Hey,
Anyone here hunt or know someone who’s hunted a Gypsy Vanner? I have a friend who’s thinking of buying one.
Regards,
Huntin’ Fool
Well, I don’t know of anyone that hunts with a Gypsy, but I have friends that do CDE’s with theirs. I don’t see why a Gypsy couldn’t hunt. They actually have great stamina. I suppose my only concern would be the mud in their feathers!
Ugh, I hate feathers. 
I hunt a Friesian. Feathers are absolutely useless dirt traps! But I digress…
It’ll be interesting to see if anyone is hunting one. 
ha…i was just going to say something about the feathers. That’s going to be a mess to clean unless your friend shaves them off gasp. (those feathers could really catch twigs or get lots of burrs)
temperment, well I’ve seen some really sweet gypsies and friesians in the dressage ring and on the flat. lovely movement.
but
IMHO: friesians/gypsies body styles may not be the most comfortable for hunting. Maybe to hill top and I’d be they would feel like a comfy couch, but I haven’t seen a horse with that type of body style have a comfortable jump let alone do it for hours.
[QUOTE=bigbaytb;5472593]
IMHO: friesians/gypsies body styles may not be the most comfortable for hunting. Maybe to hill top and I’d be they would feel like a comfy couch, but I haven’t seen a horse with that type of body style have a comfortable jump let alone do it for hours.[/QUOTE]
It’s not so much the comfort factor as it is the stamina with the heavy guys. That and the speed. I often feel like I’m riding a farm tractor in a field of sports cars. :lol:
I’ve hunted mine for 3 seasons and much of that between 1st and 2nd flights. She jumps quite well and smoothly up to 3’ (admittedly not as honest as I’d like, but that has nothing to do with her breed and everything to do with her disposition) and has been out on 4 hour hunts without tiring.
But, not every Friesian (or Gypsy, to keep it on topic) could do that.
And yes, I do shave off her feathers. She’s had a pulled mane for a few seasons too. I’m such a horrible “Friesian” owner. 
In all honesty, there’s no way would I buy one for hunting, but I do enjoy hunting the one I have. Sound wierd?
You’ll have to excuse the blur, but here’s a pic of her jumping 3’3": http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/easycare%20daatje%20jump.jpg
I’ve seen many cobs hunting in England. I don’t think it’s a bad choice necessarily. They can be solid and steady - obviously not the fastest, but some have quite good acceleration. They definitely have stamina and one with a good introduction to jumping has such a powerful back end that they can do a very good job.
My ideal horse would be a cob or vanner crossed with a TB. I think they’re great and usually not very flappable. I’ve hunted a Welsh cob and a welsh/TB. I’ve owne d a gypsy cob (not sure it technically was a vanner, although it was a typical coloured, Helinz 57) and he was immensely talented.
I wouldn’t be too put off.
Hunters ride coloured cobs. (no butterflies)
and a Cob there (or here) just ain’t a Gypsy Vanner :>
Tamara in TN
Why do people insist on buying horses for purposes they weren’t bred for? Painted draft horses (I will not use that made up for commercialism name) weren’t bred to jump. They were bred to pull wagons. Look at their shoulders. Not long and laid back to facilitate bringing their knees up. Look at their strides, not daisy cutting to cover ground easily (see earlier comments about stamina). FEATHERS, NEED I SAY MORE?
They are I freely admit, dramatic to look at. Easy to find in a field, and generally sensible (they were bred for this. No one wants a skittish horse between the shafts.).
If your friend wants to hunt there are plenty of spotted sporthorses who were bred to be ground covering jumping machines. Your friend will enjoy hunting more on something that already knows its way around the huntfield.
*Disclaimer: In every breed you will find individuals who are talented enough to excel in disciplines for which they are not intended. But you don’t see a whole lot of OTTBs in the reining world, and no Haflingers on race courses. If I were going to drive a heavy wagon, the draft breeds are where I’d look. If I wanted a polo pony, I wouldn’t get a Hannovarian. If I wanted to ride something that would stop traffic (in a good way) I’d buy a spotted draft or a Friesian.
[QUOTE=Kryswyn;5472869]
Why do people insist on buying horses for purposes they weren’t bred for? Painted draft horses (I will not use that made up for commercialism name) weren’t bred to jump. They were bred to pull wagons. Look at their shoulders. Not long and laid back to facilitate bringing their knees up. Look at their strides, not daisy cutting to cover ground easily (see earlier comments about stamina). FEATHERS, NEED I SAY MORE?
They are I freely admit, dramatic to look at. Easy to find in a field, and generally sensible (they were bred for this. No one wants a skittish horse between the shafts.).
If your friend wants to hunt there are plenty of spotted sporthorses who were bred to be ground covering jumping machines. Your friend will enjoy hunting more on something that already knows its way around the huntfield.
