preview
of
Bellau Wood
Ardennes
High-Quality, Traditional Gypsy Horses
MVVR is a small farm located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.
We feel so fortunate to have stumbled upon this amazing breed of horse and to be able to share our love for them with others.
Enjoy browsing our site, and we hope you'll stop by one day even if just to visit!
Gypsy Horses...
their outer beauty will draw you in,
their inner beauty will keep you.
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INTRODUCTION TO THE GYPSY HORSE
Traditionally a "cob" in the UK was a comparatively short-legged, sturdy type with an easy-going nature. Ideally, a small head, which probably brought about the saying that "A Cob should have the back end of a cook and the head of a lady". Fairly heavy boned and of medium height with obvious draft influence; even so he could pick up a good pace when in harness and was also very popular as a hunter/jump mount. The Gypsy Horse has been bred in a true cob mold but also with the unique qualities, as described above, for which the Romany folk bred.
The Gypsy Horse gains popularity with each new person he meets. He is an "all-around" horse - equally suitable for riding or driving, and is healthy, hardy, and strong. He is the answer for the average horse-loving family who longs for a horse that is easy to manage and keep, and who meets the needs of young and old alike. He has a warm, loveable nature which is active, kind, intelligent, and willing. According to description he had to be "fleet of foot, a good jumper, a good swimmer and able to carry a substantial weight on his back". He also had to be capable of drawing heavy loads of timber. Throughout the ages he has flourished and worked, often in poverty-stricken conditions. This was the sort of life that has shaped the Gypsy Horse into what he is today.
After a long period of disregard and neglect, the Gypsy Horse has finally come back into his own. Time and time again, he continues to prove himself to be the ideal trekking animal with his safe, sure-footed responsiveness. He is unrivalled for private driving and is a natural jumper. In addition, he is perfect for the disabled rider who benefits from his tractable and gentle disposition. The Gypsy Horse is, beyond doubt, the most versatile of animals in existence and long ago established a reputation as the best ride and drive animal in the world.
Other Horses
Limerick Ivalace Madison
For Sale!
SOLD!
Clover Emma Louise Abigail
Flickr Gallery!
Click a photo to see it full-screen & uncropped.
SOLD! Congratulations Karen F. in New Jersey!!!
Clover Abigail
Upcoming Breedings
Other Horses For Sale
Elizabeth & Matthew Sescilla
Tel: 828-275-9826
Email: ECSescilla_aol.com
http://www.mountainviewvanners.com
Call or email to schedule an appointment.
PEDIGREE
Sweeper's Limerick Legacy
Foaled April 13, 2005
Roadsweeper (US) x Kaeli
Color DNA: EE, Tt
GVHS Registration #GV00290F1
GHA Registration #GHA00034
______________________________________
Limerick was our first Gypsy Horse, and it is because of his beauty inside and out that we fell in love with the Gypsy Horse breed.
His dam is Kaeli, from Big Pine Farm; and he is the first son of Roadsweeper, from Gypsy Gold.
On March 2nd, 2007, Limerick injured his left eye and it had to be removed. But it has not altered his personality at all and has not hindered his training. He has been started under saddle and you would never know that he only has one eye.
Limmy is now a gelding, living the good life among "his girls". He is doing very well under saddle and we're excited about taking him out and about in the coming years!
Bob the Blagdon's Ivalace, AKA "Ivy"
Foaled July 4, 2006
Bob the Blagdon x Tom Price's Bay Mare
Color DNA: Ee, tt
GVHS Registration #GV01023F
GCDHA Registration #FGI061335M
GHA Registration #GHA00142
Ivy is a black blagdon filly sired by one of the most well-known Gypsy stallions in the world, Bob the Blagdon. Her dam is a broodmare owned by Tom Price, one of the most highly respected Gypsy Horse breeders in the UK.
She arrived at MVVR on May 6, 2007 and when she stepped off the trailer, we were blown away! Ivy had more feather, mane, and tail as a yearling than many 2 year olds! This filly is going to be a legend, just like her sire. We are so in love with her and can't wait to see the bright future that lies ahead for her.
