Gypsy Horse Journal

EquineJournal E-BOOK

Gypsy Horse journal

Let Your Hair Down TIPS FOR GROOMING YOUR GYPSY

SHOWING O FF

A Guide to Competing In-Hand

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contents

Gypsy Journal

8 Prepurchase Exam 11 Let Your Hair Down Tips for perfecting your Gypsy Horse's appearance

BY JANE CARLTON

Welcome to our inaugural Gypsy Horse Journal e-book. The staff here at Equine Journal have heard your requests to revive your favorite Gypsy magazine, and are excited to bring it back to life in a new, digital format, which will be published annually.

Everyone knows that owning a horse with a long, fl owing mane and feather takes a lot of grooming. In her article, “Let Your Hair Down,” Jane Carlton shares advice on how to get your Gypsy’s locks shiny, tanglefree, and of course, fl owing. Turn to page 11 for more information.

And, once you have your horse’s appearance perfected, it’s time to move on to showing him off in the ring. In the article, “Showing Off Gypsies In-Hand” on page 16, Natalie DeFee Mendik shares advice on how to prepare for in-hand classes at your next show.

We welcome your feedback on the Gypsy Horse Journal, and would love to hear about what you would like to see in upcoming issues. Contact us by emailing editorial@equinejournal.com.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/

SENIOR ADVERTISING/

GENERAL MANAGER

MARKETING CONSULTANT

Elisabeth Prouty-Gilbride

Karen Desroches

OPERATIONS MANAGER

ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT

Kelly Lee Brady

16 Showing Off Gypsy Horses In-Hand Advice on preparing for your next in-hand class.

BY BY NATALIE DEFEE MEN

on the cover EquineJournal E-BOOK

Gypsy Horse journal

Laurel Foster

SENIOR EDITOR

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Terisé Cole

Kristine Miller

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

PRODUCTION MANAGERS

Kelley Roche

Sherry R. Brown Cher Wheeler

ART DIRECTOR

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Candice D. Madrid

Emily Trupiano

Let Your Hair Down TIPS FOR GROOMING YOUR GYPSY

page 11

SHOW ING OFF

A Guide to Competing In-Hand

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“ Legendary Genetics Produce Imperial Vanners“

The King’s Rendition (Reno), is an athletic and stunning Gypsy Vanner, son of the Gypsy King X Sometimes a Lady, bred by Kathy Yore of Legacy Vanners and owned by Jason and Lynel Adams of Imperial Vanners.

Reno has been shown successfully in dressage by his trainer, Heather Caudill. Two years in a row he has qualified for USDF Regionals and has qualified for the USDF Finals for 2017. The future looks bright for this talented stallion. Reno has already produced several extraordinary foals that share his beauty, movement, and athleticism. For more information on breeding or foals for sale, please contact Jason and Lynel Adams with Imperial Vanners.

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JASON ADAMS 770-318-6743 HOTTHEAD713@BELLSOUTH.NET LYNEL ADAMS 770-318-6740 LYNEL4MORTGAGES@BELLSOUTH.NET 2017 Gypsy Horse Journal

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ON THE BANKS OF THE PICTURESQUE North Saskatchewan River, there is a place rife with golden aspens and towering spruce trees, where eagles soar overhead and a sense of untouched wonder still exists. It is here, where the horses at River Lane Ranch are changing lives.

What began as a hobby farm in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is now home to a stunning herd of Gypsy Vanner Horses and a unique equine therapy program. Owners Dave and Carmel Baird had a dream of helping others overcome life’s challenges after facing some of their own. When their daughter, Mikaela, had a stroke in 2009, Dave and Carmel knew life simply had to slow down. Little did 4

EQUINE JOURNAL

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they know that while Carmel was trying to overcome her childhood fear of horses, that a horse would be the healing gift to help their daughter Mikaela overcome her physical challenges from the stroke. “I am amazed how the genuine nature of a horse could give my family so much strength,” Dave shares. Together, they found their way and the idea for a Healing with Horses program at River Lane Ranch was born.

Since Gypsy Vanner horses were bred to be kind and gentle as well as beautiful, they seemed to be the perfect choice for their new therapy program. Determined to promote and preserve the quality of the breed, Dave and Carmel partnered with

seasoned professionals, Marvin and Felicia Britt. Marvin is a Professional Horseman and Gypsy Vanner Horse Show Judge with over 40 years of experience breeding, training, and showing horses. Felicia’s devotion to horses began early and through a lifetime of observation, as well as 30-plus years as a trainer and instructor, she has developed a deep understanding of the social behavior, natural instincts, and quiet communication of horses. Together, they moved from Florida to Alberta and set out on a new adventure.

