The Breed Standard

The Gypsy Vanner horse, often referred to simply as "Gypsy" or "Vanner" in America, is a distinctive and visually striking equine breed originating from the British Isles, particularly the Gypsy Traveller communities of Britain. These horses are known for their unique and striking appearance, characterized by their compact, stocky build, long, flowing mane and tail, and an abundance of feathers on the lower legs.

Gypsy Vanner horses were selectively bred over several decades for specific purposes, primarily to pull their colorful and ornate horse-drawn caravans. These horses are famous for their gentle temperament, strength and versatility. They are often used not only for pulling caravans, but also for riding and as family horses due to their calm and friendly nature with children.

Although they were highly prized and celebrated throughout Britain and in Gypsy communities for decades after World War II, it was not until 1996 when the first selectively bred British Gypsy horses were introduced to North America by Dennis & Cindy Thompson.

Due to its recent rise to fame and introduction to Colombia, it is still considered rare and is the first breed to be officially marketed and introduced in the Internet era, which has led to many misconceptions and misinformation.

Just as a human possesses a birth certificate, a Gypsy Vanner horse may be registered with the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society (GVHS). However, such registration alone does not imply superior breeding quality or genetic merit; it merely affirms that the horse was born to the parentage stated on record. What truly matters is a verifiable lineage that traces—whether through a few generations or many—back to the foundational horses that inspired and established the breed.

If only one or two generations appear in a horse’s genetic record, it is reasonable to question why. Given that this breed has been officially registered for over 30 years—with DNA records tracing back to the foundation horses—a lack of lineage beyond the immediate parents or grandparents is concerning. While in rare cases this may be due to circumstances such as the death of a parent prior to DNA collection, more often it indicates that the horse has no verifiable ancestry beyond what is presently visible. Such a horse may still be beautiful, but it cannot be assumed to meet the foundational criteria or embody the seven recognized breed standards.

The GVHS strictly forbids crossbreeding for various technical and obvious reasons. The gypsies and travelers who created the breed also prohibit this practice, in a more moral sense.

While to some people it may seem "whimsical" to breed whatever they want at random to try to produce something unique (backyard scientists), the Gypsies have been selectively breeding these horses for a century to arrive at a very specific end: the breed we know and love. The moment you cross that, you lose 50% of what makes the breed special: its temperament, its nobility, its health and its ability to do what it was created to do ( a day's work in the field). Nothing great will be greated without a vision and without time.

Often, these crossbred horses may be beautiful, but they could never pull a harness with a cart thanks to an oversized "swan" neck, extra-long mane, or weak hind end without the proper angle for leverage.

While a horse may exhibit striking features or possess an exotic appearance, it is often the case that such animals lack verifiable lineage beyond a few undocumented generations—frequently tracing back to discarded horses originating from regions such as Holland or Belgium. It is important to remember that many horses bred by itinerant communities were produced indiscriminately, primarily for the feed markets, and these are often the animals that ultimately reach uninformed buyers. If a horse’s documented DNA lineage extends only one or two generations, one must critically consider the reason. Is the breeder reluctant to disclose the truth, or hesitant to pursue further genetic verification?

In theory, each of these names refers to the same breed, with the differentiation in the name varying due to location, origins, tradition and circumstances. However, the emphasis in the Vanner breed is conformation and compliance with the seven breed standards. This also serves to ensure differentiation between most gypsy-bred and selectively bred horses. Most indiscriminately bred horses are destined for the feed markets.

Although the breed may be referred to in other ways around the world, what is most important is the adherence to the breed standard and established values of the Gypsy Vanner Horse; first by the gypsy families who spent decades creating a unique vision that created the breed to suit the needs of their particular lifestyle, and then by the registry that has developed as a result. This includes breeding according to accepted standards, using DNA verification wherever possible and photographs to support the foundation and ensure quality. The GVHS was the first registry and today is the largest.

No. Breeders who advertise this are simply marketing with their hearts and not their brains. The same goes for horses discounted because they are bought "direct" from gypsies. 

Just as being born in Italy does not necessarily mean knowing how to make good pasta, a horse born in or transported from the British Isles or from any gypsy horse breeder does not imply quality nor does it guarantee the highly prized characteristics of a true gypsy horse.

Horses bred by British gypsies have been proudly bred for decades by serious families in the UK, whose vision ensured an end product consistent with all the characteristics we love: a beautiful, strong, intelligent and docile creature. An estimated 10-20% of specimens from this breeding conform to the breed standard, while the rest are bred indiscriminately and often for the horse meat trade for human or animal consumption or for sale at a discount.

When there are thousands of examples around the world of selectively bred, DNA-verified horses that contain the documented characteristics that made the breed so famous and admired in the first place, why would anyone choose a horse simply because it comes from a particular region? Buying a horse of unknown origin and expecting it to perform all the functions and characteristics expected of it is much like buying a used Mercedes and adorning it with the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament of a Rolls Royce Motor Car. It is possible to fool some untrained eyes, but do the true characteristics and genetics that have made that breed famous really exist within, more importantly, will they stand the test of time?

Terms like “purebred” or “pure blood” are often used in marketing but carry little to no official meaning. No respected breed registry uses these terms as standalone proof of lineage. They’re vague, unverifiable, and not grounded in any consistent standard.

