No. A drum horse is an American effort to create a "breed", inspired by a horse the Queen of England uses to carry drums in her parades. In four years of intense research focused on horses raised by Gypsies, Cindy and I never heard the name Drum Horse in connection with them.

 A Colorado importer of Shires and 'Gypsy' horses promoted that crossing a Shire stallion to a 'Gypsy' mare (the name 'Gypsy' mare would include the breed and the non-breed) would make a Drum Horse. This connection the importer made coincidentally coincided with the release of a Drum Horse model by the Breyer company.

I called Fred Walker (aka King of the coloured horses) to gain a better understanding of the importer's statement and Fred said to me, “There is no genetic combination that will make a drum horse every time; the Queen chooses one at random to do a job, and there is no connection between a drum horse and a horse raised by Gypsies other than possibly the addition of color”.

This explained why we never heard of a Drum Horse breed and confirmed that the connection was manufactured for the purpose of selling horses.

‘The British Drum Horse prior to 1998 was basically unknown to America but lately due to crossbreeding with many Clydesdales and Shire mares you can find a good number of Drum Horses that are offered for sale in the U.S. these days.”  Indeed, the Drum Horse effort captured the imaginations of Americans and now, in addition to the Shire, includes the crossing of Clydesdales and Friesians with 'Gypsy' horses in an effort to produce an animal that looks like the Queen's Drum Horse.

The By-Laws of the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society dictate that crossbreeding is not allowed; the Shire Horse Society does not condone breeding Shire mares to anything but Shire stallions for the preservation of their breed; the Clydesdale is classified as 'at risk' by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and The Friesian Horse association of America is strongly against crossbreeding Friesian mares or stallions.

O'Malley - a 16 hh stallion in Holland....

Was bred to a 16.1 hand mare, Sam Sam in Holland. Sam Sam came to America pregnant, was registered with the GVHS as a Grand Vanner, and gave birth to...

GVHS registered Grand Vanner Chakra (17+ hh). Chakra lacks some of the core genetic 'bling', but when she's crossed with a Classic stallion like The Gypsy King she consistently produces foals with Grand Vanner size and Classic Vanner characteristics.

Chandra (The Gypsy King x Chakra) who is, at 18 months, already taller than many full grown Classic Vanners, possesses all of the breed's key attributes. She's a lovely Grand Vanner with a sweet head, produced without crossbreeding to a draft horse.

 

The key, therefore, to preserving the 14 to 15 hh Classic Vanner breed is to celebrate and perpetuate the downsizing to a perfect, smaller Vanner as the Gypsies have done with the use of a sub name (Cart Vanner) and likewise by giving Americans the perfect, larger Vanner they desire with the use of a sub name (Grand Vanner).

This makes the Gypsy Vanner Horse the first equine breed in history to have three sizes and one breed standard. It is, furthermore, the only way the Classic Vanner breed's look; genetics, feelings and value can be preserved forever.

We must manage the realities of change and desire with a plan for preservation. This is, in our opinion, a far better plan than crossbreeding horses raised by Gypsies without a predictable end result to fulfill Americans desire for a larger Gypsy Vanner Horse, as is the case with the Drum Horse.

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Do Vanners come in all colors?

Yes. The Vanner is not a color breed, it is a body type. Piebald (black and white) and skewbald (brown and white) are the most common but any color is accepted as long as the points that define the Vanner breed are present (see Breed Standard in the contents column to the left).

	Gypsy Gold's BB King was the first solid colored Vanner born in North America. He has centerpiece breed genetics and is a tremendous example of the body, feather and head that Gypsies envisioned for their perfect caravan horse. Although black and white is the most common and popular Gypsies love the black Vanner stallions or mares, believing the blacks will produce a black and white baby with a deeper more true and distinctive black color. Some of the most famous sires in the history of the Vanner breed were, or are black. Tyson, The Old Black Horse, The Lob Eared Horse are three examples
GG Vanner, owned by Lynn Palm, is a beautiful dark brown and white skewbald.
	A rather rare tri color (red and white with black 'points'). This is GG Cover Girl (Latcho Drom/Chakra) a Grand Vanner yearling filly owned by Vanner Valley Farm.
A stunning gray mare - Sterling Sylvia owned by Lucky Star Stables
	Chama Scarlett - pictured at less than two years old - is a rare bay filly out of a tri-colored mare (Chakra) by a piebald stallion (Latcho Drom).  Scarlett and Cover Girl (above) are full sisters.

To achieve unique colors like palomino or Appaloosa, one must step away from the primary (base) genetics that created the Vanner breed to get the unusual color and then go back to base genetics to replace the feather or other classic traits lost in the process. This is why you often see a reduction in feathering or other subtle breed trait differences with more exotic colors.

A Gypsy will always choose body type over color.

 
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What is the Vanner temperament like?