Freeland's Madison
Foaled June 16, 2006
Prince Charming x Madam Rosa
GVHS Registration #GV00544F1
GHA Registration #GHA00141
_____________________________________
Madison was bred by Freelands Gypsy Horses and was MVVR's first filly. She arrived here December 11, 2006 and we couldn't be more pleased with her. She has a beautiful refined head and simply breathtaking movement. We have taken Madison to several shows and breed demos, and she simply shines and loves the crowd.
Madison's dam is Madam Rosa, a fabulous riding and driving mare who pulled a wagon for 2 years in a row to the biggest Gypsy Horse fair 120 miles round trip, and drove her first owner to and from work every day, as well. She is a "Vanner" in the truest sense of the word. She has produced some of the most incredible horses, including the phenomenal mare Panda Rose, to whom Prince Charming is a full brother.
Madison's sire is Prince Charming, who is bred from the renowned "Rose Line" of mares. These are considered some of the best blooded mares through out England and Ireland.These bloodlines are from generations of highly selective breeding, and they breed true and fabulous. His sire, Sid's Good Stallion", was also considered to be one of the best sires in England and Ireland. Sadly his sire passed away. Prince Charming is the last of that stallion and mare combination, so his blood is irreplaceable. Prince has the conformation, feather and most importantly the superb temperament sought after in this magical breed.
WR Esmeralda's Clover
Foaled April 20, 2007
The Gypsy King x Esmeralda
GVHS Registration #GV01271F1
GHA Registration #GHA00261
____________________________________
Clover is a beautiful solid black filly who has it all...stunning looks, gentle temperament, amazing athleticism, and an unbelievable pedigree.
Her dam Esmeralda was hand-selected to be a foundation mare for the breed, and thus was one of the first 16 Gypsy Horses to land on US soil. Her sire, The Gypsy King, was the first Gypsy Horse stallion imported to America. She carries the bloodlines of some of the greatest Gypsy Horses in history, and she will no doubt continue their legacy.
Clover has been trained using natural horsemanship methods (Parelli/Clinton Anderson/Craig Cameron) since birth and has been lightly backed as a two year old. She is very accepting and in tune with her rider, even at such an early stage in training. She has also started driving training and did well transitioning from ground driving to the training cart. Clover trailer loads, ties, clips, leads, stands calmly for the farrier, and she LOVES water all over her, so bathing is EASY!
Clover's personality is that of confident intelligence, curiosity, and athletic playfulness. She will be ready for training under saddle this Spring.
(pictured with filly, Abigail, by Limerick)
DFG Emma Louise
Foaled March 5, 2008
Royal x Tilly Ann
Color DNA: EE, TT
GHA Registration #GHA00269
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Emma is a very uniquely-marked piebald, top-quality Gypsy Horse filly. We feel she will be a strong addition to our breeding program in the coming years.
Her dam, Tilly Ann of Dragon Fire Gypsy, is a very heavy mare who is a wonderful example of the versatility of the breed, having been shown in training level dressage with scores in the 70's!
Her sire, Royal of Hope of Glory Gypsy Horses, is a stallion well-known in the US for the fabulous foals he has produced.
MVVR Limerick's Abigail, aka "Abby"
Foaled January 10, 2010
Sweeper's Limerick Legacy x WR Esmeralda's Clover
GHA Registration Pending
Abby is the first foal bred by our farm, and we are so proud! She is everything we had hoped for and MORE! Her dam is our lovely black mare, Clover, and her sire is the one-and-only Limerick. Her sire has been gelded to insure that he has the highest quality of life, so she is the only foal who will carry on his bloodlines to future generations. So she's a very special girl!
Abby's dam, Clover, is a beautiful solid black mare with a top notch pedigree. Clover's dam, Esmeralda of WR Ranch, was only the 4th horse ever registered with the GVHS. She and fifteen other horses comprised the founding stock of the newly organized GVHS. Her sire, The Gypsy King of Gypsy Gold, who was one of the first foundation stallions to be imported from Europe to the US. He is one of the most well-known and respected Gypsy Horses in the US today and even has a Breyer Model made for him!
