Welcome to Fireside Gypsy Vanner Ranch, where history lives on and dreams become real, in the story of the magical Gypsy Vanner Horse.

We are a small family farm located in Western North Carolina (near Asheville) that is dedicated to the Gypsy Vanner breed and its establishment in the United States.  We believe that these are the cornerstones of this phenomenal breed, and wish to honor the heritage of these great animals . We believe we are honoring that heritage by crediting the culture, individuals, and horses that produced them. Our goal is to breed horses that the Gypsies themselves would be proud to own and call the embodiment of what traits they have strived to breed for over a century.  We therefore breed from some of the best bloodlines available in the world that are proven producers of top quality stock such as the famed Rose Line (www.wrranch.net, www.silverfeathergypsies.com ) and The Lion King. 

The Gypsy Vanner has taken America by storm since the first horses arrived in 1996.  These horses were originally bred by the Gypsy people of Great Britain (from Shires, Clydesdales, and other native British ponies) to pull their elaborate and ornate caravans, and their qualities reflect the rich and intimate culture from which they were born.  The Romany people bred these animals to be literal family members responsible for the tremendous task of pulling the family home across miles of countryside and safe enough for such a burden both on the road and off.  These animals would be traveling and living with their humans in a nomadic culture day in and day out, and the traits they were bred for reflect those demands.  They had to be strong, hearty, intelligent, docile, adaptive, willing, people-oriented, and have phenomenal endurance. 

Over the 100+ years of breeding, some horses /lines could rise to the task in all ways (including being flashy and beautiful enough to reflect the strong sense of pride the families had in their caravans) and others did not. This vision horse, the ideal that was desired and dreamt of by the Gypsies themselves at night by the caravan's fireside, is what the Gypsy Vanner Horse is.                                            

The Gypsy Vanner is powerful, colorful and mystical, worthy and capable of pulling the beautiful homes of their families. Their color is usually loud and their hair is profuse, and they have tremendous feathering around both the back and front of their hooves. They are extremely strong and hearty, a small "people sized" draft horse with great edurance capable of pulling a gypsy caravan for miles every day. They are incredibly docile, friendly and interative with people, as they were selectively bred to be like a fireside family member, traveling with their gypsy family and living as an integral part of their daily life and culture on the road and at camp.

Their temperament and extreme intelligence/trainability makes them the ideal choice for anyone looking for a friendly, level-headed, safe, and willing horse regardless of what discipline they are interested in. Their size (average 14.2 hands) makes them extremely well-suited for children, less experienced riders, and those of us who just prefer a solid stout mount a bit closer to the ground. All experienced horsemen will be able to appreciate their attributes as rare in a combined package- they are a pleasure to ride or drive for recreation or competition. Any child that has laid awake dreaming of a magical horse of their own (as I did!) will find that dream fulfilled beyond their wishes in a Gypsy Vanner.

The Gypsy Vanner would be amazing even if they were not so breathtaking to look at, but the fact that they are is just the icing on the cake!  (below- the immortal Nobby from Dragonfire Gypsies- www.dragonfiregypsy.com )                                                                            Consider Consider this- what is it that has made the Golden Retriever one of the most popular breeds of dog (especially as the all around family pet) in the world?  It is the level of their domestication, the selection for traits that go beyond the practical purposes of the breed and into the very heart of the human's desire to live so closely and safely with their canine companions as a family member.  Gypsy Vanners have been called "Golden Retrievers with hooves" for good reason.  They are very arguably the most domesticated breed of horse in the world, as they were bred to live more intimately with man in their everyday life than any other breed.  The result is a horse that is more affiliative with humans than others, one that literally has it in his DNA to want to be with us.  Maybe it is our own selfish desire to live so close to an animal as magical as a horse, a hunger for that childhood bond with animals that is the stuff of fairytales.  But it is a living dream of love between two species that is enjoyed by the people and the horses lucky enough to be a part of that dream.  If you thought it was impossible, think again. 

Regardless of whether you want to compete or just have the horse of your dreams that will be a friend for life in your own field, you will find the Gypsy Vanner to be everything you ever hoped for and more. Come and share the dream with us, come to our Fireside...and bring one home to yours.