Gypsy Vanner?

Question

Does anyone have any info on where to get pet quality gypsy vanners? Not the $30,000 breeding quality ones you see all over the internet.

Answer 1

I'd just look for a cob pony that you like...I wouldn't get hung up on the breed. They've not been selectively bred like many horses therefore, I can't believe anyone would pay that much for one.

Here's what wikipedia said about them:Gypsy Horse (Irish Tinker Horse, also known as Irish Cob, Piebald (in Ireland), or Gypsy Vanner (in USA)) is a breed with its origin among the traveling Gypsies of the British Isles. A mix of draught horse and pony breeds gives quite a large variation in size and appearance, but the typical horse measures 12.0 - 15.3 hands (hand equals 4 inches) and the larger variation—the Drum Horse—reaches 16.0 hands and over.

The idea of the gypsy vanner being "bred for centuries" to this end result is false. For as long as Gypsies have been around they have bred whatever type of horse that they can access and is suitable from huge cobs to moorland ponies. The same is true today.

There is a loveliness to a good coloured cob - just remembering that the story of the "Gypsy Vanner Breed" is a total fantasy. The very use of the term "vanner" is testament to that, a proper "vanner" type is a heavy carriage/cart horse lighter than a cob or heavy horse but heavy enough to pull relatively large loads.

Answer 2

The Gypsy Vanner is nothing more than a type, that is now being bred to a standard. They are still, basically, cross bred horses. As a "new breed", especially in the U.S., the foundation stock is commanding high prices. You will be very unlikely to find one for a low price. But it should not be too hard to find what you are looking for. Warmbloods and cob ponies are becoming very common, and can be found fairly easily, I see plenty at auctions. You may not get the exact color or look that you want, but then a purebred "pet" quality Vanner would not be what you are thinking of either.

Many, many years ago I had a pony that everyone thought was a P.O.A., at the time the breed was very new, and very expensive. But I had bought Jake for less than $75, he was an Arab/App cross that had a perfect blanket, and all 5 App characteristics(and also their stubborn streak!) I had people who could not believe that someone would geld a perfect POA! To the former owner, he was nothing more than an obnoxious jerk, and an accident! I, on the other hand, won a room full of trophies and ribbons on that little guy, and to this day he is remembered as my favorite horse!

Answer 3

There's no such thing as a "pet" Gypsy Vanner. Purebred, papered quality Gypsy Vanners are currently demanding high prices in the US.... that's just how much they cost. They either have to be imported from the UK or bred from expensive parents who were imported.

On the other hand, the general public doesn't realise the US's new breed "Gypsy Vanner" is based on common gypsy cob horses. Gypsies are poorer nomads who wander town to town. Cobs are just a kind of stocky ponies they have in the UK. So the original Vanners were just cheap cart horses owned by homeless people. :-)

If you want spots and a stocky horse, look at the spotted draft crosses in the US.

Personally I think the current "Gypsy" fad ones are bred mainly for color (spots) and hair (feathers and mane), not necessarily for what matters: good conformation, performance ability, soundness, etc... but that's just my 2 cents worth. :-)

Answer 4

If basically I had that style of funds... i might get whichever replaced into knowledgeable extra desirable. relatively, I doubt i might get the two. the two Vanners and Friesians are extra of an english discipline horse (for the main area), and that i'm no longer numerous an english rider. yet once I had the determination of a Vanner and a Friesian that have been knowledgeable to an identical point, i might % the Vanner. I relatively have a element for paints. some Friesians have a setback of their conformation that would not enable a canter (or basically facilitates an extremely undesirable canter). So, i think of i might circulate with the Vanner if I had the money and the alternative.

Answer 5

i'm afraid that there isn't really such a thing. gypsy vanners cost at least $10,000.
i wanted one so badly, i almost couldn't stand it, but then i realized that it just isn't possible for me right now. i still plan on getting one someday, but you have to stable and experienced before investing in something like that.

look into a more practical breed.

good luck!

Answer 6

Ha! I live in central Texas and work as a farrier. I was at a show and saw some wonderful light-draft horses. We asked the old guy owner if they were GV and got quite the earful. I won't go into it, but his were all descended from one old Belgian mare, and were Pinto and feathered and very good to handle. If you don't care about the paper and just want a good horse, I would continue my search. Or contact me.

Answer 7

This is one breed that has fortunately not been ruined yet by people breeding "pets". If you want a low quality horse, there are plenty out there.