I am so sorry, I think I flagged this by accident! How do I un-do it???
A quick Google search for “Gypsy Vanner in competition” yielded this:
So it seems they can do well. They also look like fun, fairly level headed horses.
I think horse people misread how much a level headed, fun horse is worth. One that doesn’t need to work every day or even every week. One you can pull out of the field from a stressful work week and just get on and have fun on. I consider myself an amateur but I ride pretty much every day. Many people that get into horses later in life do not have that kind of time so they are going to want to have fun at the lower levels with a horse that they don’t have to worry about. There is nothing wrong with that, it just may seem odd to people to value these attributes over talent.
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The Gypsy videos showed a horse doing walk trot in dressage and jumping two foot six.
From following British horse FB groups it looks like cobs are super popular for adult ammies who want to hack out and do some lower level competition. Those folks might have QH in North America. Cheap, smaller, sturdy, available, easy keepers, fairly sane, all around useful horses.
I was also following a British FB page from a girl who was from an actual “traveller” family and they were daredevil riders and got their cobs over significantly higher fences. They had many cobs, but just sturdy little horses, not the pinto Rapunzel critters being marketed in North America as Gypsy Vanners.
In North America draft crosses are popular as lower level dressage horses because they often have a flashy harness horse trot, and the cob is basically a small draft horse type.
They aren’t my thing, but there’s certainly a place for them.
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There’s a woman in my area that shows her gypsy vanner in jumper shows. He’s an athletic sort and does a nice job in the 3’ divisions. Seems very game.
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Can I love this statement a few thousand times? The market is desperate for nice looking (and the gypsy currently appeal) fun to ride, level headed horses. There is a reason the draft crosses and the quarter horse types are so very popular.
Now, I don’t happen to agree with a lot of draft cross/gypsy breeders on one point: namely a tendency to use Shire mares as the base for crosses, which is further endangering a desperately rare breed. But, that is a personal quibble. On the whole, they focus on breeding amateur friendly animals and they have made massive improvements in confirmation in a very short time. What is not to like?
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even the Rapunzel showy ones are way way way better looking than a halter quarter horse. And more functional too. Even if they only jump two feet, that’s two feet more than a halter horse.
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A “training level dressage” Friesian/QH just went fir $195,000 at the Best of the West sale in Aiken.
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Well, Major Hollywood (from the ad above) is even more of a bargain now, then, because I see that they’ve dropped his price to $30,000.
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His price is now 30k. I watched all the videos (they’re short).
One video described “gnarly trails” but they looked pretty normal. I didn’t like the way he was constantly looking behind at the loose horse following them. That shouldn’t bother a seasoned trail horse. Makes me wonder what he would do with a dog following.
He’s a “looky-loo” on the trails and he rider frequently has to re-direct his head. He’s always following another horse which is a red flag. I don’t see a confident, experienced trail horse in the videos.
Some basic training in the arena and can jump cross rails. Nothing special.
I don’t know anyone who would pay 30k for a very average 13 year old horse with minimal training. I wouldn’t buy him for any price, it would take a lot of work to get him solid on the trails at his age. I don’t even know if he can go out by himself.
So I always wonder about these high-priced horses, who’s buying them?
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I don’t know many – if any – training level (dressage) horses who can do half of what that 4 year old did in that video. I don’t even know any 1st, much less 2nd level horses who could do three of the outside-of-the-ring skills shown in that video. Nice horse and a smart ad. I cracked up at her using him to do laundry.
Obviously I don’t have 195k… who is going to pony it up so I can have my next superstar all-arounder? My current one is not going to be 12 forever…
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This horse is not my type, but I think he seems like a solid citizen and I thought he was perfectly appropriate and quite intelligent in that trail video. But, remember… our mission here on COTH is to shred people, such as people asking ridiculous prices, not to shred the horse. 
It is never the horse’s fault.
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I wasn’t shredding the people or horse, just the ad.
“Plus he has all sorts of experience. He has been hauled all over the country to trail ride.”
“Ride alone or in a big group? Cross water? Scary bridges? Ride next to the road with ATV’s, semi trucks, cars and more? Have bikers fly up from behind you? Runners? Lucky doesn’t react to much of anything…”
All videos except one have him following other horses. Big. Red. Flag. He’s constantly looking around, another flag. My experience doubts he’s a solid trail horse.
“Do dressage and show? Western pleasure?”
This doesn’t look like a 30k mover or training.
As I said, l’m fascinated by these high priced horses and always check out the videos when someone posts and then wonder who ends up paying these prices, instead of putting some effort into horse shopping and find something just as nice (or better) for much cheaper.
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Are you sure? Most horses seem to be 12.
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Well, mine is a 2008 model so is actually 13… So disappointing that he keeps getting older, lol!
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I know, Malda. I’m with ya!
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I was shocked at some of the prices at that sale. However, the best horse in the sale, IMO, went for fair market value. Jerry Jonez is a reined cowhorse, VRH reserve world champion, has worked on the ranch and went for $32,000. However, he is just a sorrell 
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