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Links to the Australisian Gypsy Horse supporting associations:

Aust. Pony Stud Book. Vic.
Aust. Gypsy Cob Society
Gypsy Vanners (Aust.)

(see further below for the American standards and society links)

Gypsy Cobs, Vanners, and Drum Horse (Australian) breed standards:

Gypsy Cob Description

The Traditional Gypsy Horse will have heavy, flat bone. His body must be comparatively short. He will have a thick neck and a sloping shoulder, which should tie in well down his back. He should have a wide and powerful chest. His hindquarters should be round and large. He should sport a very thick mane and tail. His feet should be covered with an profuse amount of long hair or feather. This should start behind the knee or hock and fall to the ground and be on both the front and back of the leg. Feather can be noted as curly, woolly or straight and silky within the breed. Many prefer straight, silky feather but it is not usually demanded. What is demanded is that there is "profuse Feather "which covers the hoof.

Size: Gypsy Cobs can be any size and may be of the pony, cob or horse variety. Generally speaking gypsy cobs range between 13 -15.1 hands.

General Appearance: The over all appearance of a Gypsy Cob should give the impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and soundness. They should be of good bone, either medium weight to heavy weight, be well muscled, with a sturdy body, kind expression and abundant hair.

Head: The head should be sweet, ie more refined than a shire might have and in proportion to the overall body, with broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle and even bite. The nose should be flat and tapered, a slightly roman nose is acceptable if it goes with the horses over all look. A heavy roman nose is discouraged. The ears should be inproportion to the head and not too large. The eyes should be large and set well apart with an intelligent, kind expression.

Neck: The neck should be slightly arched, well muscled, clean through the throat, not too short and tie in well at the shoulder and withers.

Chest: The chest should be broad and powerful with well sprung ribs.

Shoulders: The shoulders should be deep, powerful and well sloped.

Withers: The withers should be well rounded not high and fine, ie hardly noticeable.

Back: The back should be short coupled with ample muscle sloping slightly upwards towards the croup and be in proportion to overall body.

Body: The barrel should be deep with well sprung ribs and a solid covering of muscle. The flank should be as deep as the girth.

Legs: The legs should be set well under the body, straight, clean and with plenty of dense, flat bone, with medium well-shaped hooves capable of carrying the frame without stress. Hocks should be broad and clean with the modified closer hock set of a pulling horse, but not as close as the modern draft horse.

Hindquarters: The hindquarters should be heavy with a well rounded, muscled croup tieing into powerful hips. Slab sided or severely sloping hindquarters is not acceptable.

Hair: The mane and tail should be thick and luxuriant. The tail should not be set to low and double manes are common but not required. Abundant leg feathering should start at the knee and hock and run down the front and back of the leg. Though silky, straight feather is preferred, curly or wavy is aceptable but most important the feather should cover the hooves all the way around.

Colour: Gypsy Cobs may be either solid or coloured. Blue eyes are acceptable.

Disposition: The Gypsy Cob should be, above all else, a kind and willing partner. It should display an intelligent character and docile temperament.

 

Drum Horse Description

The purpose of the Drum Horse is to develop the quintessential heavy riding and driving horse utilizing the bloodlines of the Gypsy Cob, Shire, and Clydesdale horses. The ideal Drum Horse would display the calm disposition, heavy bone and profuse feathering of, and inspired by, some recent working Drum Horses in use by HRM the Queen of England's cavalry, along with the agility, movement and athleticism to excel in a variety of ridden and driven disciplines.

Size: Minimum 16hh and upwards. Horses under 16hh will be registered in the Foundation Drum Section.

General Appearance: The overall appearance of a Drum Horse should give the impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and agility. The Drum Horse is considered a heavy riding horse and should display the athleticism to allow for a pleasant day of hunting, hacking or other ridden discipline. The ideal Drum Horse should also excel at driving. They should be a large well-muscled horse of either medium weight or heavy weight, with good quality bone, a sturdy body, kind expression and abundant hair.

Disposition: The Drum Horse should be, above all else, a kind and willing partner. It should display an intelligent character and docile temperament with a calm and sensible attitude.

Hair: Mane and tail should be long and thick. Abundant feather should start at the knees and hocks, preferably with some hair running down the front of the leg as well as the back. Feather should be soft and silky but may be straight or curling, and should cover the hoof. Docking of tails is not permissible.

Colour: Drum Horses may be any colour, either coloured or solid. Blue eyes are acceptable.