Dave, Carmel, Marvin, and Felicia put together an extraordinary band of Gypsy Vanners that not only work as therapy horses but are presented

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in competitions and educational exhibitions. In the fall of 2017, they added an indoor equestrian center for events, clinics, and a place where clients may receive hands-on experience year round. The Healing with Horses program uses horses to assist people with physical, emotional, and fear-based challenges and focuses on “doing.” Experienced trainers and devoted staff feel that people learn best by doing and when the body and mind are engaged simultaneously, change begins to happen. “Horses have a way of reflecting who we are at that moment. By looking inwardly, we begin to make changes in ourselves.

We become braver and they respond differently to us,” Felicia explains.

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With the desire to add to their Gypsy Vanner herd, Dave built a state-ofthe-art reproductive facility for Marvin to manage the breeding program in-house. “We are excited about our program and deeply committed to maintaining the look and temperament intended by the Gypsy people in the UK,” Carmel shared. Home to some of the first Gypsy Vanners in Canada, the ranch’s foundation mares are direct daughters and granddaughters of stellar bloodlines such as Romney Rye, Road Sweeper UK, The Woolly Mammoth, The Gypsy King, Billy Boy, and Latcho Drom. And standing for these mares is a breathtaking black stallion: Supreme Grand Champion, GG Wings of Worship. His noble counte-

nance and regal stare give him away.

He is a son of The Gypsy King.

Dave, Carmel, Marvin, and Felicia: four intrepid dreamers set out on an epic adventure to share the breed they love and help heal a few hearts on the way. Their commitment to helping others is personal and their admiration for the breed is sincere.

These flamboyant horses can dazzle an audience of thousands. And yet, in a quiet moment, these same athletes humbly ignite a spark of hope in the life of an audience of just one. In the show ring or in a therapy session, their Gypsy Vanners’ profound effect on others is special indeed. The folks at River Lane Ranch are changing lives.

They welcome you to visit.

2017 Gypsy Horse Journal

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shedding blade-curry comb hybrid in glove form. Whether it’s before a ride or during bath time, these gloves have you covered.

Our tester found that because the gloves are so flexible, in order to get full use she had to press down firmly on the horse, using her entire hand. With a bit of soap, these are perfect for complete coverage and even distribution of soap for baths. The tight grip on the gloves is perfect during shedding season. HandsOn comes in three sizes and our tester recommends trying on the gloves before purchase—a tight fit is important.

Buy it: handsongloves.com; $24.99

2. WELLESLEY EQUESTRIAN SHOW BRUSH It isn’t yours if your name isn’t on it and Wellesley Equestrian knows that, so they personalize your brushes for you. Our tester loved the custom nature of the grooming

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tools—a brass plate firmly attached to the backside of the brush. The “Hard Enough For Dirt” brush is a long-bristled dandy brush that did great at getting all of the ground-in dirt out of our tester’s horse’s coat. While a bit on the pricier side, it is worth it for a custom brush that no one will be able to steal, no matter how bad they want to.

BUY IT: wellesleyequestrian.com; $48

3. EQUIGROOMER WATERWISK As a non-sweat scraper user due to always having thin-skinned horses, our tester was hesitant to try the WaterWisk. She was pleasantly surprised to find her horse non-reactive and flinch-free during use. The soft “blade” is made of a tough but flexible plastic that acts like a squeegee to remove water from a wet coat and was even soft enough to use on the face and legs. Unlike most wands or half-moonscrapers, this scraper is short enough to precisely choose where you want to use it without accidentally hitting a bony area and the wooden handle fits comfortably in the hand. We think this is a must have for your bath bucket.

BUY IT: equigroomer.com; $16.95 8

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PREPURCHASE EXAM 4. ABSORBINE COOLDOWN

NG I M O O GR TS C U D O PR

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Some days it can take forever to cool out a sweaty horse even after a cold hosing, so our tester loved this herbal rinse for her sensitive skinned mare who runs quite warm after a ride. The concentrated formula was easy to dilute with water and control how mild or strong you might want the rinse to be. When sponged on, it wiped away any post-ride grime and significantly cooled down her mare’s skin almost instantly. It gets bonus points for having essential oils and herbs that made the barn smell heavenly and for leaving our tester’s horse’s coat soft.

