Ok, the Gypsy
Horses aren't a magical fairy breed, they aren't going to take you
to the Olympics. So what's all the fuss about?
Their number one trait seems to
be their personable nature, they like being with people. Somehow they
touch your soul with their antics. They mostly have the draft
temperament which means they are more likely to want to stand
still rather than bolt when they are scared. Don't think they won't
move though, let them go in a paddock and they'll run, jump, play
until you wonder where they find the energy. They have an incredible
sense of fun and love finding ways to open gates and doors, especially
to feed sheds :) They are incredibly curious and they seem to seek out
the young and frail with a fascination and gentleness at odds with
their bulk. The Gypsies have been breeding for temperament for way
longer than the hairy cob we know today came into existence. The
hair is just the icing on the cake.
Their colour and feather do make them look
pretty cool.... Be warned however all that feather isn't that easy
to look after, they can be prone to greasy heal and mites under all
that hair. If you want a cool little horse but don't want to look
after all the feather find a nice natured good type of mare and
breed a Gypsy Cob cross. Will cost a lot less and you will still
have a great companion. The Gypsy Cob crossed with TB's and
warmbloods make top sport horses too. Plus you may have the bonus of
colour. Actually the Gypsy Cobs are quite athletic themselves but
there is only so far a short heavy horse can take you. If you want
to do Pony Club, or Adult riding club they will excel. They do love
to jump. Check some out here
.
Of course they also excel at harness, I mean that's what
their ancestors have been doing for generations. The draft nature makes
them ideal for beginners to try harness for the first time. They
seem to take to it like they have been doing it forever. I hope so
too, as I'm about to find out when enter the world of harness
myself!! I'll let you know how I go :))
They really are a
unique breed to come Australia. Of course in the UK, coloured cob crosses
are a dime a dozen but we don't really use the cob types in
Australia. I think many people are about to find out why that type
of horse is so popular over there. They aren't fairy horses but there is something
about watching them race up the paddock with all that hair and
feather flying that makes you smile. I think their magic is that
anyone who gets involved with them will only wonder why it took them
so long.
Ok
that's Tia of Surrey Springs with me at Equitana in November 2005. I
had heard all about these short, hairy horses and couldn't wait to
meet them so flew over from WA. She was huge!! (well only because I
was expecting nearly a pony) But so gentle, well except if she
thought you were hiding food.... Quite a lot of the public thought
the best way to meet a horse was to give them whatever they had just
bought from the takeaway van or out of a showbag *sigh*.
Anyway I was captivated hook, line and sinker. I became
involved with a number of people, including Mel and Mary from Surrey
Springs that were setting up a Gypsy Cob Society here in Australia.
We all wanted to be involved with getting the word of the Gypsy Cob
out there and to educate people as to what a Gypsy Cob actually was.
With so many coloured cob types in the UK and Ireland we wanted
people to be importing and breeding the proper Gypsy Cobs.
Surrey
Springs have done all of the work in getting the Australian
Gypsy Cob and Drum Horse Association up and running and it's going
really well. There are a few other people besides me as founding
members helping all we can. We have lots of plans to make it a
proactive association to benefit the members as well as keeping the
register. Exciting times for the Gypsy Cob enthusiasts in Australia.
There is LOTS of interest in them.
Oh yeh, at the
moment I live and work in the red dust mining town of Kalgoorlie WA.
I think I need to stay here at least another year or two to
afford to buy more gypsy horses (as many people say: they are like
potatoes chips, you can't have just one!!) Then I may move back to
North East Victoria, where I grew up.
2006 saw me buy my first Gypsy Cob! With the
help of Mel from Surrey Springs organising the transport from England,
Storm from James Taylor's Brackenhill stables arrived in October
2006!! Tia captured my heart at Equitana so I also hoped to buy
a filly from her one day. Much to my excitement in 2007
she foaled a loved filly called Quillian. Quill is now in WA with
Storm and I.
Demand is high so the more we get
into the country the better. If you are reading this I hope you'd like to
be involved too!! With such a small community of Gypsy horse owners in Australia,
if you own one, are thinking of getting one, or would just love to
find out about them, please contact me. I'd love to hear from
you!
Cheers
Danni
Like the old saying........
“Gypsy Gold does not clink
and glitter, it gleams in the sun, and neighs in the
dark”
