http://showhorsesales.co.uk/wp-content/themes/classifiedstheme/thumbs/669-29-2013-02-19639957.jpg but then, others like washing and brushing!
I have great respect for these horses but not a great deal of love. I would go for another breed, myself.
I don’t think anyone is being a “hater” in this thread. Just realistic. What breed prejudice?
[QUOTE=Nootka;8584848]
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?31043-Let-s-revist-the-Gypsy-Vanner-seriously&highlight=Gypsy[/QUOTE]
I was wondering if I was the only one who remembered that Majikal thread!
1 Like
If you do get one and especially if you get a particularly hairy one, have a good feel of all four legs and check for any lumps/bumps/scratches. Gypsy cobs are prone to some of the same leg/skin problems that the other feathered heavies are and it’s a matter of managing it, not curing it. Coarse or god forbid curly feather is the worst.
The only negative thing I’ll say – because I too find them rather cute – is that back at the peak one had to be very cautious about quality. People (primarily non-horse or long-absence-from-horse type people) were so excited to have a Gypsy that normal precautions such as pre-purchase exam (or even normal observation without rose-colored glasses) were bypassed. A friend of mine bought a stallion prospect that was going to make her famous – till his angular limb deformity came to light. He was also reared without other horses (probably to keep his hair nice!) and had to be turned out by himself – he reacted to normal curiosity as if the other horse was carrying a .45 and switchblade, and went through many a fence trying to get away.
But as long as you put as much diligence into the purchase as you would for a normal, earthly horse you should be fine!
[QUOTE=Kwill;8585403]
I don’t think anyone is being a “hater” in this thread. Just realistic. What breed prejudice?[/QUOTE]
I agree that no one is being a hater in this thread which is super nice. There have been threads before where they were not so pleasant, thus the haters comment I am sure. I just don’t understand why people get so worked up about the price. Apparently if people are forking out that amount of cash they feel it is worth it. After all one mans junk is another mans treasure. And there will always be breed prejudice. That’s just a given it seems. Not just against the Gypsies but all breeds. But you gotta admit the farting butterflies comments are getting old.
It’s also not fun to have to muzzle your horse to keep him from killing himself through founder. So find a barn that already handles muzzles so they have a routine already in place and won’t skip your horse because it’s too much work.
I wouldn’t want one in the south were it gets hot, i don’t know if that is a stressor for them.
[QUOTE=Chall;8585537]
It’s also not fun to have to muzzle your horse to keep him from killing himself through founder. So find a barn that already handles muzzles so they have a routine already in place and won’t skip your horse because it’s too much work.
I wouldn’t want one in the south were it gets hot, i don’t know if that is a stressor for them.[/QUOTE]
Are you really sure about that? I watched a video and it took place on a large farm in Ocala Florida and the horses seemed in great shape. There were also no muzzles to be seen so I’m wondering if you are reporting accurate information???
[QUOTE=Ladylexie;8585743]
Are you really sure about that? I watched a video and it took place on a large farm in Ocala Florida and the horses seemed in great shape. There were also no muzzles to be seen so I’m wondering if you are reporting accurate information???[/QUOTE]
Do you think a promotional video would show muzzles? That would be stupid from a marketing perspective.
[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;8585753]
Do you think a promotional video would show muzzles? That would be stupid from a marketing perspective.[/QUOTE]
They DID live in Florida and I feel like somebody somewhere would have mentioned muzzles. I feel like this muzzle stuff is nuts. Morgans and other draft breeds are also very easy keepers as well most people probably just wouldn’t turn out in a lush green paddock so that is actually kind of a non issue, but, thanks anyway…
Well, Chall simply raised an issue about heat, but qualified it with “I don’t know,” and I read PoPo as just saying to be mindful of the source of any information.
As a Connemara and part Connemara owner, both of whom have foundered {eek-- I swore I’d NEVER let a horse founder and I am hypervigilant, but it happened anyway – on “old,” established pastures} I would add that whether a horse is an easy keeper really is something to be mindful of. It may not be a deal breaker for you, but having dealt with “too easy” keepers, if you will, honestly sometimes I’d rather be trying to keep weight on a hard keeper than struggle to keep my air ferns safe. I don’t think I’d have another Connemara; I want something that is predisposed to thriving in super hot, super humid central Virginia, rather than something from a misty, cool climate with a lot of scrub grasses.
I don’t think the comments on this thread are ill-intentioned or ill-advised, but obviously it’s up to you to decide what management issues you can live with.
They certainly sound like great little all arounders, and that is my favorite type of equine by far. They are cute as stink, too.
I knew one. He really wasn’t my cup of tea. Tended toward being hard to keep cool in the heat and humidity with all that hair. Lateral walk, pacey (if that’s a word) trot, fast disunited canter. Pushy horse, had his owners number and dialed it all day.
I think what really turned me off of the horse was the constant bragging about how he was imported and how much he cost (over 20K) and what he was “worth”. I couldn’t help but think someone saw his owner coming with a big bag of cash from a mile away. If you’ve got money to spend that’s fine with me but just don’t keep harping on it.
You couldn’t have given me the horse.
I have only known one, and from all the other responses I’m guessing she was a departure from the normal temperament but she is rude, she bites, she will absolutely lose a rider given the chance. I really don’t care for her at all.