Buy it: absorbine.com; $22.95

5. ECOLICIOUS EQUESTRIAN DE-STRESS

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Skip the silicon in most detanglers—you want your horse’s tail to be healthy, not be covered in a coat of “super silky” plastic. Our tester (who’s tactic for a full tail is to not brush it) was impressed with how easily her horse’s tail went from tangled to tame after using De-Stress. The product cut her detangling time in half and has a nice scent to boot! While it does come out a bit oily and runny (it is jam-packed with healthy oils like coconut and apricot kernel), it easily absorbed into the hair, leaving it feeling soft and smooth for days after.

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6. MRS. CONN’S SHAMPOO-FILLED SPONGE

Tired of reaching over for the bottle of shampoo in mid-bath? Mrs. Conn’s sponges are the cure for that! These sponges come in a variety of five shampoo scents and are good for multiple uses. Plus, they’re easy to use—all the user needs to do is add water to the sponge. Our tester found the sponge’s flower-like shape made it easy to grip and fit nicely in hand. Though they aren’t as easy to use in the mane and tail, our tester’s horse was soft, smooth, and smelling great after a bath with Mrs. Conn’s Bath Day Shampoo Sponge.

BUY IT: mrsconns.com; $10 Non-profit organizations can contact editorial@equinejournal.com to request an item from EJ’s Tack Trunk.

Our testers: This month, our Prepurchase Exam was conducted by: Elisabeth Gilbride, Executive Editor; and Terisé Cole, Editorial Assistant/Web Editor.

Do you have a product to suggest?

Contact editorial@equineJournal.com with your ideas.

2017 Gypsy Horse Journal | EQUINEJOURNAL.COM

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grooming tips for horses with long locks

ane hair and tail hair and feather—oh my! Horse breeds with voluptuous locks such as the Gypsy, Friesian, and Andalusian are certainly easy on the eyes. With great manes, however, comes great responsibility. There’s no need to rip your hair out over the care of long locks.

Check out our top tips for grooming the everhairy equine—your horse’s ‘do will be shiny, tangle-free, and flowing in no time.

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PHOTO: JOHN STEPHEN HOCKENSMITH

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Wet it down There’s a reason hairdressers always comb our locks after a mini-shower— wet hair stretches and is more forgiving than when dry, says Ruthann Smith, professional braider and founder of Lucky Braids. Using a wide-tooth comb to detangle manes and tails when they’re still damp is the best way to salvage every possible piece.

Jeanne Schlenk, owner of Aunique Ranch in New Waverly, TX, who breeds Gypsy Cob Horses, combats snarls after using conditioner, but before washing it out. “[It] makes it a lot easier,” she says.

Many equestrians have differing opinions on how often to detangle manes and tails. Every day? Only before shows? For the long-locked, it’s smart to stay on top of brushing, otherwise the tangles might get out of control. A light pass with a brush or hand picking every day or every few days should keep things smooth.

Keep it wide.

Tempted to tackle your horse’s lustrous mane and tail with a giant brush? Take it back a notch. A wide-tooth comb wrangles hair (while wet!) with less chance of breakage, even though the process might take a bit longer. And don’t even think about starting from the top. “The idea is that you start at the bottom and work your grip up the mane or tail,” says Smith. “Grip it four or six inches above the bottom, start at the bottom, work your way up to the grip, then move your grip up and start again.” If it’s snarl city, gently pick the tangle apart with the teeth of the comb, starting below the problem area and working your way up. “A lot of people make the mistake of brushing from the top and end up pulling the hair out,” says Schlenk.

PHOTO: JEANNE SCHLENK

Watch your products.

It’s certainly tempting to try every new shampoo or detangler at the tack shop, but when it comes to keeping hair snarl free, simple is better. “Use a good shampoo that will actually enrich the hair, moisturize, re-feed the roots, and be easy to manage the hair instead of coating it,” advises Smith, who developed her own line of shampoo to tackle even the most wild of manes and tails.

Conditioner is also an important factor in keeping locks silky, but the wrong formula—and using it too often—can weigh things down. “We don’t want something to stick to the hair,” Smith says. “I want the hair to breathe. I don’t want it hanging heavy; I want it looking

full and fluffy. The whole ‘mane flowing in the wind’ thing—that romance comes from the mane moving, not from it falling heavy.”

With the right shampoo-conditioner combination, you should be able to simply shake the shavings out of a tail for a week or so.

Be braid conscious.

