BREED HISTORY While fairly new to those outside the UK, the Gypsy Horse has been well known within the Romany and Irish Traveller communities, for many generations. The Gypsy Horse was first bred, as all breeds, from a mix of several other horses. Early nomadic families used small flat carts and needed horses to pull them. Later, they moved into living wagons, which were incredibly heavy and had to carry everything the owned, so a heavier horse was desired. That is when they started breeding heavy, Draft type horses, strong and powerful enough to pull their loads. Since they travelled constantly, they met up with other roaming families who also had horses and began to trade and breed. There was much competitiveness within the Gypsy communities, so flashier and prettier horses were strived for. However, they still had to be strong, willing and of sweet enough disposition, to live within the families at night when they camped. Horses with ill-temperaments were quickly sold off and not retained or bred. While we prefer to call him a "Gypsy Horse", the breed is known by many names across the world. According to where you might live or to which registry you prefer to belong, you might hear him called a Gypsy Horse, a Gypsy Vanner, a Tinker, an Irish Cob, a Colored Cob, a Traditional and more. However, be assured, they are all the same breed. That is of course, only if they have a background of true Romany and/or Traveller breeding. Do not be swayed by myths put about, that a horse called by one name, or registered in one registry or another, is somehow superior to those known by another name or registered within one registry or another. There are poor, good and excellent horses to be found, whatever the name or Registry. He will be probably stand between about 13 hands to about 15.2 hands tall - give or take a little at either end. Certainly some are much larger or even smaller. While the very ancient history of the Gypsy Horse is unknown, they are probably descended from several early draft horse and pony breeds. There is no doubt that Shires, Clydesdales, Dales Ponies, Welsh Cobs and Galloways, found their way into his early makeup. The Gypsy Horse is found in all colors. Solids from Black to White, Piebalds, Skewbalds and even some with Appaloosa-like markings. The most well known though, is probably the Piebald or Skewbald. They should ALL be possessed of much lavish hair and feather. To see what feather is all about and what you should look for, you might like to click here, To read about the Romany, Irish Travellers and other Gypsies, their histories, their horses and more, you might like to click here, You must also be aware that many horses these days, are advertised as Gypsy Horses, but are in fact crossbreds or just any horse with some colour and a little feather and sold to a gullible public through classified ads and on websites, as the real thing. If you see a "supposed" Gypsy Horse, advertised for an extremely low price and it looks too good to be true - well it probably isn't a purebred Gypsy Horse. So be careful where you place your money. Deal with importers, exporters and breeders, who have a solid track record. Don't be afraid to ask for referrals and recommendations. The Gypsy Horse is a Horse with a solid background of Gypsy Horse Ancestors. One which breeds true, generation after generation. Unfortunately there are many breeders about today, who breed spotted horses of mixed breeding, with little or no "feather", light boned and weedy and sell them as Gypsy Horses. They are not Gypsy Horses. Nobody can "make" an instant Gypsy Horse. There is a lot more to the breed than colour and a little feather. A lovely old painting, of Gypsies on the move. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* John and Shelly Lake Ramona California. Contact us here All text, pictures, animations and backgrounds appearing on this page, are the sole property and copyright of E.DeLeo and/or Shelly Lake, unless public domain or otherwise noted and may not be copied without permission. Pictures and graphics on this site are watermarked.     Website Design by Lizzie