The Temperament of the Gypsy Vanner Horse

The Gypsy horses are as a group ones developed with two primary goals - working and temperament. They were selected so that even the stallions could be safely handled by women and children. The stallions had to be quiet enough to work around mares in heat or not without getting goofy. Selective breeding as well as training and not using those who didn't measure up goes a long ways towards producing the kind of horse desired.

The Gypsy Vanner, Gypsy Cob, Tinker - known by many names but meaning a specific type of horse that combined beauty, strength, intelligence and temperament they needed to be easily handled and trustworthy as the Gypsy horses were entrusted with the lives and possessions of the gypsy families. They are truly a family horse and no matter age should be safe to handle. While some horses may have more spirit than others and many horses play up when running and bucking in the field, this should become manageable when you lay your hands on the horse. That said, all horses need training and the Gypsy horses are no different!

With reported infusion of breeds like the Shire, Clydesdale and Dales pony they are various sizes with profuse "feathers" on the feet desired. There is no height limit but a solid horse with a short back, well rounded withers and a deep broad chest is needed for lung and heart capacity needed to work. The first thing that strikes most people is the hair - abundant hair with long manes, feathers to the knees and hocks, profuse tails and indicating much care to keep it maintained. They are able to ride and drive, and suitable for light draft work due to their draft background.

There is no excuse for a bad tempered Gypsy Vanner - it has long been a qualifying breed standard and a horse that has a bad temper is not one that even fits the breed standard. This is specifically a qualifying selection factor.

Seeing pictures is one thing - seeing them and touching them is something else. Seeking out a breeder or a show that has these horses present is worth the effort. The friendliness of the breed and temperament isn't caught in pictures and is absolutely something that should be considered. Because it is a selection factor, don't buy or breed to a Gypsy Vanner without seeing the horse in person. There are people who for some reason find it a good idea to part with thousands of dollars for a horse they've seen on a website then are surprised when the horse they receive doesn't match what they thought they bought. When it comes to a breed that temperament is a selection factor (as it should be for all horses!) it's even more important to not rely solely on photos and videos.