What's With the Gypsy Vanners?

This British breed made its way to the U.S. only about 25 years ago, and Western riders are taking notice.

- JENNIFER PAULSON

I confess: I was born a Western stockhorse snob. Other than the pony I took my first lesson on, my mounts consisted of Quarter Horses, Paints, and a lone Appaloosa. Being a predominantly Western rider, this made sense to me-I naively felt I had no reason to consider any other breed. Sure, I could see the beauty in a Thoroughbred racing down the track at the Kentucky Derby or a warmblood traversing a cross-country course, but I never thought owning anything other than a stock horse was for me.

That's until recently, when my friends and I started getting curious about a breed we were surprised to see in Western tack. One that's relatively new to the United States (they were first imported in the mid 1990s), requires even more grooming than our mane-gifted reining horses, has a distinctly draft look but also does great under a Western saddle, and reminds us of the fantasy dramas we enjoy watching on TV.

So, what's our newest obsession? The Gypsy Vanner. And it seems we're not alone in our interest in this stocky, medieval-looking steed-according to the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society, the breed's official registry, the breed's presence has grown year after year. As further evidence of their popularity, they top many sales' lists of high sellers.

Here, I'll share insights provided by in-the-know Gypsy Vanner owners, breeders, and trainers to help answer all your Gypsy Vanner questions that could help you decide if the breed is a good fit for your Western horse life.

Origin of the Gypsy Vanner

These horses come by their breed name naturally. The British Gypsies spent years crossing draft horses to create the perfect animal to pull their dynamic caravans, hence Gypsy in homage to the breed's founders and Vanner in reference to the "vans" the horses pull.