Movement: When in motion, the ideal Drum Horse should move with action, power, grace, and agility. Head carriage and collection should appear natural, not overly exaggerated or forced. Movement should be free, straight and square with ample impulsion. Knee action should be somewhat snappy but a long, free moving shoulder should allow the ability to reach forward in a classic extension. The horse should move up under itself with a smooth, powerful stride, should be light on the forehand and exhibit 3 good gaits. The Drum Horse's movement should be suitable for a variety of ridden and driven disciplines.

Head: The head should be in proportion to the body, neither too large nor too small, with broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle and even bite. The ears should be cleanly shaped and well set on. The eyes should be large and set well apart with an intelligent, kind expression. Eyes can be any color, and blue eyes shall not be penalized. Both convex and straight profiles are acceptable. Stallions and geldings should have a masculine appearance to the head, and mares a feminine appearance.

Neck: The neck should be substantial and well muscled with a defined arch. It should be clean through the throat, not too short, and tie in well at the shoulder and withers. Stallions may exhibit a masculine crest in proper relationship to the size and thickness of neck.

Chest: The chest should be broad with ample muscle.

Shoulders: The shoulders should be deep, powerful and of a correct slope to allow for ample, free movement.

Withers: Withers should be average in height, not too high, with a generous layer of muscle.

Back: The back should be short and supple, well muscled and tie in strongly at the loin.

Barrel: The barrel should be deep with well sprung ribs and a solid covering of muscle. The flank should be as deep as the girth. The loin should be strong and tie into the croup with a smooth, well muscled appearance.

Hindquarters: Smooth and rounded across a long croup, with a medium to high tail set, long hip with wide pelvis and well muscled thighs and buttocks.

Feet & Legs: The legs should be set squarely under the body, straight, with clean joints and plenty of dense, flat bone. Forearms and thighs should be well muscled. Hind legs should display clean and well defined hocks that are broad, deep, flat and wide when viewed from the side. The Drum Horse may or may not exhibit the influence of the draft horse hockset. Pasterns should be long enough to allow a proper slope of about 45 degrees from the hoof head to the fetlock joint. Feet must be sound and substantial with a generous, open heel.

 

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Gypsy Cob Description (American Breed Standard)

Link to the USA Gypsy Horse Assn

The Cob body type was deliberately bred for, by the Gypsies, because of it's sturdy structure and small, but heavy and powerful, size and dense bone. Defined in the dictionary as a "small, heavyset horse," the Cob is well known for its strength, tractability and feed efficiency. The Gypsy's Cob achieved its designer looks through the perfect union of a powerful body, heavy, flat bone, abundant hair, intelligence and docility. While a wide variation exists in size, regardless of a Gypsy Cob's height, it should always display that perfect Cob type of a powerful body set on legs of flat, dense bone, abundant hair and a kind, intelligent expression.

Though there are other types of horses bred by Gypsies, it's the Gypsy's Cob that has received world wide acclaim and recognition. It is the Gypsy Cob which is considered THE breed and is held near and dear to the Gypsy's heart, heritage and culture.

Size: Gypsy Cobs can be any size and may be of the pony, cob or horse variety.

General Appearance The over all appearance of a Gypsy Cob should give the impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and agility. They should be of good bone, either medium weight or heavy weight, be well muscled, with a sturdy body, kind expression and abundant hair.

Head The head should be in proportion to the body, neither too large nor too small, with broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle and even bite. The ears should be neat and well set on. The eyes should be large and set well apart with an intelligent, kind expression.

Neck The neck should be slightly arched, well muscled, clean through the throat, not too short and tie in well at the shoulder and withers.

Chest The chest should be broad with ample muscle. The muscle along the bottom of the chest should appear in an inverted “V” shape as it ties into the forearm.

Shoulders The shoulders should be deep, powerful and well sloped.

Withers Withers should be average in height, not too high, with a good cover of muscle.

Back The back should be short, well muscled and tie in strongly at the loin.

Barrel The barrel should be deep with well sprung ribs and a solid covering of muscle. The flank should be as deep as the girth.

Legs The legs should be set well under the body, straight, clean and with plenty of dense, flat bone. Forearms and gaskins should be well muscled.

Hindquarters Smooth and rounded across the croup, long hip with wide pelvis and well muscled buttocks.

Hair Mane and tail should be long and thick. Abundant feather starting at the knees and hocks, preferably with hair running down the front of the leg as well as the back. Feather may be straight or curling and should cover the hoof.

