The World's Most Beautiful Horse

Let me start by saying that I'm a huge fan of the American Quarter Horse. However, I think the Gypsy Vanner Horse is the most beautiful horse in the world.

Gypsy Vanner Horses were bred by the Romany (Gypsy) people of the United Kingdom. The following breeds are included in the bloodlines of Gypsy Vanner Horses: Shire, Clydesdale, Dales Pony and Friesian.  In spite of the presence of large draft horses in their bloodline, they're small horses, generally standing 13.2 to 15.2 hands.

They can be any color, although piebald (black and white) seems to be the most frequent color. They were bred to be gentle and strong. The Romany used them to pull their wagons, but they also needed to be gentle enough to act as an equine babysitter for their children. They generally have an eager-to-please attitude. I've heard them referred to as "Golden Retrievers with Hooves".

Like all other draft horses, they're considered cold-blooded. Cold-blooded horses are strong, muscular and have an easy-going temperament. (Horses like Arabians and Thoroughbreds are considered hot-blooded.) Any horse - including the Gypsy Vanner - can spook for any reason or no reason. It probably takes more to spook a Gypsy Vanner, but they do spook.

A Gypsy Vanner Horse has been a movie star. Odd Job Bob starred in the movie The Greening of Whitney Brown. It's a story about a spoiled little rich girl whose family loses everything when her father loses his high-powered job. They leave the city - and Whitney's private school and all her friends - and move to a run-down house in the country owned by Whitney's grandfather. There she makes a new friend - the Gypsy Vanner Horse named Bob, played by Odd Job Bob. It's a fun movie and it's too bad it didn't have a wider and longer release. It was only out for one week in my area, so I've only seen it on DVD.

Gypsy Vanners have only been in the U.S. since the 1990's and so are still relatively rare here. They usually have a price tag to match their rarity.

My first choice for a horse - if I'm ever able to own one - is still an American Quarter Horse. If I'm ever able to own more than one horse, the second one will be a Gypsy Vanner Horse - the world's most beautiful horse.