To braid or not to braid—that is the question. In general, leaving a horse’s mane, tail, or forelock in a braid can reduce the need to constantly detangle.

Be wary of the possible consequences, however. “When you leave the hair braided, the hair is kinked so the oils don’t move readily down the shaft to moisturize, enrich, and protect the hair,” Smith says.

In addition, if the horse is being turned out, one quick snag can rip out way more than just a few hairs, Schlenk warns. Long-term braids are better for horses that spend most of the time in their stall.

Horses with longer hair, however, run into issues that braiding can alleviate. A nose-length forelock, for example, can easily be gobbled up during dinnertime.

If you want to keep the forelock long, it’s not a bad idea to braid and tie it up, Schlenk says.

Make friends with scissors.

Don’t be afraid to don the scissors to keep things neat—especially with tails and feather. “We trim the tails so they don’t dock themselves,” Schlenk says.

Snipping away excess hair doesn’t just help prevent unfortunate ripping-out episodes, but it can also make the tail look fuller, in true trompe l’oiel fashion.

“If the bottom is well shaped, whether it’s banged or a u-shape, it will look a lot thicker,” Smith says. “You can cut a lot of length off, if it’s scragglier at the bottom, and it will look bigger and longer because it’s fuller.”

Super-long feather can pose its own unique problem, as horses can actually trip over their fluffy feet. “I had this beautiful stallion that was running through the field this one time and all of a sudden [we saw] him do a head-over-butt flip,” Schlenk says with a laugh. The horse was fine, but a quick trim now prevents any impromptu somersaulting.

the place to be, including midges—or no-see-ums—and other microscopic critters. “We’ll take Listerene and water and mix it at a ratio of about one to four and we’ll pour that on their mane,” Schlenk says. “It will take care of any cuts, but it also helps take care of the midges.”

For the extra-fuzzy, feather is also a big bug collector. Schlenk scrubs her horses’ feather with a dandruff shampoo to keep itching at bay.

Get up to scratch on scratches.

Horses with feather are easily susceptible to scratches, a painful infection of the heels and pasterns. Prevention is key, and luckily, not too hard to keep up with.

Number one on the list of things to do? Keep legs as dry as possible. “When skin is wet or has been wet, it’s more vulnerable,” Smith says. “If you have wet legs and you turn [the horse] out or put them into a stall, the shavings or grass will scratch the skin and make these little micro abrasions.” Enter from stage left: fungus and bacteria. Be sure to wait to brush legs until they are dry, also—bristles can have the same effect.

The best—and most low tech—way to dry legs is with a good, old-fashioned towel. And not only is a rubdown efficient at drying things out; it’s also beneficial for overall health and soundness. “[A towel rubdown] creates good circulation so it’s really healthy and healing for the skin,” Smith adds. “The vigorous motion is really, really good.”

With the right set of tools, a bit of patience, and a heap of TLC, your horse’s hair will soon be the envy of the barn.

Look out for hair-dwellers.

A flowing mane and tail are gorgeous, without a doubt. Unfortunately, many critters seem to agree. A variety of different insects think luscious locks are

This article was originally featured in the October 2016 issue of Equine Journal.

With the right know-how, long manes, tails, and feather can be easy to maintain.

2017 Gypsy Horse Journal

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Visit www.equinejournal.com for details.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc.

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Showing Off GYPSIES IN-HAND

BY NATALIE DEFEE MENDIK PHOTOS BY MYSTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY

SHOWING HORSES IN-HAND is a classic art in which the quality and beauty of the equine shine through. The halter class is the perfect venue for the Gypsy horse, with its natural good looks and timeless breeding. Seasoned halter competitors share their insights into getting the most out of your time in the ring.

What’s it All About?

Having an understanding of what the judge is looking for is a helpful starting point. In halter showing, the ideal candidate displays good overall conformation, notes Dedrah Wallk of Autumn Ridge Gypsy Vanners. She remarks that in her halter showing experience, her farm’s success can be attributed solely to the quality of their horses. “Good conformation results in an overall pleasing look of the horse. If a horse is really strong in one point but really lacking in another, he may not look ‘well balanced.’” An equine whose conformation is in complete harmony will place above one who isn’t as balanced in all the points of conformation, says Wallk.

“A halter class is different from a ridden or driven class. The halter judge is looking for the horse that is closest to the breed standard. It’s for breeding horses,” explains Jamie Sharp of Superior Stables. “It’s not always the same horse you would want to enter in a performance class.”

Wallk sees a correlation between halter success and performance success, as “the points of conformation on a horse typically relate directly to their use, and thus performance.

