Gypsy Vanner Horse®

Breed Standards

Stallions/Mares/Geldings

The Gypsy Vanner is a “people sized” draft horse with heavy bone and broad body, but on a smaller scale then the large draft breeds.

#1 Color: The Gypsy Vanner Horse® is not a color breed it is a body type, therefore all colors, markings and patterns are acceptable. In honor of the British Gypsy heritage of the breed, the following names will be used to describe a Gypsy Vanner horses color.

               
                A. Piebald: Black & White

                B. Skewbald: Red & White, Brown & White, Tri-Color

                C. Odd Coloured: Any other color

                D. Blagdon:  Solid color with white splashed up from underneath

 #2 Height:  No height limits, all sizes have the same standards, all equally acceptable.

 #3 Body:The Vanner has the look of a small to average size horse with a draft horse type body.

            A. Back: Short coupled and in proportion to overall body

B. Withers: Well rounded, not high and fine

C. Chest: A deep, broad chest with well sprung ribs.
            D. Shoulder: Sloping shoulder with well developed muscle
            E. Hindquarters: Heavy, powerful hips with a well muscled rounded croup,    tail  not set too low.  Slab sided or severely sloping hindquarters are considered a fault.              

F.  Neck: Strong and of ample length, stallions must display a bold look with a rainbow  (well arched) crest.

#4  Legs: Clean, heavy to medium heavy bone set on medium to large hoof .

            
                A. Front: Set square, muscular with broad flat well developed knees.

                B. Rear: Hocks that are broad and clean, a Vanner will have the modified closer hock  set of a pulling horse, but not as close as the modern draft horse.   Set back or  sickle hocks are a fault.
                   C. Hoof : large round hoof , open at the heels with well developed frogs.

                     Small contracted hooves are considered a fault

               D. Leg movement, clean, straight, and true, with energy and a distinctive and effortless
                     trot.                                                                                                                                                                                
 
#5 Hair: Ideal hair is straight and silky, with some wave, curl and body being acceptable.  Kinky hair is a fault..

               A. Abundant feathering should begin at the back of the knees on the front legs  and   at or near the hocks on the rear, extending over the front of the hooves. 
               B. Mane, forelock and tail should be ample to profusely abundant, double manes are   common but not required.                               

#6 Head: A sweet head is a more refined head than a typical shire might have, set on a strong neck in harmony with the horses overall look.
            
             A. Throat and jaw: Clean throat-latch and jaw.
          B.  Nose: Flat and tapered, a slightly roman nose is acceptable if it goes with the horses over all look.  A heavy roman nose is not acceptable.                                            

           C.  Eyes:  Any color, wide set, bright, alert and kind.

           D.  Ears: In proportion to the head, not too large.

#7 Nature: A Vanner should be alert and willing with traits of intelligence, kindness and docility, a Golden Retriever  With Hooves®.

It is in the mission of The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society to respect the spoken words of Gypsies who have dedicated lifetimes in the pursuit of breeding the perfect Vanner/caravan horse. The breed standards were reviewed and approved in detail by a Gypsy who has maintained the same genetics born from his Vanner vision for over 56 years. He has raised several of the breeds most famous sires and dams and was instrumental in choosing the name Gypsy Vanner Horse® for his breed.

His name is Fred Walker. Upon reviewing this breed standard, Fred said, “I couldn’t have said it better myself”.   Fred Walker, a.k.a. King of the Coloured Horses.