Abby's sire, Limerick, was our first Gypsy Horse. We have him to thank for winning us over and getting us into the Gypsy Horse breed. His dam is Kaeli, from Big Pine Farm; and he is the first son of Roadsweeper, from Gypsy Gold. On March 2nd, 2007, Limerick injured his left eye and it had to be removed. But it has not altered his personality at all and has not hindered his training.
Sale Price: $19,500
Height: 14.2hh
In Foal: No (Will be bred to Silky Boy
of West Hill Ranches)
We are offering for sale Clover, a beautiful solid black filly who has it all...stunning looks, gentle temperament, amazing athleticism, and an unbelievable pedigree. Her DNA color test verified that she is heterozygous for black (Ee), so depending on the stallion, she could produce black or red-based, and solid or tobiano offspring! A world of exciting possibilities with this girl!
Clover has been trained using natural horsemanship methods (Parelli/Clinton Anderson/Craig Cameron) since birth and has been lightly backed as a two year old. She is very accepting and in tune with her rider, even at such an early stage in training. She has also started driving training and did well transitioning from ground driving to the training cart. Clover trailer loads, ties, clips, leads, stands calmly for the farrier, and she LOVES water all over her, so bathing is EASY! (How come the white horses never love water?? lol)
Clover's personality is that of confident intelligence, curiosity, and athletic playfulness. She will be ready for training under saddle this Spring and she will be a great mount for most any discipline, but we know she'll steal the show in the Dressage or Jumping arena if given the chance.
If interested or need more info, please call 828-275-9826 or email ECSescilla_aol.com.
Congratulations Karen F. in New Jersey!!!
Sale Price: $12,000
GHA Registraion: Pending
We are offering for sale Abigail, aka "Abby", who is our first "home-bred" foal, and we are so proud! She is everything we had hoped for and MORE! Her dam is our lovely black mare, Clover, and her sire is the one-and-only Limerick. Her sire has been gelded to insure that he has the highest quality of life, so she is the only foal who will carry on his bloodlines to future generations. So she's a very special girl!
Abby's dam, Clover, is a beautiful solid black mare with a top notch pedigree. Clover's dam, Esmeralda of WR Ranch, was only the 4th horse ever registered with the GVHS. She and fifteen other horses comprised the founding stock of the newly organized Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. Clover's sire, The Gypsy King, was one of the first foundation stallions to be imported from Europe to the US. He is one of the most well-known and respected Gypsy Horses in the US today and even has a Breyer Model made for him!
Abby's sire, Limerick, was our first Gypsy Horse. We have him to thank for winning us over and getting us into the Gypsy Horse breed. His dam is Kaeli, from Big Pine Farm; and he is the first son of The Road Sweeper (US). On March 2nd, 2007, Limerick injured his left eye and it had to be removed. But it has not altered his personality at all and has not hindered his training.
If interested or have any questions, please call 828-275-9826 or email ECSescilla_aol.com
Intro
HISTORY OF THE GYPSY HORSE/COB/VANNER
Until recently, British Gypsies, known also as Travelers, traveled throughout Great Britain in brightly colored, intricately carved horse-drawn wagons called "caravans." Gypsy breeders envisioned an extravagantly colored, heavily feathered horse to pull and complement these bright wagons. This particular Gypsy-bred horse, which in the US has been named the Gypsy Horse, Gypsy Cob, or Gypsy Vanner, is the embodiment of that vision. Two stallions of Irish origin are reported to have originated the breed around 60 years ago. One stallion, Sonny Mays, was sired by a colored Irish stallion on a mare owned by a Traveler. The second, The Coal Horse, was born in Limerick, Ireland. These two stallions sired most of the foundation stallions of the breed.
