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64-690: The Gypsy Cob , also known as the Traditional Gypsy Cob , Irish Cob , Romani Cob , Gypsy Horse , or Gypsy Vanner , is a breed of domestic horse from the British Isles . It is a small, solidly-built horse of cob conformation and is usually piebald . It is associated with Irish Travellers and English Romanichal Travellers . There was no stud-book or breed registry for these horses until 1996, but as breeders developed standards and recorded pedigrees, there are now organizations that register qualifying horses.. From about 1850, travelling people in

128-609: A genetic analysis for registration, to verify identity and identify future offspring. All of the North American Gypsy Horse and Drum Horse societies employ the Animal Genetics Research Laboratory of the University of Kentucky to perform DNA analysis and maintain a database of registered horses' DNA markers. UKY currently tests markers at 17 loci of a horse's genetic makeup. The aim of this analysis

192-487: A grey Shire stallion known as Shaw's Grey Horse of Scotland. The origins of the breed appear to be Irish, and the name Connors appears prominently in the breed history. In a poorly recorded interview, well-respected breeder Henry Connors gives some of the lineage of the horse. It includes horses with names such as Ben's of Bonafay, Jimmy Doyle's Horse of Ballymartin, Henry Connors' White Horse, The Lob Eared Horse, The Sham Horse, and Old Henry. The Irish cob can be traced to

256-410: A mare . A related hybrid, the hinny , is a cross between a stallion and a jenny (female donkey). Most other hybrids involve the zebra (see Zebroid ). With rare exceptions, most equine hybrids are sterile and cannot reproduce. A notable exception is hybrid crosses between horses and Equus ferus przewalskii , commonly known as Przewalski's horse . Rump (animal) The tailhead or dock

320-448: A breed registry. An early example of people who practiced selective horse breeding were the Bedouin , who had a reputation for careful breeding practices, keeping extensive pedigrees of their Arabian horses and placing great value upon pure bloodlines. Though these pedigrees were originally transmitted by an oral tradition , written pedigrees of Arabian horses can be found that date to

384-525: A carriage painter from Milnrow, Rochdale, Lancaster, was quoted in 1993 as saying, "Very big, hairy coloureds are now in vogue. They are status symbols . . . but they are not really an economical animal. They cost too much to feed, harness and shoe. . . and they don't stand up to the work. For that you want the vanner type of 14.3 to 15  hands (59 to 60 inches, 150 to 152 cm)"; larger horses require more fodder than smaller ones, as well as larger harnesses and horseshoes . The breed most used by

448-417: A combination of exercise, grazing a variety of greens in the hedgerows , and good quality care; the horse was considered part of the family. Since the family's children lived in close proximity to the horse, one having "an unreliable temper could not be tolerated". The Gypsy Horse was also used to pull the "tradesman's cart . . . used in conjunction with the caravan as a runabout and work vehicle and whilst on

512-410: A deep heart girth. The length of line of the belly should be twice that of the topline of the back and the horse should not appear "wasp waisted". The Dutch breed standard for vanner and cob types requires a strong, well-muscled build with abundant feathering, similar to that of other associations. The "grai" is classified as a lighter and more refined riding type. Strong hindquarters define the breed as

576-515: A journey". The Gypsy Horse breed as it is today is thought to have begun to take shape shortly after the Second World War. When the British Roma had first begun to live in vardoes around 1850, they used mules and cast off horses of any suitable breed to pull them. These later included coloured horses which had become unfashionable in mainstream society and were typically culled. Among these were

640-926: A pulling horse, although not to the degree found in larger feathered draught breeds such as the modern Shire and Clydesdale . Unlike the equine conformational flaw of cow-hockedness , where only the lower leg is turned outward, a Gypsy Horse's entire hind leg is set so as to angle outward. As a result, when the hind legs of a horse set up squarely are viewed from the rear, their cannon bones appear parallel. The Gypsy horse has distinct gaits . According to GHA's standard, "The stride should be correct, supple, and powerful. Showing good impulsion from behind, demonstrating powerful drive. Flowing, effortless in appearance". The horse's movement should be "natural, not artificial ... Some have higher knee action than others, it's[sic] way of going can vary from short and economical to longer, reaching strides." GHRA's standard requires "[a] steady forward walk with impulsion. Ground covering trot with

