about the breed
So what the heck is a Gypsy Horse?
“Gypsy Horse” is actually a blanket name for a breed of small (12HH) to medium (up to 15HH) sized draft horses. They are also called Gypsy Vanners, Gypsy Cobs, Irish Cobs, Tinkers’ Horses, and Coloured Cobs. (I use the British spelling here out of respect for the British and Irish breeders who commonly use this term.) Although they are described as a “heavy” horse, Gypsies are also quite agile and adept at some of the more disciplined equine events, such as dressage, reining, fox hunting, as well as driving carriage and wagon. Mostly, though, they are wonderful family members, happy to be loved and will work hard at any discipline you desire. (photo above, Coates’ Oliver - see links page)
You will also come across the term “Drum Horse.” A Drum Horse (below, right) 
is a cross between a Gypsy Horse, and a Shire or Clydesdale, often to produce a colored, tall draft horse. The Drum Horse was the horse in the Queen’s regiment to carry the very large and heavy silver kettle drums. More info on Drum Horses can be found here.
A bit of history
This amazing blend of temperament, talent, substance and grace is a result of hundreds of years of selective breeding by the Romany, or Roma, people, commonly referred to as Gypsies (the term Gypsy stems from the mistaken belief that this nomadic culture originated in Egypt, but we now know that they emigrated from regions of northern India), and the Irish Travellers. Irish Travellers are a nomadic people that are believed to be descendants of the pre-Christian Celtic bards and minstrels who would have traveled between the different tribes, bringing news, and keeping the oral tradition of storytelling through music and poetry. They would also have goods and wares from other areas to trade, and usually held a craftsman’s trade of metal working, or “tinkering”, including farrier services, a common need for the journeyman. The Gypsy horses’ versatility comes from the fact that they had many roles to play. Pulling a heavy-laden “Living Wagon” (so-called because the Gypsies lived in, worked out of, and carried all of their belongings in them) also called a Gypsy Vardo (left). 
Once camped, the horses would be ridden and handled by all family members, including children, so a docile, even temperament would be a must. All the while, they would have to feed on whatever was available along roadsides and around the camps. Their hooves had to be hard and strong to deal with long treks on paved and unpaved roads.
The horses that Gypsies and Travellers relied on were many things to these people: partners, family members, and financial assets. Many a Gypsy will measure his wealth by the horses he keeps. The most prized stock are those with perfect conformation, a calm, friendly demeanor, lots of hair, and of course, feather. The feather makes the Gypsy horse. Feather is the term used for the long hair surrounding a draft horse's hoof. On a Gypsy horse, straight, silky feather is preferred, but some wave or courseness is acceptable. It should start at the knee and fall to the ground, all the way around the hoof. Gypsy horses are also very hairy! Most will have a long mane and tail, some even have a double mane, where the mane is as thick and long on both sides of the neck. But they also have lots of body hair - beards, shaggy winter coats, long belly hair. Some will have the coveted "lucky mustache"
on their upper lip (photo, right). A true Gypsy breeder would never clip or trim the mustache or beard, but some breeders in the U.S. tend to go for a cleaner look, and prefer to give the head more definition. A neat, pony-type, or "pint pot" head is desirable, with upright, pricked ears, and a kind eye. Blue eyes are quite common. Being primarily a draft breed, a traditional Gypsy horse should have a strong neck, short back, heavy bone, and a nice round rump, although some prefer the taller, more refined Gypsies, the body type should still fit the proportional Gypsy conformation.
If you're new to the breed, I encourage you to do as much research as you can. The more you learn, the the more you grow to love these wonderful creatures. Check my “links” page to visit more great sites!
An excellent source for Gypsy history: Gypsy Horse History
Here’s another great article: All About Gypsies
I could not hope to write a better coverage of Feather and its importance in the breed than this: About Feather
A fantastic outline of the Gypsy Cob Standard
Color and type
Gypsy horses can be of any color, and their height can range anywhere from the 12HH range to upwards of 15-16HH, but a traditional size is in the 14HH range.
Most Gypsy horses are Piebald, (top left, Ringmaster) or Skewbald (top right, Lucky Charm Ruby), although skewbald is less common. They can be solid colors, appaloosa patterned, buckskin, chocolate, palomino, blue (black roan), white (gray), Chestnut ("Sorrel" to you cowboys), roan, bay, and a pattern known as Blagdon, (above bottom left, Bob the Blagdon - one of my favorites! Also check out Bear, an awesome U.S. black blagdon stud) which we would call an extreme Sabino pattern, where white is splashed up from the belly, and on the legs above the knee. Many breeders are trying to bring in more of the more “off” colored horses, (Black Silver Dapple, on Desert Jewel’s Coates Silver Bullet, above bottom right) some prefer the traditional black and white. Whatever you prefer, there is bound to be a Gypsy Horse out there for you! (click on above photos to be taken to that horse’s page on outside sites)
...To illustrate the difference a season can make, the picture on the left is Chroicoragh in her summer coat, and on the right in her winter coat.
History, Color & Conformation
