MIDDLETON PLACE EQUESTRIAN CENTER
  • Home
  • Book your ride
  • Trail Ride Info
  • Horse Shows
  • Contact Us
  • Ship-Ins

Middleton Place Equestrian Center Blog

The Gypsy Vanner Horse

9/15/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture
One of the most mysterious and stunning horse breeds of all time is the Gypsy Vanner Horse. Have you heard of these beauties? We can't wait to introduce you to them!

Hello, Lowcountry! We hope this blog finds you healthy and happy! Things are going well on our trails. Our fantastic guides are ready to lead you on an exciting adventure with our beautiful horses. We are currently offering our historic trail rides. These rides are the perfect choice to enjoy the beautiful local landscape and to learn a little bit about the history of Charleston. We have thee trail rides every day, one at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM. If you're planning on joining us, please arrive 15 minutes early. If you're a first-time rider or a first time guest on our trails, please visit our FAQ page. If you happen to have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Please visit our "Book Your Ride" page on our website to book your next trail ride with us today!

Did you happen to watch The Kentucky Derby after reading our last blog? We hope everyone who did still wore their favorite Derby outfits while enjoying a Mint Julep or two! Our congratulations to Authentic and his trainer Bob Baffert for winning in a surprising and very dramatic turn of events. Authentic pulled right in front of Tiz The Law who won The Belmont Stakes and was favored to win the Derby. We are sure you're just as excited as we are to see who will win The Preakness Stakes on October 3rd!

There are many stunning horse breeds across the globe, a few of which we have talked about in past blogs. What many of our readers might not know is that new breeds are still out there and are still being introduced to the United States. One of the newest breeds that have come to the United States and received almost overnight popularity is the Gypsy Vanner horse. Thanks to Dennis and Cindy Thompson, these stunning horses first immigrated to the United States in 1996, and the Thompson's established The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. In 2015, there were over 4000 Gypsy Vanner horses registered in the society, and they are still incredibly popular today. From the beginning the society has been dedicated to breeding preservation, learning about the culture that created this selective breed, and staying true to the breed itself. They do so through education, evaluation, and horse registration.

These magical and striking horses have a very interesting story. For years, the Englishman didn't care for horses that weren't a solid color. Horses that had spots or splotches on them were most often found in Ireland and the surrounding areas. These colored horses were very often cast-off in English culture. Thanks to the English the Gypsy culture was introduced to these beauties and instantly fell in love with them. These Gypsies were predominantly found in the British Isles. There is a lot of speculation as to why they decided to selectively breed what would become the Gypsy Vanner. The most popular speculation is that the Gypsy culture wanted a sturdy and strong horse with an amazing temperament that was stunning to look at. After years of careful breeding, that is exactly what they achieved. These beautiful horses and their breeding went undocumented until almost the 1940s. Once WWII arrived, the horses were finally cataloged and traced as a true breed.

These stunning horses are a mix of very impressive horses; the Shire, the Clydesdale, and the Pales. They are cold-blooded horses, which all feather horses are according to the GVHS. They are shorter horses ranging between 12.2 to 16 hands. They are stocky and strong like a Clydesdale and have a draft-type build. They are perfect for riding and driving, and for any level of rider. They are very easy to train and have calm and sweet personalities. They are wonderful with children and for older riders who might have a difficult time getting on and off their horse due to pain and age.

When they came to America, the Gypsy Vanner didn't have an official name. Thanks to the Thompson family, the name they decided upon honored their origins and the skill they were originally bred for. Named for the Gypsies that bred them and the caraVAN that they were bred to pull, the official name of Gypsy Vanner was born. While they were bread to match and pull the stunningly decorated living caravan wagons that the Gypsies once lived and traveled in, the use of these wagons is now just for show and fun. While this way of life may have turned into fun, the beauty and the strength of these horses remain.

The Gypsy Vanner can come in a variety of colors, but they are most often found in skewball, which is a mix of black and white, or piebald, which is a mix of brown and white. When you see a Gypsy Vanner for the first time it is very easy to confuse it with a Palomino or Paint horse, but pay close attention, you'll be able to spot the differences. Gypsy Vanners are known for an abundant amount of hair in their manes and tails. They can have double manes, and they can grow their manes down past their knees. The stunning feathering they are known for begins at their hock and cascades over their powerful hooves.

With such incredible temperament, strength, and ability to train, the Gypsy Vanner sounds like the picture-perfect horse. Honestly, this isn't far from the truth. One of the very few downfalls is the upkeep they require for their stunning manes, coats, and feathering. Extra care has to go into their grooming to keep them safe, healthy, clean, and ready to show. They also come with a high price tag. If you are interested in purchasing a Gypsy Vanner, we encourage you to consider the responsibility and care that comes with these beauties before officially buying one.

