Gypsy Vanner Horse

Over 50 years ago, a band of men in the United Kingdom dedicated their lives to pursue a dream. They wished to create the perfect horse to pull the unique Gypsy caravans. Gypsies have a saying, "Gypsy Gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark."

The first two Gypsy Vanner Horses were imported into the United States on November 24, 1996 by Cindy and Dennis Thompson - Bat and Dolly, both fillies. They imported the first colt on Easter Sunday 1997, Cushti Bok, whose name means "gook luck" in the gypsy language. About a year later, they imported a horse, originally named Bill but became known as "The King" to the gypsies for his outstanding offspring. The Gypsy King has been bred to Bat and the first filly was born on March 18. A photo of this filly may be found at the Thompsons website at www.gypsyvannerhorse.com/foals.html. A colt was born a week later and within the past two weeks, two more foals were born!

The Gypsy Vanner Horse averages 14 to 15.2 hands high, though individuals may vary, with the build of a draft horse. Average weight is between 1,100 and 1,700 pounds. The Gyspsy Vanner does come in all colors, but black and white pinto (piebald) and brown and white pinto (skewbald) patterns are the most common. The Gypsy Vanner is such a gentle horse, so much so that Gypsy mothers are known to tell their children to stop bothering the horses (as they crawl over and under them).

An estimated two to three thousand Gypsy Horses exist in the United Kingdom, but the Gyspy Vanner Horse is estimated to be in the low hundreds and is considered very rare. There are now two stallions, fourteen mares, and four foals in the United States. Due to the rarity of the breed, the Gypsy Vanner Horse are candidates for an embryo program to perpetuate the breed.

The information for this article was compiled from the Gypsy Vanner Horse website with permission from Dennis Thompson. Please visit his site for more information and beautiful photos of his prized horses. (Please note that if you are a model horse customizer, he would greatly appreciate it if you would request permission before making a customized model of this breed.)

For more information visit:

• The Drum Horse
• Gloucester Wheel and Carriage
• Gypsy Vanner Horse
• Bibliography

Published April 1999 in the North West Breyer Horse Club newsletter. (em)
© 1999-2019 NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations
Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 1/27/2019