Thanks to a switch in venue, the general metropolitan region receives the opportunity for a special introduction to the Gypsy Vanner Horse.
Instead of taking part in Red Deer’s Westerner Days Fair and Expo, the 2nd Annual Feathered Horse Classic will be held at the Edmonton Whitemud Equine Centre on July 21 and 22.
Gypsy Vanners have the cob body type, meaning a small heavy horse. They have distinctive feathered legs flaring over the hoof, long, flowing manes and extended tails that occasionally drag on the ground.
Bred by the United Kingdom’s Roma, these hardy, compact workhorses pulled the traditional curved wooden caravan carts or vardo. Since they transported entire families and all their earthly belongings, the Gypsy Vanners were bred for calmness and gentleness.
“They were bred by the Gypsies to be babysitters for the children. You had to make a breed that was super, super docile,” said Carmel Baird who along with husband Dave owns River Lane Ranch, located in east Edmonton near the Saskatchewan River.
Three years ago the couple discovered Gypsy Vanners. Today River Lane Ranch breeds Gypsy Vanners for show as well an equine therapy and healing program for individuals dealing with trauma and injury.
Texas horse promoter Gail Shrine is the owner and organizer of the Feathered Horse Classic and Baird partners as her Edmonton liaison.
“Not only are they docile, but they are people friendly. They’re magnificent and elegant. They are just stunning,” says Shrine.
Shrine, who used to show Arabian horses, has been involved with the feathered horse for 14 years. She runs eight shows annually leading up to a national championship.
The performance classes at every competition are an opportunity for horses and riders to measure their skills against peers.
Although bred to pull carts, the versatility of the breed sees them equally at ease performing in jumping, dressage, driving, barrels and trail classes.
“They can do anything. They are so beautiful in dressage, so beautiful in cart, so beautiful in saddle classes,” Shrine said.
This weekend’s series at Whitemud Equine will see more than 30 horses show in various classes: halter and hand; costume; trail and liberty, as well driving and under saddle.
According to multiple equine publications, the Gypsy Vanner was first introduced to the United States in 1996. To date there are slightly more than 700 Romany horses in Canada.
Almost as important as giving riders and horses the opportunity to strut their stuff, the show is an opportunity to give more people a close-up meet with the hoofed animals.
“The goal is to get more people to know and love the breed, and then you have a bigger industry of people understanding what the breed is about,” Baird said.
Through her healing equine therapy program, she has witnessed the horses cultivate a seemingly magical trust in people afflicted with post traumatic stress disorder.
"We had a four-year-old girl that had never spoken. She spoke her first word to a horse."
Baird added that when horses are not competing, equine enthusiasts will be able to walk through Whitemud stables to view the Vanners and chat with owners and riders.
The Whitemud Equestrian Centre is at 12504 Fox Dr. For more information, visit www.featheredhorseclassic.com