Color Gypsy Cobs may be any color, either solid or colored.

Disposition The Gypsy Cob should be, above all else, a kind and willing partner. It should display an intelligent character and docile temperament.

Drum Horse Description (American Breed Standard)

Inspired by some of the recent working Drum Horses of the British Cavalry, the Gypsy Cob and Drum Horse Association believes the development of the Drum Horse, as a breed, to be a worthy aspiration, in and of itself. And, with such a symbiotic relationship existing between the Gypsy Cob and the Drum Horse, the Drum Horse will become not only a wonderful breed, unto itself, but also a wonderful companion breed to the smaller Gypsy Cob. It was this inspiration and symbiosis that lead to the dual stud books of the Gypsy Cob and Drum Horse Association...Combining the best of Gypsy Heritage and British Tradition!

VERY IMPORTANT: A Drum Horse cannot be registered as both a Drum Horse AND a Gypsy Cob, etc. Registering a Drum Horse as a Gypsy or Part-bred Gypsy, in any registry, may VOID its GCDHA Drum Horse registration.

Breed Standard

PURPOSE OF THE BREED:

The purpose of the Drum Horse is to develop the quintessential heavy riding horse utilizing the bloodlines of the Gypsy Cob, Shire, Clydesdale and Friesian. The ideal Drum Horse would display the calm disposition, heavy bone and profuse feathering of, and inspired by, some recent working Drum Horses in use by HRM the Queen of England's cavalry, along with the agility, movement and athleticism to excel in a variety of ridden and driven disciplines.

(NOTE: Many times people ask the GCDHA if they can register a horse that is a non-feathered spotted draft. The answer to that question is no; the horse must be a blend of one or more of the above mentioned feathered draft breeds because feather is a recessive gene, and a mark of the Drum Horse breed in America. The only way to preserve the heavy feathering of the Drum Horse is to breed feathered horses to other feathered horses. Breeding a smooth legged horse to a feathered horse will result in a smooth legged or lightly feathered horse, which would not meet the Drum Horse registration requirements.)

DRUM HORSE STANDARD OF CONFORMATION

Size
Minimum 16hh and upwards. For regular registration status, the smaller of the 2 parents must be at least 15hh. (Horses under 16hh or with one parent less than 15hh will be registered in the Breeding Stock Section. The only exception being geldings who reach 16hh but have 1 parent less than 15hh. Those geldings are eligible for regular registration.)

General Appearance
The overall appearance of a Drum Horse should give the impression of intelligence, kindness, strength and agility. The Drum Horse is considered a heavy riding horse and should display the athleticism to allow for a pleasant day of hunting, hacking or other ridden discipline. The ideal Drum Horse should also excel at driving. They should be a large well-muscled horse of either medium weight or heavy weight, with good quality bone, a sturdy body, kind expression and abundant hair.

Disposition
The Drum Horse should be, above all else, a kind and willing partner. It should display an intelligent character and docile temperament with a calm and sensible attitude.

Hair
Mane and tail should be long and thick. Abundant feather should start at the knees and hocks, preferably with some hair running down the front of the leg as well as the back. Feather should be soft and silky but may be straight or curling, and should cover the hoof. Docking of tails is not permissible*. Trimming of any mane, tail, or feather is frowned upon, unless required in a discipline in which the horse in question competes. A small bridle path is allowed, as is the trimming of facial and belly hair if so desired.

Color
Drum Horses may be any color, solid, pinto or Appaloosa spot.

Movement
When in motion, the ideal Drum Horse should move with action, power, grace, and agility. Head carriage and collection should appear natural, not overly exaggerated or forced. Movement should be free, straight and square with ample impulsion. Knee action should be somewhat snappy but a long, free moving shoulder should allow the ability to reach forward in a classic extension. The horse should move up under itself with a smooth, powerful stride, should be light on the forehand and exhibit 3 good gaits. The Drum Horse's movement should be suitable for a variety of ridden and driven disciplines.

Head
The head should be in proportion to the body, neither too large nor too small, with broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle and even bite. The ears should be cleanly shaped and well set on. The eyes should be large and set well apart with an intelligent, kind expression. Eyes can be any color, and blue eyes shall not be penalized. Both convex and straight profiles are acceptable. Stallions and geldings should have a masculine appearance to the head, and mares a feminine appearance.

