The Gift of the Horse

Wings are not needed to fly

Creatures provide the wings we lack

They are strong and swift

Yet gentle and soft

Our feet leave the ground

We become one with them

And as one we soar

Photo by Kevin Talley

Honoring The Gypsy King

On the night of February 20, 2015, the Gypsy Vanner world lost a prominent icon of their breed. The Gypsy King (1992-2015) was laid to rest after a broken leg was noted to be incurable. Bill (as The Gypsy King was affectionately called) helped bring alive the dream of Dennis and Cindy Thompson, which was to showcase the beautiful caravan horses that the gypsies in Europe were breeding. Bill sired many Gypsy Vanners here in America. He has certainly left his mark on the breed as it has progressed.

Bill was the second Gypsy Vanner stallion to come to America. He was one of the original 16 Vanners imported from Europe by Dennis and Cindy Thompson and the twelfth registered. The Thompsons discovered the gypsy bred horses while visiting the English countryside. They became enamored and did everything they could to learn more about these exclusively bred gypsy horses. While there, they attended Appleby Fair, a horse fair for the gypsies. There they met the owners and breeders of these beautiful horses. Tom Draper was among this crowd. He owned the stallion called Bill, and the Thompsons became able to claim Bill as their own. He was imported Easter Sunday in 1998.

With the horses the Thompsons imported to America, they started Gypsy Gold Horse Farm in Ocala, Florida. Their intent was to produce the dream caravan horse the European gypsies started. On November 24, 1996, the Thompsons founded the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society (GVHS). There are now more than 3,000 registered Gypsy Vanners in North America.

The group of sixteen that was imported included five of Bill's daughters. These were Darby Dolly, King's Kaulo Ratti, Gypsy Gold's Rexi, King's Gypsy Princess, and Crown Darby. These mares help provide a strong foundation for the future babies to come in North America. After all, they were sired by "the King" himself. ("The King" is what Bill eventually came to be known as because of the high quality offspring he produced; hence his registered name, The Gypsy King.)

After his arrival, Bill went on to produce more quality sons and daughters. Two of Gypsy Gold's stallions sired by Bill are BB King (Birthday Boy King) and King William. These two studs play an important role in breeding at Gypsy Gold.

Bill certainly made a splash of color after his arrival in America. This special horse holds the position on the logo of Gypsy Gold and was the first Gypsy Vanner to be portrayed as a Breyer horse model. He has made appearances at events such as Breyerfest and Pin Oak, and has done some modeling on the side. Bill can be seen in the 2013 winter issue of the magazine, Momazine, and in an ad for Oster clippers.

“I cannot tell you how dignified he was to the very end,” Gypsy Gold posted on their Facebook page the night of Bill’s passing. They went on to say, “he was a horse that commanded respect, but had the swagger of a star.” The Gypsy King contributed so much to the growth of Gypsy Vanners, and his legacy will live on through the wonderful quality of horses that he has produced.

For pictures of The Gypsy King, please follow http://www.gypsygold.com/1TheGypsyKing.html.

Sources

"Gypsy Vanner Horse Society History." Vanner 1 Jan. 2014: 20-21. Print.

Christian, Joyce M. "A Passion For Pedigree." Vanner 1 Jan. 2014: 23-27. Print.

Vanner Central. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. <http://www.vannercentral.com/Vanner Stallions.html>.
Gypsy Gold Horse Farm. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. <http://www.gypsygold.com/index2.html>.
"The Gypsy King." Momazine 1 Jan. 2013: 63-66. Print.
Pinterest. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/448600812852781558/>.
Facebook. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. <https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gypsy-Gold-Horse-Farm/182984201761496>.

What is Right and Wrong at Auction?

Growing up in the Saddlebred industry, I've been familiar with auctions such as the former Tattersalls in Lexington, the Robertson Equine Sales in Shelbyville, and Southern Saddlebred Sales in Murfreesboro. Horse auctions are not an uncommon way of selling a horse. In most cases, I don't have a problem sending a horse through an auction. If you have a decently nice show horse you are trying to sell, it will more than likely go to a good home. There are plenty of people who come to these sales to look for a show horse.

What does bother me about these auctions are the horses that are sent through the sale just so the owner can get rid of them. Maybe the horse didn't quite work out as a show horse or their career seems to be winding down. I've seen too many stories of horses like these ending up in bad places. The New Holland Sale in Pennsylvania receives many Saddlebreds, where there are many kill buyers. Rescues take in what they can and other generous people who are able to help out do so as well. However, Saddlebred rescues are often full and it is impossible to save them all.

If a horse doesn't turn out to be that show horse you were hoping for, they may be suited for something else. Perhaps they would enjoy jumping or eventing, maybe they would make a good trail horse, or a good companion at someone's home. They could even work out as a lesson horse in someone's program. In order to market a horse as some of these options, you have to venture outside of the Saddlebred world, which some people in this industry either aren't willing to do or simply do not even think about it.

Too many times I've heard stories of people finding a former show horse in a bad home or on a kill lot. These horses work hard to perform what they are asked, and what do they get in return? Some are retired by their loving owners where they enjoy time in the field. Others are able to transition into a lesson program and teach kids the skills they need for a show horse. But, there are also the unfortunate ones. Some of these show horses are sent through auction at an age or condition where it's not likely they will find a good home. I read one story where a Saddlebred was a successful two year old in fine harness but did not pan out under saddle. The horse was sold to the Amish and later found in skin and bones condition at auction about to ship to slaughter. He was bought, nursed back to health, and is now being shown again by a junior exhibitor.

If it seems like I am calling people out, then maybe they need to be called out. Just because a show horse didn't turn out to be a six figure world champion like everyone hopes for, doesn't mean they didn't work just as hard. People need to take responsibility for the horses they own. It may be more cost effective to run a horse through auction to get rid of it, but that is not necessarily right. I applaud those who retire their horses after they have worked so hard instead of allowing them to be sold over and over again until they end up in a bad place.

In my opinion, no horse deserves to be treated any less just because they don't work out as a show horse or are not on the top of their game anymore. It may take more work to place them in the right home or a lesson program, or it may be an extra expense to retire them, but as owners, we carry the responsibility of what happens to our horses, and they deserve to be cared for throughout their life.

Photo source: Instagram, The American Saddlebred (@theamericansaddlebred)