Typically a horse with better overall conformation will have an easier time performing in his discipline, simply because he is built

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This article was originally featured in the October 2013 issue of Equine Journal.

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to have an easier time doing his job.” This includes a myriad of points, which denote good conformation according to the breed’s standards; these are theoretically the same points that predicate the ability to perform.

Sharp goes on to note that as a halter class’ objective is to select breeding stock, she prefers the judges to bear in mind that with Gypsy horses they are evaluating a draft-type horse. This can be a bit of a confusing point, as she notes there are several styles of Gypsy horse in the United States that are used for different disciplines. For example, there are lighter-boned, lighter-feathered, taller Gypsy horses being used in English disciplines and the more traditional draft type of Gypsy horse is frequently seen in harness.

Fit and Ready

Preparing for in-hand showing begins well in advance with conditioning the horse. Gene Brown of Brown Training Resources, who shows Gypsies for Image Setter Ranch with his wife Sonya, really stresses the need for a foundation based on good condition. Brown’s conditioning program utilizes an average of two hours per day on the walker, as well as some “ponying.” He also incorporates driving, whether single, pair, or four-in hand, as an important aspect of his fitness program.

“I believe there’s nothing better for conditioning than walking. One of the weakest things I see at shows is the lack of condition in the horses that are being shown. Many of the Gypsies I see at shows I would consider just too well cared for. Too much to eat and not enough work. Kind of like me,” remarks Brown with a laugh. “I think for the betterment of the horse and the betterment of the breed, you’d do well to show them lighter. I lighten by conditioning, not by less feed. I see Performance in halter classes feature elements of showmanship, as the horse must learn to be “on” in the show ring, and it’s the handler’s job to guide the horse to be a lot of Gypsy owners, who bring their horse his or her very best. out of the pasture, give him a bath, and take him into the ring. That pattern can’t provide success for very long.”

Sharp also notes that the current trend in Gypsy horse horse is an English and Irish breed, he feels the breed is best halter showing is towards stockier horses. She explains that shown in English tack and attire. Brown presents mares in while the horse may be on the chunky side, you have to a hunt bridle and stallions in basic stallion tack without any include exercise for muscular fitness in your training program. decorative additions. “The purpose of stud tack is to present the horse in a collected, round frame, which is what judges should see. It has to be properly fitted to do its job.”

Lookin’ Good Grooming and turnout are critical to any discipline in the show ring. “Your horse has to be impeccably clean,” says Sharp.

Under the Judge’s Eye The handler must also look professional. Traditional, Performance in halter classes feature elements of showmanconservative colors and styles are most appropriate for the ship, as the horse must learn to be “on” in the show ring, and handler’s turnout. “Handlers should dress conservative, but it’s the handler’s job to guide the horse to be his or her very not drab—in a long-sleeved shirt, jacket, and slacks,” says best. Although showmanship and halter are separate venues, Brown. “I’m influenced by the carriage tradition, which has Sharp remarks, “If you are not a good showman, you are not clothing appropriate to morning, afternoon, and evening.” going to show well in any class.”

Brown explains that he prefers simple, conservative tack that Sharp explains that training for halter showing involves doesn’t have any type of “circus” style; in fact, Gypsy horses practicing at home with your show tack. Teach the horse to overseas are not shown in tack. He notes that as the Gypsy stand still and square, while staying alert. The horse should 18 EQUINE EQUINEJOURNAL JOURNAL| |October 2017 Gypsy 50 2013 Horse Journal

remain attentive to the handler, not getting distracted, or conversely, falling asleep. The handler must stay focused as well. “Watch your horse’s position. Pay attention to the judge,” says Sharp. Being a showman is reflected the entire time you are showing your horse. “Eighty percent of classes are judged on the way into the ring.”

“Judges also want the handler to have at least the basics of showing in halter down,” notes Wallk. She explains this includes such details as being able to set your horse up to stand square, and as the handler, knowing how to stay out of the way of the judge’s view of the horse.

“The breed lends itself to draftiness and should be standing square,” notes Brown. He explains that the posture you are seeking to achieve shouldn’t be confused with parking the horse, as seen in some other breeds. Rather the horse should be presented modeling, by which he displays his conformation through showing definition in the throat, extension in the poll, some elevation, and expression.

“The biggest mistake I see is that people don’t train for the class. I think it’s common for people to think if you show in a conformation class; it’s not a performance class, but it is,” explains Brown. “You’ve got to train for and condition for the class. There are certain requirements: trot when you are supposed to, model, and stand still.”

