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Magpie
Our ride/drive mare |
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Harkaway Poppy
Poppy has gone to live
with friends in NC where
she is a much beloved
family member and a
driving horse par
excellence! |
We have selected our mares with a
very definite look in mind. A
breeding program can only be as good
as its mares and, as much as
possible, we tried to find
excellence of quality with
consistent type.
We sought very stout, well
boned mares with wonderful breed
type and particularly sweet heads.
(You won't find a Roman nose here!)
Conformation and kindness of
temperament were our first
priority. What I love most about
these mares can't be seen in
photographs, nor easily described in
words but it's their temperament and
character. To meet them and spend
time with them is the purest form of
joy. A Gypsy Vanner will enchant
without even trying. |
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We were also not willing to
compromise on feather. It's true
that great feather doesn't make a
mediocre Gypsy Vanner a great one,
but a beautifully well put together
Vanner can still not be considered
to be of the highest quality unless
it has excellent feathering,
starting at the knee and hock and
falling, long and full, to the
ground all around the foot.
On a fully mature Vanner in full
feather, you won't be able to see
the fetlock joints, even in the
mares.
And lastly, rather than the tiny
horses the gypsies in Britain are
breeding for these days, we are
working to maintain the older style
which tends to be a little taller.
For an all around ride/drive Vanner
we shall be striving for foals that
will exceed 15hh at maturity. |