In theory, the Gypsy Horse was bred from horses of three British draft breeds—the Shire, Clydesdale, and Dales Pony; in actuality, a Gypsy Horse’s ancestry may include other breeds, even non-drafts. The Romany Grai, another, more lightly framed Gypsy-bred horse, is reputed to have some Fells Pony ancestors. The Fells Pony is very closely related to the Dales Pony but is smaller and less heavily built. The extent of other breeds in its pedigree separates the Gypsy Horse from other lighter Gypsy-bred horses, such as the Romany Grai and the horses the Gypsies call “trotters”.
Because of the breed’s ancestry, Gypsy Horses possess characteristics from the Shire, Clydesdale, and Dales Pony, which is the heaviest pony breed in Great Britain. It is responsible for the breed’s small size and the dainty head seen on some Gypsy Horses. Typically, a Dales Pony stands between 14.0hh-14.2hh but weighs around 1,000 pounds. Since the Shire, Clydesdale, and Dales Pony all have feather, the Gypsy Horse does also. The source of the Gypsy Horse's extravagant coloring may be the Shire. Color was fairly common among Shires until around the 1900s, when solid coat patterns became fashionable.
What were the reasons for breeding a small draft horse such as the Gypsy Horse? One such reason, to have a horse showy enough to complement the brightly colored wagons driven by the Gypsy breeders, was given above. But the Gypsy Horse was not just for show; he performed a vital function—pulling his family’s wagon. For this type of work, a heavy draught horse such as the Shire, which typically stands between 16.2 and 17.2 hands and weighs between 2,240 and 2,688 lbs, was overkill. Even the smaller Clydesdale was too much horse for this task. An even smaller draft horse such as the Gypsy Horse was capable of performing the work needed and required only a fraction of the feed needed to maintain the massive Shire. This need to create a draft horse capable of performing the relatively light work of pulling a wagon and needing minimal feed was the primary reason for the creation of the horse we call the Gypsy Horse.
While the Gypsy Horse was bred for the road, the nomadic life of the road further shaped him, both physically and mentally. By necessity, he was hardy, thriving on uncertain forage found at campsites as the Gypsy caravans traveled from place to place. These campsites most likely provided no shelter for the horses; his profuse mane, tail, and feathers provided protection from the cold and wet. He was an integral part of his family and so had to be tolerant and kind. He had to able to be handled and managed even by the family’s children. Any horse which behaved aggressively was immediately banished.
The American discoverers of the breed were Dennis and Cindy Thompson. While driving through the English countryside in 1994, they glimpsed an extravagantly feathered black and white stallion and stopped to inquire about him. Two years later, they imported the first two Gypsy Horse mares, and founded the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society, one of the breed's registries. Other registries include the Gypsy Horse Association, the Gypsy Cob and Drum Horse Association, and the Gypsy Cob Society of America. The Thompsons coined the name “Vanner” for this imported breed, and intended the name to refer not to all Gypsy-bred horses, but only to those which they felt embodied the vision of the breed’s originators, whom they sought to honor. Some lovers of this breed choose not to use the name “Vanner”, but rather prefer to use one of the other accepted names for the breed, Gypsy Cob or Gypsy Horse.
It is important to understand that all Gypsy Horses (AKA Gypsy Cobs/Gypsy Vanners) are “Gypsy-bred” horses, but not all “Gypsy-bred” horses are Gypsy Horses.
The term "Gypsy-bred horse" refers to the range of horses bred
by the Gypsies over the years - from the lighter boned Trotters & Romani Grai, to the beautiful "proper cobs" that have taken them
many years to develop and perfect.
The Gypsy Horse/Cob/Vanner breed is intended to identify
the "finished product" of all of those years of breeding.
These top Gypsy Horses (known simply as a "good horse" or
"proper cob" to the Gypsies) are more expensive among both
Gypsies and non-Gypsies. It is largely because the entire
package has been such a labor to achieve - the heavy bone,
profuse feather, compact draft size, docile temperament,
incredible brains, long thick hair, "sweet" head, strong neck,
short back, endurance, heartiness, breath-taking beauty,
and a mystical distinct quality that only the best can reflect.
