1729Pictures of Friesians

 

7 Nov. 1:42 pm

And other links of interest found during my googlesearch:

http://www.friesianbuyersnetwork.com/friesian8.jpg
http://www.moonlightpintos.com/h-zubtrt5-2_small.JPG
http://www.uphorses.com/Breeds/Stallions/friesian_windsor.jpg
http://www.cchexpo.com/rarebreeds/friesian.jpg
http://www.peachkin.com/ecards/pics/friesian.jpg


http://www.peachkin.com/ecards/horse-cards.html
International Curly Horse Organization www.curlyhorses.org
http://www.curlyhorses.org

Gypsy Vanner
http://www.cchexpo.com/rarebreeds/gypsy_vanner_colored_cob.jpg
GYPSY VANNER COLORED COB
Status: Unusual
The real history of the Gypsy Vanner is shrouded in mystery and
romance and given the Gypsy people who developed the breed, it is
highly likely to remain that way. Originally from Rom in India, the
Gypsies became a transient sort that as they spread throughout Europe
collected cull draft pony-types to create the colored roaster cob
that we are familiar with today. They systematically sold their culls
and jealously guarded their most prized cobs, and often participated
in annual get-togethers to show off their best ponies in fairs and
competitions. Even today when a horse is sold the sale is sealed with
a spit on the hand and a handshake and finished with the crossing of
the palm with a silver coin for luck!

The ponies themselves are often known to outsiders as Tinker cobs or
Pikey ponies - all derogatory terms springing from the prejudices
surrounding the Gypsy people. But to the Gypsies who love them, the
ponies are known as Romnies, Roadsters, Gries, Gypsy Cobs or Gypsy
Vanners. They are a heavy draft type, 14 to 15 hands referred to as a
road horse - meaning they had a talent for road work. The Gypsy
Vanners have pretty heads (Roman nosed cobs are considered inferior)
and they are prized for their good size ears to hear the traffic.
They have a profusion of mane, tail and feather, are short coupled,
deep bodied, and strongly built. They have broad round feet with
powerful hindquarters. The colored ponies are often preferred over
sold colors as the flashy markings with a profusion of white makes
them more "road-visible".

Traditionally Gypsy horses are regularly tested on the unforgiving
roads and those that fail are quickly sold or dispatched, sadly often
for meat. The breed of today still finds itself struggling with the
hardship is has faced since its creation. Too often they are found
tethered at the side of the road, neglected near busy European
streets, and they are one of the highest percentages of breed to be
abandoned or rescued by the horse sanctuaries. Recently, the Gypsy
Vanner Cob has become a novelty in the U.S. which has resulted in a
number of importations. Sadly many of these imports are culls sold to
unwary Americans unfamiliar with the breed standards. Still, there
are those Gypsies that would see this pony survive in its original
form and steps have been taken in Europe and in the U.S. to
establishing proper registries, so the future is looking brighter.

Click here for more information:
Willow Wind Stables
www.irishtinkerhorse.homestead.com
Denise & Colin Dunkley (breeders)
(519) 395-4930 or canadale@hurontel.on.ca