Why Gypsy Horses for Equine Outreach Work?
Horses lend themselves quite naturally to outreach work and the interesting history of the Gypsy horse has given them a unique and most special ability to connect and interact with people of all ages.
The Gypsy Horse is a traditional horse and was specifically bred and has been used by the Romany people or "Gypsy" families, in Europe for many years. The Romany people bred colorful, feathered cob horses to pull their ornately decorated carts and living wagons, or "Vardos", thru the countryside of England and Ireland.
The docile and easy going temperament was essential with the Gypsy Horse. No aggressive or dangerous behaviors were permitted and any horse that showed such tendencies were not used for breeding. These horses often worked a long day pulling wagons and, at the end of a long day, they still had the patience to teach the gypsy children how to ride, or to be ridden bareback into towns for supplies. The Gypsy horse was the Romany people's means of travel, of employment, were their greatest source of pride, and were held very dear to their hearts. These qualities led to a horse that easily bonds with human beings and enjoys and seeks out human attention. They possess a special gentle demeanor that attracts human interaction and special things start to happen... we call this “Gypsy Magic”.
The Gypsy Horse is a traditional horse and was specifically bred and has been used by the Romany people or "Gypsy" families, in Europe for many years. The Romany people bred colorful, feathered cob horses to pull their ornately decorated carts and living wagons, or "Vardos", thru the countryside of England and Ireland.
The docile and easy going temperament was essential with the Gypsy Horse. No aggressive or dangerous behaviors were permitted and any horse that showed such tendencies were not used for breeding. These horses often worked a long day pulling wagons and, at the end of a long day, they still had the patience to teach the gypsy children how to ride, or to be ridden bareback into towns for supplies. The Gypsy horse was the Romany people's means of travel, of employment, were their greatest source of pride, and were held very dear to their hearts. These qualities led to a horse that easily bonds with human beings and enjoys and seeks out human attention. They possess a special gentle demeanor that attracts human interaction and special things start to happen... we call this “Gypsy Magic”.