Despite its youth, the Gypsy Horse breed is rapidly gaining recognition. In 2004, the Gypsy Horse was accepted by the United States Dressage Foundation All Breeds Program so that individual Gypsy Horses can now win breed-specific awards for achievements in dressage activities sponsored by the USDF.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The overall appearance of a Gypsy Horse is that of a powerful, heavy cob type with characteristics of its draft horse origins, coupled with an abundance of flowing mane, tail, and leg hair known as feather. Medium to heavy bone and well-muscled with a broad, sturdy, compact body. Known for their kindness and intelligence, tolerance and patience, as well as their tractable nature and sensible and willing disposition, the overall appearance of the Gypsy Horse should reflect these characteristics. A powerful, agile, well-balanced horse, with good depth of body and heart room, the Gypsy Horse is well suited for riding or driving.
SIZE
Gypsy Horses average between 13hh-15.2hh. Heights outside this range, above or below, are acceptable.
HEAD & EYES
The Gypsy Horse should have, by "GYPSY DEFINITION" a "SWEET HEAD", meaning without coarseness, in proportion and fitting well with the overall balance of the horse. The head is neat, noble, expressive, relatively strong without coarseness, and in balance (proportionate) with the body. Bite should be even. Throat latch slightly deeper than lighter breeds. Should be refined enough to allow proper flexing at the poll. The ideal head presents a fairly straight profile (not overly roman-nosed or dished) and good width between nostrils. Forehead is broad between the eyes, which are bright, alert, kind, and well-placed. All eye colors are acceptable. Ears are neat, well-set, and often slightly in-curving.
NECK
The neck should be medium long, strong and muscular. A well-defined neck that is in proportion to the back length and well set, tying into a good sloping shoulder. Stallions should display a well arched crest.
SHOULDERS & WITHERS
The shoulders should be deep, powerful, and well-sloped, with withers reaching well into the back.
BACK
The back should be well-muscled, flexible, and short-coupled relative to the overall body size and substance; mares may have a slightly longer back than males.
CHEST & BARREL
Sturdy and deep, the chest should be broad allowing allowing for a large lung/heart cavity. The chest should be covered with ample muscle, the muscle forming an inverted "V" as it ties into the forearm along the bottom of the chest. The barrel should be deep with well-sprung ribs and a solid covering of muscle. Ribs should not be visible. Barrel should tie in strongly to the loin, appearing compact and powerful.
LEGS, HOOVES, & MOVEMENT
Hocks should be well developed and large, well set with plenty of bone. The hock set should be that of a pulling horse, but not as extreme as a modern draft horse, not to be confused with "cow hocked". Pastern angle should be well matched with shoulder angle. Forearms: Set square, with well defined joints, clean cannon, flat knee bone, the forearms will be short and muscular. Feet, Legs, & Joints: The very best of feet and legs, with flexible joints, showing quality with no coarseness The cannons should be short and display flat bone and well defined tendons. Large, round feet with well developed frogs, the hoof is hard and strong, with wide heels. Shown in natural foot or shod. Movement: The stride should be correct, supple and powerful. Showing good implusion from behind, demonstrating powerful drive. Flowing, effortless in appearance. The horse's movement should be natural, not artificial in any way.....in keeping with it's history and breeding. Some have higher knee action than others, it's way of going can vary from short and economical to longer, reaching strides.
HINDQUARTERS
Hindquarters are muscular, powerful, and well-rounded displaying, using, the coloquial expression an "apple butt" (shape). Good length from the point of the hip through the haunch; should balance the shoulders. Tail well set on, carried naturally while at rest and in action.
HAIR
Mane, forelock, and tail should be ample to profusely abundant. Double manes are common, but not required. Feather on the legs should be from the knees and hock joints down and covering the entire hoof. Hair and feather may vary from straight and silky to coarser and sometimes wavy. Abundance of hair and feather is an important and beguiling characteristic of the Gypsy Horse.
COLORS & MARKINGS
All colors, markings, and patterns are acceptable. In the Gypsy Horse breed, the saying, "A good horse never comes in a bad color", has never been more true.
DISPOSITION & CHARACTER
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