 

The Gypsy Vanner Horse is often compared to a companion animal because they want to please and be with people so much. This unusually affectionate behavior is most surprising to visitors to our farm who have had horses all their lives! We believe that the Vanners' innate kindness is attributed to two factors - feathers and environment.

Concerning feathers: All feathered horses evolved from a large prehistoric easygoing, hairy horse called The Forest Horse which lived in the forests of Europe. Feathering (hair) is an additive or cumulative gene so to develop the most feathered horse in the world, Gypsies had to focus on only feathered horses. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the feathering holds a genetic key to the breed's easy going Forest Horse temperament.

Concerning environment: Gypsies maintain very close family ties, often traveling with extended family members for life. It is the children or grandchildren who typically tend to the family's prized horses. Those horses are often tethered on thirty foot chains with seat belts around their necks and are moved daily. The children pull the stakes and move the horses 30 feet every day. If a horse is ill tempered and endangers the life of a child it will be culled. That horse may look wonderful but it will wind up at a horse sale like any horse might that has negative issues. This is one major reason why buyers must be very careful when dealing with importers who do not provide DNA proof of parentage: The horse may have actually been culled and come from a sale.

In conclusion it is selective, feathered horse genetics and unique social management of those genetics that has created one of the most gentle horse breeds in the world. It is common for a Gypsy mother to tell her children to "stop bothering the horses" as they crawl over and under them. At Gypsy Gold we call the Gypsy Vanner Horse "A Golden Retriever with hooves" ™

Again, beware: The Gypsy Vanner Horse is the first breed in the history of breeds to establish itself in the age of the Internet. Due to that phenomenon and the popularity of this new and often misunderstood breed, culled horses like the one mentioned above and culled horses with reproductive or genetic problems quickly wind up for sale on the Internet. The only way to insulate yourself from this is to buy the breed from knowledgeable and reputable breeders of Gypsy Vanner horses or follow very strict guidelines  when dealing with an importer (see the question "What should I ask when buying a horse?" above).

Remember that 80% of the horses that Gypsies raise are not a breed, they are a type of horse called trade horses. Until you develop an eye for the breed, the trade horses will fool you. Trade horses look similar to the breed but have other inherited characteristics, which often come from smooth legged horse breeds like the Connamara and Irish Draught. Smooth legged genetics will reduce the feathering, change the temperament and often result in a less magical look.

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What can you do with Vanners?

	The Gypsy Vanner Horse is surprisingly athletic, smart, willing, affectionate and retains training very well. In addition, the Vanner has an almost unflappable demeanor. The combination of ability, brains and calm temperament make the Vanner a candidate for any number of equestrian pursuits such as driving, English and western riding, jumping, pleasure and trail. Pictured is the first Vanner born in America, Kuchi - daughter of The Gypsy King. Kuchi is owned by WR Ranch.
English or Western, the Gypsy Vanner Horse (which was originally bred to pull a caravan) is an exceptionally comfortable and level headed trail horse.
	Appearing as a special guest at the Pin Oak charity horse show in Houston Texas The Gypsy King was ridden by 27 time USDF Gold Medallist and Olympic contender Pam Grace. Pam was so taken by The Gypsy King's abilities that she told us she believes he could go to Grand Prix level in dressage.
The number one tandem driving team in North America for 2001 were Jasmine and Esmerelda now owned by WR Ranch. Jasmine and Esmerelda were two of the original 16 Vanners imported to America by Gypsy Gold. WR Ranch now owns the first four up hitch of Vanners in the country. Note that the lead horses are "Cart" sized Vanners and the wheel horses are "Classic" sized Vanners.
	Breyer model The Gypsy King was the second Gypsy Vanner Horse stallion to arrive in North America. It was the renowned trainer and clinician, Lynn Palm (pictured here), who first trained The Gypsy King for us, and she will attest to his athletic abilities.
Lynn Palm now owns 'GG Vanner' (Latcho Drom x Crown Darby - a daughter of The Gypsy King) - pictured here as a yearling on the day of his arrival at her farm, summer '08 . We can't wait to see what Lynn does with this promising colt!

That same breeder will have a band of mares with known genetics and a prized stallion or stallions that will never leave him. He breeds them together in pursuit of the breed’s vision; a vision that only he and other Gypsy breeders like him knew until Cindy and I stumbled upon one selectively bred stallion and began a journey to understand how he got his magic.

The world's first selectively bred stallion ever to be recognized as a breed of horse raised by Gypsies is Gypsy Gold’s Cushti Bok. Over a decade has passed since Cindy and I first saw Cushti Bok. The stallion that sired him (The Old Horse of Wales) is still owned by the very same Gypsy who raised Cushti Bok from a baby and The Old Horse of Wales is still one of the best producing stallions in Great Britain. In 1992, the Gypsy who raised Cushti Bok sold him to another Gypsy breeder for 7,000 BPS (British Pound Sterling). 7,000 BPS is the equivalent of $14,000 US dollars with today’s exchange rate. If you add import fees and what it cost to identify a legitimate stallion potential colt like Cushti Bok, you will have an expensive baby by the time he gets to America.