*Disclaimer: In every breed you will find individuals who are talented enough to excel in disciplines for which they are not intended. But you don’t see a whole lot of OTTBs in the reining world, and no Haflingers on race courses. If I were going to drive a heavy wagon, the draft breeds are where I’d look. If I wanted a polo pony, I wouldn’t get a Hannovarian. If I wanted to ride something that would stop traffic (in a good way) I’d buy a spotted draft or a Friesian.[/QUOTE]
Thank you. I’m so tired of people on the dressage board complaining about their Friesian not being able to get fit enough for the canter tour of a dressage test. Its a cart horse. It was bred to trot. Get an OTTB or Warmblood and move on with your life.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;5472771]
Hunters ride coloured cobs. (no butterflies)[/QUOTE]
Hehe! Mine didn’t have a butterfly in sight! Nor a rainbow!
Vanners don’t have stamina. They are heavy-footed, do OK with short work, but don’t have the depth to keep up in the long run. See that 1st hand with those that drive in pleasure carriage drives. They fade long before the other breeds.
If your friend is thinking of hunting in 3rd Flight, I’m sure a vanner would be fine. Otherwise, no. The people in 2nd Flight would get annoyed really fast with those big clomping feet drowning out the song of the hounds. Those horses land HEAVY with each footstep. 1st Flight? Don’t even think it.
And Tamara is right. A Cob is a Welsh Cob, or partbred Welsh Cob, not a “Vanner”. Totally different blood, completely different breeds. And it is proven fact that Welsh Cobs do make stellar foxhunters.
A cob is a small horse, usually of a stout build, with strong bones, large joints, and steady disposition; it is a body type of horse rather than a specific breed. Historically, a ‘cob’ may be a common horse used for everyday riding. In general terms, cobs are larger than ponies, standing 14.2 hands or taller, but are relatively small and compact, usually with somewhat short legs. It is said that good show cob should have "the head of a lady and the backside of a cook.
Popular uses of the cob include driving, showing and recreational riding. Cob-type breeds have become increasingly popular for Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), as well as for riders who seek horses who are responsive but with a calm temperament, shorter stature and steady, comfortable gaits.
The rulebook of the British Show Horse Association (BHSA), states: "The Cob is a type rather than a breed. A short-legged animal exceeding 148cms (58 inches or 14.2 hands) with a maximum height of 155cms (61 inches or 15.1 hands), it has bone and substance with quality and is capable of carrying a substantial weight. Cobs should have sensible heads, (sometimes roman nosed), a full generous eye, shapely neck crested on the top, with a hogged mane and well defined wither. The cob should also have clean, strong hocks and all the attributes of a good hunter.
I only know one GV - and it had such bad mud fever it had to have its feathers shaved off.
So what is a gypsy cob?
Not trying to be a dingbat or argumentative, just trying to understand if my language/generalizations are different.
Sure, there are cob types and welsh cobs. But I grew up surrounded by cobs in England and at no time did I hear that they actually weren’t, cos they weren’t welsh. There are just so many crosses of ‘who knows what’, that ‘cob’ becomes a good catch all term.
I DO tend to like horses for their type, rather than their breed and so admit, I probably generalize and don’t pay attention to actual breeds at times. I guess I should just ask my little brother, who haggles with the gypsies like the best of them and has a, so-called vanner stallion.
Regardless, I still think they would be a fun hunt horse. But that’s just my opinion :). It really comes down to what your friend would like to ride.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;5473038]
The rulebook of the British Show Horse Association (BHSA), states: "The Cob is a type rather than a breed. [/QUOTE]
Splendid. Good for them.
Over<b> here</b> a Cob is a Welsh Cob.
A cob type horse bred by a gypsy, and normally of questionable parentage.
Over here they would be American cobs.
Welsh Cobs may be a breed (questionable) but Welsh cobs are not.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;5473209]
Over here they would be American cobs.
Welsh Cobs may be a breed but Welsh cobs are not.[/QUOTE]
Again, good for you. Good for the brits. Or is it Brits?
The OP lives here in the US. Don’t want to confuse her with a definition that doesn’t exist here. If she ever visits and hunts in GB, she can ride a cob type horse/pony. Over here, if she rides a cob, it is a Welsh Cob. Otherwise it would probably be identified as a Quarter horse x.
Over here they would be American cobs.
Equibrit! You just made me giggle!
[QUOTE=cagey22;5473195]
So what is a gypsy cob?[/QUOTE]
A small scale draft horse, generally pinto colored, but not always. They are pretty, personable, sweet, and generous. Lofty trot, not Hackney, but lots of upwards without losing forward. They do tend to land “heavy”.