704-488: A registered Thoroughbred be a product of a natural mating, so-called "live cover". A foal born of two Thoroughbred parents, but by means of artificial insemination or embryo transfer , cannot be registered in the Thoroughbred studbook. However, since the advent of DNA testing to verify parentage, most breed registries now allow artificial insemination, embryo transfer, or both. The high value of stallions has helped with

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768-431: A rigorously defined standard phenotype, or for breeds that register animals that conform to an ideal via the process of passing a studbook selection process. Most of the warmblood breeds used in sport horse disciplines have open stud books to varying degrees. While pedigree is considered, outside bloodlines are admitted to the registry if the horses meet the set standard for the registry. These registries usually require

832-529: A secondary register, with their offspring eligible for full registration. Horses must pass an inspection to be registered. The Irish Cob Society also requires an inspection process . The Gypsy Cob Register of the UK & Ireland, a registry run by the Travelling Community, has a DNA database and requires breeding stallions to have a DNA profile. Gypsy Cobs are shown and traded at traditional horse fairs, of which

896-518: A selection process involving judging of an individual animal's quality, performance, and conformation before registration is finalized. A few "registries," particularly some color breed registries, are very open and will allow membership of all horses that meet limited criteria, such as coat color and species, regardless of pedigree or conformation. Breed registries also differ as to their acceptance or rejection of breeding technology. For example, all Jockey Club Thoroughbred registries require that

960-422: A significant number of coloured Shire horses . Many of these ended up with Romanichal breeders, and by the 1950s, they were considered valuable status symbols within that culture. Spotted horses were very briefly in fashion around the time of the Second World War, but quickly went out of fashion in favour of the coloured horse , which has retained its popularity until the present day. The initial greater height of

1024-429: A slight flick of feather at the point of extension." The Gypsy horse should be a "strong, kind, (very) intelligent partner that works willingly and harmoniously with its handler. They are also described as mannerly and manageable, eager to please, confident, courageous, alert, and loyal with a genuine sociable outlook. The Gypsy Horse is renowned for its gentle, tractable nature and sensible disposition." The Gypsy Horse

1088-415: A small draught horse, "designed for strength and power, but with class, presence and style." They are sometimes described as having an "apple butt" as the croup is well rounded and "very generous, smooth and broad". Poorly-muscled hindquarters or a too-sloping rump are unacceptable. The line measuring the length of the hip should also be horizontal; if the tailhead falls below the horizontal line intersecting

1152-579: A touch of Clydesdale? Lineage is often hard to trace." Publishing in 1993 in the first known acknowledgment of the Gypsy Horse as a distinct breed outside Romani culture, Hart employs the term three times in reference to a Gypsy Horse, identifying specific Gypsy Horses as vanners. Founded subsequently in 1998, 2002, and 2003, respectively, the Irish Cob Society, the Gypsy Cob and Drum Horse Association, and

1216-412: A very early age with the young horse tied "with a short rope from the head to the trace-ring on the collar of the shaft-horse", and led along on the off side. An old hat is sometimes placed on a fearful horse's head so as to keep him from seeing back over the top of his blinkers at the wagon looming at his back. A horse used to pull a vardo which was a permanent home was usually in very good condition due to

1280-1084: Is a selectively bred population of domesticated horses , often with pedigrees recorded in a breed registry . However, the term is sometimes used in a broader sense to define landrace animals of a common phenotype located within a limited geographic region, or even feral "breeds" that are naturally selected . Depending on definition, hundreds of "breeds" exist today, developed for many different uses. Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods," such as draft horses and some ponies , suitable for slow, heavy work; and " warmbloods ," developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe . Horse breeds are groups of horses with distinctive characteristics that are transmitted consistently to their offspring, such as conformation , color, performance ability, or disposition. These inherited traits are usually