Rising in popularity, these horses are being seen more frequently at shows and in competitions. Due to their popularity and price tag, it will be very hard to find one to adopt. The best way to go about owning one is to go through a private breeder. These horses are truly something special. If you haven't seen one in person, make sure to make that a priority. We do not doubt that it will be love at first sight. Until next time, stay safe and stay hopeful everyone!
Picture
4 Comments

    Author

    Middleton Place Team

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019

    Categories

    All
    2026
    Adopting A Horse
    American Quarter Horse
    Anna Sewell
    Authentic
    Barn
    Barn Care
    Belmont Stakes
    Belmont Stakes 2020
    Best Horseback Riding In Charleston
    Best Horseback Trails In Charleston
    Best Horse Trail Riding In Charleston
    Bits
    Black Beauty
    Blessing Of The Hounds
    Boarding Your Horse
    Board Your Horse At Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Board Your Horse With Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Bob Baffert
    Buffalo Bill Cody
    Burmese
    Buying A Horse
    Caring For Your Horses In The Winter
    Caring For Your Horse's Mane
    Caring For Your Horse's Tail
    Chariot Racing
    Charleston
    Christmas And Your Horse
    Chuckwagon Racing
    Clean Your Barn
    Cold Weather Care
    Corolla Wild Horses
    Covid 19
    Cowboy Mounted Shooting
    Deep Clean Your Barn
    Dennis And Cindy Thompson
    Derby
    Ecosystem
    Equestrian Sports
    Famous Horse Races
    Famous Horses
    Feed Bags
    Fox Hunting
    Green Energy
    Gypsy Vanner
    Gypsy Vanner Horse
    Halters
    Hippogriff
    Historic Horseback Riding Trails
    Historic Trail Ride
    Historic Trail Rides
    History Of Sidesaddle
    History Of The American Quarter Horse
    Holidays
    Holidays And Horses
    Hong Kong Derby
    Horse
    Horse Adoption
    Horse Agility
    Horseback Charleston
    Horseback Riding
    Horseback Riding Charleston South Carolina
    Horseback Riding In Charleston
    Horseback Riding Safety
    Horseback Riding South Carolina
    Horseback Riding Trail
    Horseback Trail
    Horse Boarding
    Horse Boarding In South Carolina
    Horse Boarding South Carolina
    Horse Care
    Horse Facts
    Horse History
    Horse In Winter
    Horse Knowledge
    Horse Mane
    Horse Ownership
    Horse Pulling
    Horse Racing
    Horses
    Horses And Thanksgiving
    Horses And Thanksgiving 2020
    Horses At Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Horses In The Wintertime
    Horses In Winter
    Horse Sports
    Horse Supplies
    Horse Tail
    Horse Tracks
    Horse Trail Charleston
    Horse Trail Ride Charleston
    Horse Trail Rides Charleston
    Horse Trail Riding Charleston
    Horse Trainging
    Hurricane
    Hurricane Prep
    Hurricane Preparedness
    Jousting
    Keeneland Race Course
    Kentucky Derby 2020
    Know Your Horse
    Lexington Race Track
    Mane
    Man O' War
    Marguerite Henry
    Meydan UAE
    Middleton Place Equestrian Center
    Middleton Place Horses
    Middleton Trail Rides
    Misty Of Chincoteague
    Mounted Horseback Archery
    Movie Horses
    Mr. Ed
    Mythical Horses
    National Pony Express
    Natural Disaster
    Nature
    North Carolina
    Owning A Horse
    Pandemic
    Pegasus
    Preakness Stakes
    Preakness Stakes 2020
    Quarter Horse
    Quarter Mile Run Horse
    Queen Elizabeth
    Race
    Racing Victoria
    Renewable Energy
    Research Your Horse
    Resources
    Riding Horses In Charleston
    Riding Horses In Charleston South Carolina
    Riding Sidesaddle
    Roy Rogers
    Saddle
    Saddle Bags
    Sanitizing Your Barn
    SC
    Scurry Driving
    Seabiscut
    Seattle Slew
    Secretariat
    Sidesaddle
    Sidesaddle Riding
    South Carolina
    Stable
    Stable Care
    Steeplechase
    Steven Farley
    Sunland Park
    Tack Room
    Tail
    Thankful For Our Horses
    Thanksgiving 2020
    Thanksgiving With Your Horses
    The Black Stallion
    The Dubai World Cup
    The Grand National
    The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society
    The Kentucky Derby
    The Louisiana Derby
    The Outerbanks
    The Pony Express
    Tiz The Law
    Trail Rides Charleston
    Trail Riding Etiquette
    Trigger The Horse
    Triple Crown
    TV Horses
    Types Of Saddle
    Unicorns
    Walter Farley
    Why We Are Thankful For Our Horses
    Why We Love Horses
    Wild West
    Wild West Shows
    Winter For Horses
    Year Of The Horse
    Zodiac

    RSS Feed

4280 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414
​middletonplaceequestriancenter@outlook.com
​
843-735-0709
Please also visit: Middleton Place  | The Inn at Middleton Place 
Picture
Site powered by MadeSimply
  • Home
  • Book your ride
  • Trail Ride Info
  • Horse Shows
  • Contact Us
  • Ship-Ins