After a stallion like Cushti Bok has developed a reputation for producing the centerpiece of the breed you will have an even more expensive horse, but you will have a horse worthy of establishing his new breed in a new land. To this day the finest filly example of the breed I have ever seen was a daughter of Cushti Bok. She was not for sale and was being gifted to a son of the Gypsy who owned her.

Here are the established prices of selectively bred horses raised by Gypsies if you were to purchase them directly from a Gypsy breeder without an importer involved. There are exceptions to everything but this will give you a good feel for true established breed values. As responsible breeders in America we do not want to erode Gypsies' existing breed values or blend them with their non-breed trade horses. Worldwide understanding has not happened yet...  but it will.

Stallion potential colts: They range from approximately a low of 3,000+ BPS or ($6,000+ US dollars) to 7,000+ BPS or ($14,000+US dollars) plus import fees. Import fees for air and ground will be approximately $8,000 dollars delivered to your door for a horse under two years old. The import figure is not based on volume purchasing because stallion potential colts do not exist in volume. Finding a legitimate stallion potential colt is like finding a needle in a haystack; it takes time and breed knowledge.  If purchased from an importer, the task is immensely more complicated and should only be done with irrefutable proof of parentage supported by DNA. Buying from an importer is really much more complicated than this but DNA proof of heritage is an absolute must.

Selectively bred colts in general can be purchased for less but for the good of the breed and breeders (both Gypsy and non-), most colts should be gelded before they are shipped out of Great Britain. Top aged stallions that are highly proven to produce the breed will be in the 20,000 BPS range ($40,000 US dollars) plus import fees. It is possible to find a legitimate proven stallion for less but that opportunity will often include a relationship with Gypsy breeders who share your passion to perpetuate their vision. Any truly worthy breed stallion will be known by top Gypsy breeders and will be expensive.

Good, selectively bred fillies range from a low of 3,000+ BPS or ($6,000+ US dollars) to a high of 20,000 BPS or ($40,000 US dollars) plus import fees. Good filly foals from selective breeding commonly sell from one Gypsy to another for 5,000 BPS or ($10,000 US dollars). It is not uncommon for fillies to sell for 10,000+ BPS or ($20,000+ US dollars) and the best sell for as much as 20,000+ BPS or ($40,000+ US dollars). These prices are all from one Gypsy to another. Ten years ago, in England,  Cindy and I watched an outstanding mare with an equally outstanding filly foal by her side sell from one Gypsy to another for 42,000 BPS or at today’s exchange rate $84,000 US dollars! The mare and baby were perfect examples of what a Gypsy envisioned his caravan horse to be. These prices were astounding to us in the beginning
but they are very real.

Remember that 80% of the horses that Gypsies raise are called trade horses and are raised like cattle for the restaurant industry in Europe. You can buy Gypsy trade horse colts (which are probably black and white and have some feather!) for 100 BPS ($200 US dollars or less) and fillies for around 400 BPS ($800 US dollars or less) with adult mares being around 750 BPS ($1,500 US dollars) more or less.

All Gypsies love “doing a deal” - just like horse traders - so they will sell you whatever you want. We should not expect them (on an individual level) to be a policeman for the genetic integrity of horses they sell to trader/importers.  It is our responsibility to understand the difference in their horses and  with that knowledge establish their breed, outside of their world, as they envisioned it to be. Only with knowledge and goals to respect or improve established dollar values (which Gypsies enjoy for their selectively bred horses) can we establish and maintain worldwide parallel breed integrity.

A Gypsy (in reference to those trader/importers) recently said to me,  “If they want crap we will sell them crap”. Sad, but true.

Sincere and dedicated breeders both Gypsy and non-Gypsy throughout the world will always be this breed's salvation. Cindy and I consciously made it our goal to transfer the feelings, genetics and value that the true breed enjoys with Gypsies, to America intact. The vision was that (with America as a centerpiece) the Vanner breed would become understood and then have the opportunity to develop in parallel worldwide. More and more Europeans are realizing that the horses raised by Gypsies (which developed as a breed under a different name than "Vanner" in their countries) were 100% brought to their countries by horse traders focused on transactions, and were not a breed.  For this reason, in Europe, trade horses have confused the breed's intended look and genetics. In most European countries -and on mass-importers' web sites - you can buy a "Gypsy" horse for around $2,000 dollars, which is totally unrealistic for the real breed.

There is an opportunity for dedicated breeders, breed lovers and breed societies in those countries to re-establish and re-position the breed as it was intended by aligning with the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society in America. I have received several unsolicited requests for this to happen from passionate breed lovers in Europe. I invite anyone interested in how this might work to contact me at GGVanner@aol.com.