1344-513: Is called "blagdon" or "splashed". There is no coat colour requirement in the breed standard of the Irish Cob Society, Gypsy Cob Register, Gypsy Vanner Horse Society, Gypsy Horse Registry of America , or Australasian Gypsy Horse Society. Since the horse originates in the British Isles, British colour names may be used in registration in the United States . There are many breed societies for

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1408-481: Is prone to diseases common to feathered draught horses. The most serious of these is chronic progressive lymphedema . This condition may have a genetic component, as is a similar condition in humans. However, studies to date have not identified a causative gene. Of less concern is pastern dermatitis ("greasy heels"). The moist environment under the feathering is an ideal environment for the combination of fungus and mites which are believed to cause it. The Gypsy Horse

1472-492: Is strong, muscular, and of medium length "with a throat latch slightly deeper than lighter breeds". The chest should be broad, deep, and well muscled. Withers are "well rounded, not high and fine, i.e., hardly noticeable". Most standards call for a "well-sloped" shoulder But the GVHS's standard is more precise, specifying a shoulder angle ranging from 45 degrees to 60 degrees. The back is to be short coupled with well sprung ribs and

1536-473: Is the beginning of the tail, where the tail joins the rump. It is known also as the base or root of the tail, and corresponds to the human sacrococcygeal symphysis . In some mammals the tail may be said to consist of the tailbone (meaning the bony column, muscles, and skin) and the skirt (meaning the long hairs growing from the tailbone). In birds, similarly, the tail consists of tailbone and tailfan ( tail fan ). Some animals are subjected to docking ,

1600-531: Is to either exclude or fail to exclude another horse as a parent. In a spirit of co-operation, the five American breed societies have jointly granted the University of Kentucky permission to employ their registered horses' DNA markers in confirming parentage of horses belonging to other registries. Since information regarding the past histories, including parentage, of many of the Gypsy Horses imported to North America

1664-447: Is traditional for tails to be cut off ( docked ) at the dock. In bird anatomy , the rump is the body immediately above the tail. The color of plumage on the rump is a characteristic widely used by ornithologists to distinguish between related species, and sometimes also between males and females of the same species. Similarly, the silhouette of the tailfan is a characteristic widely used for purposes of identification, particularly in

1728-461: Is typically within the 14.3- to 16.2-hand range. Feathering , long hair on the legs, is considered a "characteristic and decorative feature of the Irish Cob", but is not a requirement for registration. A Gypsy Horse's facial profile should be straight, neither overly dished nor roman nosed. A "sweet" head, more refined than that of most draught horses, is desired. The GHA's breed standard states that

1792-563: The Appleby Horse Fair is the largest in Europe. Many Travellers and Romani travel to the fair in traditional horse-drawn caravans and vardos . American photographer John S. Hockensmith documented such a journey in 2004, travelling with and photographing the Harker family's 60-mile (97 km) journey to Appleby in bow-top living wagons. In North America, the first known show classes dedicated to

1856-777: The Clydesdale and the Shire developed out of a need to perform demanding farm work and pull heavy wagons. Ponies of all breeds originally developed mainly from the need for a working animal that could fulfill specific local draft and transportation needs while surviving in harsh environments. However, by the 20th century, many pony breeds had Arabian and other blood added to make a more refined pony suitable for riding. Other horse breeds developed specifically for light agricultural work, heavy and light carriage and road work, various equestrian disciplines, or simply as pets. Horses have been selectively bred since their domestication . However,

1920-544: The Section D Welsh Cob to add a more animated trot to the breed without loss of other desired traits. Another trend in breeding was a steady decrease in height, a trend still present among many Romani breeders. In the 1990s, the breed's average height still was in excess of 15  hands (60 inches, 152 cm), but horses of 14.3 to 15  hands (59 to 60 inches, 150 to 152 cm) were beginning to be viewed as more desirable, primarily for economic reasons. John Shaw,

1984-608: The Universal equine life number  [ fr ] database under the breed names "Tinker Horse" and "Tinker Pony." Among the assorted associations and societies dedicated to the breed, there is some variety in services offered. The Gypsy Horse Registry of America includes size classifications in its stud book. The Gypsy Horse Association provides access to the identifying DNA markers, pedigrees (both anecdotal and DNA verified), and registration photos of most of its registered horses online and free of charge. The Gypsy Horse Association and