While such terms imply the horse hasn’t been crossbred, asking a breeder to define “purebred” in official terms or prove it usually leads to incomplete answers—often just “he’s registered with the GVHS.” However, GVHS registration alone does not guarantee quality or genetic purity.

The only reliable way to verify a horse’s authenticity is through an official breed registry that uses DNA verification. Look for starred (*) parentage and traceable lineage to the original foundation horses of the breed. Without this, you’re buying into marketing—not the breed itself.

It’s also important to note that breeding standards are set by people, not nature. This can lead to a focus on traits like color or size at the expense of health, structure, and functionality. Indiscriminate crossbreeding, even for popular traits, can dilute the breed’s genetics by up to 50% in a single generation.

Labels like “5 stars” can also be subjective and, in some cases, influenced by favoritism or politics. Breed registries should remain neutral and base evaluations on objective standards—like the established seven traits of the Gypsy breed. Not all horses reproduce their quality in their offspring.

After decades of meticulous breeding and documentation—especially by Romani families and dedicated enthusiasts—horses without verified heritage are generally considered ineligible for registration and hold less value in the breed community today.

The only reliable method to ensure the authenticity of a horse’s breed is through verification with the official breed registry. This includes confirming that the horse is registered, that both parents have been genetically “*” star-verified, and that its lineage can be clearly traced to the original foundation stock of the breed. In the absence of these verifications, one is not acquiring a true breed specimen, but rather a horse presented through marketing without substantiated genetic merit.

In particular, the criteria for defining "pure blood" or "purebred" animals are arbitrary and are set by human preferences rather than natural selection. This can lead to fixation on aesthetic traits that may not contribute to the animal's welfare or functionality. Indiscriminate crossbreeding is often practiced in order to bring other traits such as color or size (a practice strictly forbidden by the GVHS and rightly so) which massively dilutes and erases up to 50% of the genetics with each breeding, thus eliminating the traits that made the breed so special in the first place.

Similarly, "5 stars" can be subjective and is a name often bought through corruption, favoritism or greed. Breed registries are encouraged to remain neutral and objective. Not all horses produce offspring of equal or greater quality as themselves. Reference should always be made to the seven standards when purchasing or breeding any horse.

After decades of selective breeding by dedicated gypsy families and breed lovers around the world who document the maintenance of the standard, often through DNA testing and photographs, today there is no need and often very little value placed on horses without any verifiable heritage. This often makes them ineligible for registration with a breed society.

This is strictly due to indiscriminate outcrossing at some point in their lineage. All hairy-footed horses can be traced back to the Forest Horse, which indicates a cold-blooded horse and therefore implies a softer, calmer disposition known from draft horses. A hairy-legged horse crossed with a smooth-legged horse will produce a horse with less hair. Hair and horns are recessive and cumulative genes. You have to cross hair with hair to maintain or increase hair, and vice versa to achieve the opposite. If you start to eliminate these characteristics, you start to lose what makes the Gypsy Vanner so special.

Although their main historical use was as a caravan horse, today they are versatile and can excel in a variety of equestrian activities.

These are some of the uses for Gypsy Vanner horses:

Companion Animals:

Gypsy Vanners are known for their friendly and gentle nature, which makes them excellent companion animals. They tend to form strong bonds with their owners and can be kept for pleasure and companionship.

Driving:

The strength and calm temperament of this breed make Gypsy Vanners well suited for driving. They can pull carriages and carts with style and elegance, showing off their distinctive appearance during parades and events.

Equine therapy:

The calm and patient nature of Gypsy Vanners makes them ideal candidates for equine-assisted therapy programs. Their gentle nature can have a positive impact on people participating in therapeutic activities.

Show:

Gypsy Vanners are very popular at shows, where they attract attention for their striking appearance with long manes and feathered legs. They often compete in halter, harness, dressage and other events that showcase their beauty and temperament.

Certain cultures and groups have fundamentally misunderstood the nature of draft breeds, particularly the Gypsy Vanner Horse. These horses are naturally slower, more docile, and possess a calmer nervous system. While they are highly versatile and eager to please, expecting them to perform tasks suited to lighter, more reactive breeds—such as the fast-paced movements of Paso Finos or warmbloods—reduces their dignity and turns them into little more than circus acts. In some countries, this lack of understanding has not only disrespected the heritage of the Gypsy people but has also hindered access to authentic and high-quality genetics.

As a registered breed, the Vanner Gypsy Horse seems relatively new, yet the breed enjoys decades as a cherished and highly valued family member among British Gypsy families. To respect this notion, Dennis & Cindy Thompson and the GVHS encouraged the use of a theory they called parallel value; where a quality horse exchanged between Gyspies could be sold, shipped, imported and consequently valued at the equivalent net value in the receiving country. For example, a horse valued at the equivalent of $20,000 USD sold in England, shipped to the United States for $5,000 USD with import fees of $1,000 USD, should cost approximately $26,000 USD in the U.S. market. This ensures that the values that its original creators gave to the breed are respected and fulfilled, with a quality specimen that has the verified appearance, temperament and DNA.

The disparity in value is because one is a type with unknown inheritance bred as a commodity, and the other is of known inheritance that will produce a specific appearance: a breed.

Today, quality, DNA-verified Gypsy Vanner quality specimens can typically be purchased for between $15,000 and $50,000, although there are many quality horses and mares that sell for much more, often in the six-figure range.