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Gypsy Cobs, also known as "Vanners" or "Tinker Horses," were born of the mystical and colorful culture of gypsies (travelers) in the United Kingdom. One of the last existing nomadic horse cultures in the world, travelers are inexorably bound to their horses. Theirs is a passionate relationship: the gypsies love and deep appreciation for fine horses, and the horse’s dedication to their work and the families they protect. "Gypsy gold does not chink and glitter, it gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark".

The breed was developed as a lighter, agile versatile working horse whose primary job was to pull the family’s living wagon or vardo. Lives depended upon the horse in the shafts. This unique living arrangement between horse and man has shaped this breed; a horse that was mentally unsound was not used or bred. Appearance did not earn a horse the rights to breeding. Willingness, dependability and soundness of mind were the most desired traits.

Fashionable traits come and go (large amounts of money are exchanged for fashion) but the qualities of a valued foundation horse are remarkably unchanging. A prized horse is one that at the end of the day is still giving 100% heart and body. It is able to pull a wagon like a workhorse and still have a lively light step in the exercise cart. Balanced spring gives these massive creatures the floating almost musical movement prized by the gypsies. Whether downtown amidst heavy traffic or in the rolling countryside hills, the willing heart of these horses moves those who witness it.

Until quite recently interest in this breed was limited to the travelers themselves and the breed existed almost entirely in the UK. In 1996 the first Gypsy horses were imported to the United States.  People quickly recognized the uniqueness and value of the breed. Modern time finds them in the riding disciplines of dressage, jumping, jousting, eventing and trail riding; in every discipline their legendary temperament and work ethic is taking them to top.
 

Gypsy family bloodlines are prized and guarded. Selectively bred for generations the treasured foundation stock is not often taken to fairs. They stay safe at home where few have the chance to see them. Carefully planned line breeding has developed foundation lines that are clearly identifiable by trait. Each horse breeding family has a "line" that is usually known by the name of the owner. (Hartley's breed or Lee's breed etc.) The horses in a family line are essentially line bred, the distinguishing, desired characteristics pronounced. Selective crossing of these lines has strengthened them and produced the magnificent examples of Gypsy horses seen today.

Out crossing has historically been related to the economic status of the general community. When the economy is good horses change hands. Horses and wagons are the ancient bank of the gypsy families. The sale of scrap metal and coal has been a driving force in the gypsy economy.

There is a misunderstanding in the states that the gypsies do not know the background of their horses or keep breeding records. Some of this confusion comes from the practice of not naming all of the individual horses in a herd. Good horses are identified by the name of their breeder and sometimes distinguishing marks. The record gets hazy when horses are sold outside of the core breeding community. Horse traders also contribute to the muddling of accurate breeding information. They move many animals to and from people outside of the traveler breeding community. Non breeders will not often know the characteristics of family bred traveler horses giving misinformation. As with most nomadic peoples most of what is known is kept through oral history. To a culture much closed to outsiders it is normal and essential to know "who" you come from. Family trees and history is common knowledge. This "tribal" consciousness naturally carries over to their most prized possession, the horse.

Most of us look at the lovely gypsy horses and see the surface, often not too well.
A traveler breeder looks at a horse and can see hundreds of years of lines. A trained eye can ascertain who was bred to whom and what lines a horse comes from. The history is right there to read. Contrary to popular thought there are written records as well. Those records reside mostly with breeders who strive for a particular color. A good example is an Irish family who is breeding for a "blue roan" or expressed sabino color seen in Scotland over 200 years ago. They have complete written record of all breeding for decades in order to express the genes of this particular color. Errors in breeding are costly to a people whose primary resource is horses. Genetic faults have been carefully identified and bred out through the years, keeping families safe and horses healthy. May we endeavor in humility and respect to learn about these creatures from the people who know them best.