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2048-466: The amputation of the tailbone at or near the dock. These include dogs , cats , sheep , pigs , and horses . Humans have a remnant tail, the coccyx , and the human equivalent of docking is coccygectomy . Usage varies from animal to animal. Birds and cattle are said to have a rump and tailhead. Dogs are said to have a rump and dock. Horses are said to have a croup (sometimes rump), thigh or haunch, buttock, and dock. In some breeds it

2112-450: The coccygeal vertebrae begin). Below the croup is the thigh or haunch. Behind the thigh is the buttock . On horses appearing in parades and other public ceremonies, the croup may be decorated with quarter marks , a grooming pattern made in the horse's hair by applying hair gel or spray, then brushing patches of hair in opposite directions. Applied to horses, the term "dock" has two additional uses. Its meaning may be extended to either

2176-556: The 14th century. In the same period of the early Renaissance , the Carthusian monks of southern Spain bred horses and kept meticulous pedigrees of the best bloodstock; the lineage survives to this day in the Andalusian horse . One of the earliest formal registries was General Stud Book for Thoroughbreds, which began in 1791 and traced back to the Arabian stallions imported to England from

2240-410: The 18th century but also was long considered a type, not a breed, and varied somewhat in characteristics, though generally was bred for light draught and farm work but was also capable of being ridden. It originated from crossing Thoroughbred , Connemara pony , and Irish Draught horses. The first known Gypsy Horses to come to America arrived in 1996, imported by Dennis and Cindy Thompson, who created

2304-454: The American organisations. Some stud-books have different categories: The Gypsy Horse Registry of America has two height classifications: Section A for purebred horses under 14.2  hands (58 inches, 147 cm) and Section B for purebred horses 14.2  hands (58 inches, 147 cm) and over. Its Section C is for Gypsy Crossbred horses. The Netherlands stud-book for Gypsy horses,

2368-523: The British Isles began to use this horse to pull their caravans called vardos . The color and look of the breed were refined in the years after the Second World War . Horses of this type were first exported to the United States in 1996. The Gypsy horse is usually, but not always, piebald . It may also be skewbald or any solid colour ; a solid-coloured horse with white splashing on the underbelly

2432-702: The Gypsy Cob Society of America referred to the breed as "Cob", the name used by its Romani breeders. The Gypsy Horse Association, incorporated in 2008, employed the name "Gypsy Horse" and states on its website that the organisation recognizes all breed names currently in use. Also in 2008, the GCSA renamed itself the Gypsy Horse Registry of America. Breed associations in Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands are listed in

2496-436: The Gypsy Horse Registry of America provide online stud-books. The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society provides access to its stud-book for a fee. The GVHS also has inspections for registered horses and provides awards for year end points from approved shows. The Gypsy Cob and Drum Horse Association offers inspections and some shows. Since registration for the Gypsy Horse has only existed within the last 20 years, most associations require

2560-669: The Gypsy Horse were held at the Colorado Horse Park on 28–29 August 2004, employing the breed standard of the Gypsy Cob Society of America, now the Gypsy Horse Registry of America. The first Gypsy breed show , the Ohio State Fair Gypsy Vanner Horse Show, sponsored by the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society, was held in 2005 in Columbus, Ohio. Currently there are a number of breed shows for the Gypsy Horse in

2624-515: The Gypsy Vanner name and started a breed society. The breed was often referred to simply as a "Cob", although the term cob defines a short-legged, stout type of horse rather than a breed. Other names are used worldwide for the breed, such as Irish Cob, Gypsy Cob, Gypsy Vanner, and Tinker Cob, alluding to its association with the travelling community . The first known importers of the Gypsy Horse to North America , Dennis and Cindy Thompson, viewed

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2688-543: The Gypsy horse, with variations in their respective breed standards. The range of desired heights is generally from 13 to 16  hands (52 to 64 inches, 132 to 163 cm) in the United States and Australasia, but in Ireland and continental Europe, the desired height limit goes up to 16.2  hands (66 inches, 168 cm) for some types and they permit both lighter-boned as well as larger horses than typically desired by