Neck
The neck should be substantial and well muscled with a defined arch. It should be clean through the throat, not too short, and tie in well at the shoulder and withers. Stallions may exhibit a masculine crest in proper relationship to the size and thickness of neck.

Chest
The chest should be broad with ample muscle. The muscle along the bottom of the chest should appear in an inverted "V" shape as it ties into the forearm.

Shoulders
The shoulders should be deep, powerful and of a correct slope to allow for ample, free movement.

Withers
Withers should be average in height, not too high, with a generous layer of muscle.

Back
The back should be short and supple, well muscled and tie in strongly at the loin.


Barrel
The barrel should be deep with well sprung ribs and a solid covering of muscle. The flank should be as deep as the girth. The loin should be strong and tie into the croup with a smooth, well muscled appearance.

Hindquarters
Smooth and rounded across a long croup, with a medium to high tail set, long hip with wide pelvis and well muscled thighs and buttocks.

Feet & Legs
The legs should be set squarely under the body, straight, with clean joints and plenty of dense, flat bone. Forearms and thighs should be well muscled. Hindlegs should display clean and well defined hocks that are broad, deep, flat and wide when viewed from the side. The Drum Horse may or may not exhibit the influence of the draft horse hockset. Pasterns should be long enough to allow a proper slope of about 45 degrees from the hoof head to the fetlock joint. Feet must be sound and substantial with a generous, open heel.

CLASSIFICATIONS:


Drum Horse - A Book*- Pedigree must contain a minimum of 7/8 Gypsy Cob, Shire, Clydesdale and/or Friesian breeding, with a minimum 1/8 Gypsy Cob breeding. The horse must be a minimum of 16hh and meet all of the physical requirements of the breed as put forth in the Breed Standard. The smaller of the 2 parents must not be less than 15hh. Effective Jan. 1, 2005, no full blooded Gypsy Cobs, Shires, Clydesdales, or Friesians may be registered as Drum Horses.

Note: For registration in the A Stud Book, horses must be certified to stand a minimum of 16hh on, or before, June 1 of the year they turn 5 years old. Horses under the age of 5 years, who apply for registration without a height certificate, will only be issued a temporary certificate. Temporary certificates will expire on June 1st of the year the horse turns 5 years old. Any horse that will be bred before their 5th birthday should submit a Height Certification and new photos, before breeding, for purposes of registering the foal in the proper category. To receive the permanent registration certificate, a height certificate and new photos must be submitted by June 1 of the year the horse turns 5 years old.

Drum Horse - B Book - Horses who otherwise meet the criteria for A Stud Book registration but do not reach a minimum mature height of 16hh, have one parent less than 15hh, are slightly lighter in feather or bone or have 2 registered Drum Horse parents but still fall below the minimum 1/8 Gypsy Cob breeding requirement, will be registered in the B Stud Book.

Note: Most Drum Horse foals will receive a temporary registration certificate until such time they can provide a height certificate and photos indicating breed characteristics. Foals with one parent under 15hh or who fall below the minimum 1/8 Gypsy breeding, will be given their permanent registration papers, in the B Stud Book. B Book Geldings, who have one parent under 15hh, may be re-issued permanent registration in the A Book, if they reach a mature height of 16hh, or more.

Identification Certificate - Horses of Shire, Clydesdale and Friesian breeding, being used in a Drum Horse breeding program, will be issued an Identification Certificate.

Part-Bred - Horses with one parent registered as a Drum Horse and the other parent from any non-feathered breed or who, otherwise, maintain 50% Drum Horse breeding.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:

Any horse seeking Drum Horse registration with the GCDHA must either be:

*The offspring of two registered Drum Horses, maintaining a minimum of 1/8 Gypsy Cob breeding. (The offspring of 2 registered Drum Horses, who falls below the minimum 1/8 Gypsy Cob breeding, will be issued registration in the B Stud Book.)

*The offspring of one registered Drum Horse and one horse with an Identification Certificate, maintaining a minimum of 1/8 Gypsy Cob breeding.

*The offspring of one registered Gypsy Cob and any one of the following; Drum Horse, horses of Shire, Clydesdale or Friesian breeding. Note: Horses of Shire, Clydesdale or Friesian breeding must apply for an Identification Certificate.

Note: Horses registered as Drum Horses may not be full Gypsy Cobs and may not be dual registered as a Gypsy Cob, either purebred or part-bred. Such dual registration will be cause to cancel any Drum Horse registration.

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