The best candidates for halter showing success, explains Wallk, are horses that not only possess great conformation, but those that stand up well and enjoy being in front of people. She also notes that in the event a halter class has a wide range of ages presented in that class, such as mares or stallions aged five and over, the deck is often stacked against a mare that has had many pregnancies or a stallion that is showing his age. “These horses are still great for their age, but they cannot compete against horses 10 years younger,” comments Wallk.

Showing Tips

Much success at shows can be attributed to doing your legwork by gaining experience and being prepared. If you haven’t had much show experience, Sharp recommends going to shows and watching who’s doing well. Talk to successful exhibitors and assess why they’re doing well.

Look at how experienced competitors have prepared themselves for the show.

When you go to a show yourself, being prepared gives you and your horse the confidence necessary to succeed.

“I get a feed stall and tack stall,” says Sharp. “All my gear is clean, organized, and ready for quick changes between classes. Arrive organized and stay organized. I also keep my horses happy and comfortable, which includes spending time walking and hand grazing.”

Sharp points out that your horse is evaluated as seen at that moment by the judge. An important element is being prepared for that moment when you go to a show. This entails everything from having your horse mentally and physically at his best, having the horse properly trained for the class, and being prepared in every detail down to your shoes being shined and your number pinned properly in place.

Present and Future of Showing

Brown and Sharp envision ways in which Gypsy horse showing can grow and evolve.

“The Gypsy breed is not young, but Gypsies in America are 52

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Clean and well-groomed horses are critical to placing well in in-hand classes.

Halter Class Checklist

Have your horse fit and in good, muscular condition.

Immaculate grooming is

a must.

Train your horse well in to stand up and model. advance Watch good handlers fo on how to best show th r pointers e horse.

Pay attention to your ow n turnout.

Be thoroughly organized at the show.

Stay focused in the ring.

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young,” says Brown. “I see these horses coming from a lot of new horse owners, which I think is a good thing. Because of this, however, they don’t have much experience in what goes on in other show rings.”

Sharp also recognizes the inexperience of many competitors and is concerned about new competitors becoming discouraged. She explains that amateurs, juniors, and professionals are currently competing against one another, with the professionals often coming from extensive show experience with other breeds. She would like to see Gypsy horse showing grow in participation to the extent that the number of competitors would allow each of these three groups to be pinned separately.

Brown also contends that the Gypsy horse associations need to create a clear platform, noting that judges and competitors aren’t totally clear on the standard to which Gypsy horses are currently being judged. “I don’t think they [the judges] are getting guidance from the different associations. The best judges I’ve seen in Gypsies have a Gypsy card, but also have cards in different breeds. I think [Gypsy associations] are lacking in what they are providing in judge’s training. If we can establish a foundation for conformation, which I contend has not been done, that would be very valuable. From that we need to develop a showing system that keeps conformation valuable. There’s not enough agreement on what conformation ought to be to develop a system of judging. I think a lot of breeds, especially in America, reward brilliance over good conformation. I feel that is a tragedy.

When you reward brilliance over good conformation you end up with a hot-blooded horse who’s not much of an athlete.”

Sharp also recognizes the confusion that can surround Gypsy horse conformation, saying that her stallion, The Heavy Horse of Wales, a.k.a. “Teddy,” has met with a mixed reception over the years. “Years ago I was told by the judge that Teddy was a well-built horse, but he was so unlike the others presented there that he did not know where to put him. Recently the judge said she used him because in her opinion he was the closest to the breed type. I hope it is a sign that the judges are better understanding the breed.”

“I think this is a wonderful breed that has a chance to grow in popularity in this country. I think the biggest obstacle for the breed that I see is that people import the horses taking information from a culture that doesn’t value the same things that we value.” Brown explains this includes having breed registries and showing the way horses are shown in the United States. “It gives people misinformation about the horses and the breed, and they get discouraged. We need to develop our own system for showing the breed and to develop registries that start in America. We need agreement in the U.S., to come together as lovers of Gypsies. Then I think the breed will flourish. Until we do that, it will struggle along as it is now.”

Why Show In-Hand?

“Halter classes are important for the breed as they set the standards and show all that watch the classes what to look for within that breed,” remarks Wallk. “In a halter class when you have horses lined up side by side, it’s easy to see the differences. I believe halter classes are a valuable tool for breeders and prospective buyers to see what they should be breeding for and looking for.”

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