2752-481: The Middle East that became the foundation stallions for the breed. Some breed registries have a closed stud book , where registration is based on pedigree, and no outside animals can gain admittance. For example, a registered Thoroughbred or Arabian must have two registered parents of the same breed. Other breeds have a partially closed stud book, but still allow certain infusions from other breeds. For example,

2816-489: The Nederlands Stamboek voor Tinkers, identified there as the "Tinker horse," classifies horses into three groups: "cob," "vanner," and "grai," based on height in metres and degree of refinement. The cob type is approximately 14.3 to 15.1  hands (59 to 61 inches, 150 to 155 cm), and the vanner 15.1 to 16.2  hands (61 to 66 inches, 155 to 168 cm). The more refined "grai" may be of any size but

2880-623: The Romani breeders to set not only the size but also the type of the future Gypsy Horse was the Dales Pony , described as "thick, strong, . . . active yet a great puller". The Dales, a draught pony , preserved the bone, feather, and pulling capabilities derived from the Shire and Clydesdale breeds but in a smaller and therefore more economical package. The Dales and, to a lesser extent, the Fell Pony interbred with

2944-427: The Shire and Clydesdale provided the basis of today's Gypsy Horse. Since the Romani people who developed the Gypsy Horse communicated pedigree and breed information orally, information on foundation bloodstock and significant horses within the breed is mostly anecdotal. The two foundation sires of the breed are reportedly known as The Old Coal Horse and Sonny Mays' Horse. It is said that The Coal Horse goes back to

3008-663: The US and Canada. In the United States, the Gypsy Horse is used in many equestrian sports, by amateurs and youths. In 2004, the United States Dressage Federation accepted the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society as an affiliate member, allowing horses registered with GVHS to compete in its dressage and dressage-related events. The Gypsy Horse Association was accepted into the USDF programme in 2008; two other coloured horse associations had joined by 2011. Horse breed A horse breed

3072-407: The United States, sometime based on state law and sometimes based on antitrust laws. Horses can crossbreed with other equine species to produce hybrids . These hybrid types are not breeds, but they resemble breeds in that crosses between certain horse breeds and other equine species produce characteristic offspring. The most common hybrid is the mule , a cross between a "jack" (male donkey) and

3136-404: The acceptance of these techniques because they allow a stallion to breed more mares with each "collection" and greatly reduce the risk of injury during mating. Cloning of horses is highly controversial, and at the present time most mainstream breed registries will not accept cloned horses, though several cloned horses and mules have been produced. Such restrictions have led to legal challenges in

3200-454: The breed as unnamed and chose the name "vanner", calling their association the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. A "vanner" is a light draught horse suitable for pulling a horse-drawn van . Before the formation of the American society in 1996, the word "vanner" appears in two printed sources in association with these horses. In 1979, Harvey described a Roma-owned horse as "[a] fair-sized vanner, about 15.2hh (15 1/2 hands) high, . . . [c]ross-shire, with

3264-452: The breed derived from the influence of both Clydesdales and Shires. In the formative years of the Gypsy Horse, the Romanichal bred not only for specific colour, profuse feather, and greater bone, but also for increased action and smaller size. To increase action at the trot , they first tried Hackney Pony breeding, but this blood reduced both feather and bone. The Roma therefore turned to

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3328-425: The concept of purebred bloodstock and a controlled, written breed registry only became of significant importance in modern times. Today, the standards for defining and registration of different breeds vary. Sometimes, purebred horses are called "Thoroughbreds", which is incorrect; " Thoroughbred " is a specific breed of horse, while a "purebred" is a horse (or any other animal) with a defined pedigree recognized by

3392-497: The entire tail minus the skirt (i.e., synonymous with tailbone) or the tailhead only. In other equidae, it encompasses most of the tailbone, as most of that portion of the tail does not have long hairs. A lack of long hairs can be natural, as in zebras , donkeys , and the Przewalski horse , or artificial, the result of pulling, trimming, or shaving part of the skirt (see Horse grooming and Tail (horse) ). A sponge used to wash

3456-412: The field. Some birds have a food reservoir pouch in the esophagus that is known as a croup (or crop), which should not be confused with the croup (rump) of a horse. In equine anatomy , the croup refers specifically to the topline of the horse's hindquarters and surrounding musculature, beginning at the hip, extending proximate to the sacral vertebrae and stopping at the dock of the tail (where

3520-456: The head may be "sweet", "a small, tidy pony type head", meaning without coarseness and in proportion with the body, but the AGHS calls unequivocally for a sweet head, "more refined than a Shire might have ... with broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle, and even bite". According to GVHS, the "forehead must be flat and broad ... with [t]he frontal facial bone ... flat to slightly convex". The neck

3584-469: The latter part of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th. The advent of the gasoline powered engine and the loss of horses to World War I worked together to bring the horse-drawn era to a close. Some aspects of training, management, and characteristics of a horse used to pull a Vardo are unique. For example, the horse is trained not to stop until it reaches the top of a hill; otherwise it may not be able to get started again. Training begins at

3648-541: The modern Appaloosa must have at least one Appaloosa parent, but may also have a Quarter Horse , Thoroughbred, or Arabian parent, so long as the offspring exhibits appropriate color characteristics. The Quarter Horse normally requires both parents to be registered Quarter Horses, but allows "Appendix" registration of horses with one Thoroughbred parent, and the horse may earn its way to full registration by completing certain performance requirements. Open stud books exist for horse breeds that either have not yet developed

3712-411: The point of the buttock should touch the back of the hock, run "parallel" to the cannon bone, and touch the ground directly behind "the center of the heel". Pastern and hoof angles of the hindlegs are more vertical than the forelegs, usually over 50 degrees. Hooves have strong walls and a well shaped frog , round and with wide heels. The hind legs of the Gypsy Horse should display proper angulation for

3776-412: The point of the hip, the horse's "hip/croup will be approaching too steep an angle for the Gypsy Vanner". Bone in the legs should be heavy, clean, and flat. GVHS's standard calls for a length of forearm to cannon ratio of 55% to 45%. The front legs should be clean and flat in joints as well as bone; front pasterns should slope at the same angle as the shoulder and should not be short. A line drawn from

3840-540: The result of a combination of natural crosses and artificial selection methods aimed at producing horses for specific tasks. Certain breeds are known for certain talents. For example, Standardbreds are known for their speed in harness racing . Some breeds have been developed through centuries of crossings with other breeds, while others, such as the Morgan horse , originated from a single sire from which all current breed members descend. More than 300 horse breeds exist in

3904-470: The status of animals whose heights fall outside that range can be appealed to GVHS's board of directors. The Netherlands stud book only allows full registration to offspring of horses previously registered with the NSvT; horses identified as Irish Cob, Gypsy Cob, Gypsy Vanner, Coloured Horse, Traveller Pony, Black and White, or Traditional Cob may be evaluated as potential breeding stock and, if suitable, recorded in

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3968-512: The world today. Modern horse breeds developed in response to a need for "form to function", the necessity to develop certain physical characteristics to perform a certain type of work. Thus, powerful but refined breeds such as the Andalusian or the Lusitano developed in the Iberian Peninsula as riding horses that also had a great aptitude for dressage , while heavy draft horses such as

4032-542: Was bred by the Romanichal Travellers of Great Britain to pull the Vardoes in which they lived and travelled. Romanichal Travellers had arrived in the British Isles by 1500 AD, but they did not begin to live in vardoes until the middle of the 1800s. Prior to that, they travelled in tilted carts or afoot and slept either under or in these carts or in small tents. The peak usage of the horse-drawn Gypsy caravan occurred in

4096-674: Was lost, many owners seek to reclaim the genetic roots of their animals, and services have sprung up to satisfy this desire. Because many of the horses submitted for registration have never been registered, the American organisations evaluate horses for registration by way of photos and provenance information such as import papers and bills of sale. Beginning in 2014, GVHS began restricting registration to horses sired by GVHS-registered stallions and out of mares whose DNA markers are available and confirm parentage. Only horses falling between 13 and 16  hands (52 and 64 inches, 132 and 163 cm) in height are eligible for registration, although

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