Buying a horse from Gypsies?

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tulips2roses

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What is the general consensus on this?

I have been reading a few articles about people's experiences when purchasing a horse from a traveller.

I am thinking that I may go down this road also, but my mind is not entirely made up.

If anyone has had a good/bad experience with regard to buying a horse from a gypsy, please let me know.

If I did decide to do this, I have no idea who to approach or where to go etc., so your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance!
 
Why are you considering this in the first place? It does not sound as if you have found a nice horse who happens to be owned by gypsies. You could always look on Dragon Driving: there seem to be plenty of horses owned by travellers, who may be gypsies.
 
My landlord bought a little tri-coloured pony form gypsies a few months back, lovely little thing but she was strangely told never to canter him under saddle :confused:(hes used mostly for driving) appart from that its all been good. I imagine you would treat it like any other horse sale and make sure the passport matches the pony, and you get it vetted.
 
Um, sorry to appear numpty, but I'm not clear.

Coz you need to firstly differentiate between the terms "gypsy" and "traveller". The two are not the same. Both can be used in a derogatory sense, or not; it depends on what is said and how it is said. So I think (without wishing to appear overly PC) that great care is needed in definition.

As such care is needed; I will answer the question posed by saying that when buying a horse I would primarily look/ask around amongst friends and acquaintances; I would also take the advice of a trusted friend plus my instructor/trainer; I would also ask around the local hunt/pony club. Failing that I would probably look for a good reliable dealer or agent.

If its a "gypsy cob" you're after; they do come up occasionally both from dealers and private sellers, but whether the vendor is a "traveller" or "gypsy" may well be open to question. If buying ANY horse its a case of "caveat emptor", let the buyer beware, and that applies to WHOEVER is selling ANY horse.
 
It does seem unusual you are actively seeking one from travellers! Are you after a traditional cob? Some of them produce nice horses but so do lots of other people who live in houses :-)

I know people who have bought cheap companion ponies from them and they have been OK but nothing special because it seems to be a random mix of uncut colts/stallions and whatever mares are available so its anyone's guess what height etc the offspring will be.
 
I would say just look for the horse which suits you and a buyer you trust to be straight and honest. Such people and horses are not exclusive to any social group.
 
tulips2roses said:
What is the general consensus on this?

I have been reading a few articles about people's experiences when purchasing a horse from a traveller.

I am thinking that I may go down this road also, but my mind is not entirely made up.

If anyone has had a good/bad experience with regard to buying a horse from a gypsy, please let me know.

If I did decide to do this, I have no idea who to approach or where to go etc., so your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance!
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Did you not find a horse when you looking for a livery yard last year?
 
Pale Rider said:
I'd just wonder whose horse it was really.
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Oh my god, that's an ignorant comment even by PR standards. Absolutely disgusting.

And to answer the original question, yes I would (and have) if it was what I was looking for. I have even sold to travellers/gypsies, one particular filly I saw two years running when they were in the area, incredibly she was still alive and looked well.....
 
I can't really undestand why you want to buy from gypsies in particular. It's just the same as shopping in one particular shop & not venturing into the one next door. Just go out & look for the horse that you want & when you find it negociate a deal. If it happens to be owned by gypsies then so what. To narrow your field of viewing to one particular group of people is going to limit what you are going to see & finding a suitable horse is difficult enough without doing that. Broaden your search to encompass all horses for sale.
 
A very good friend of mine bought her cob mare from Gypsies about 12 years ago and she cost £1200 back then. She has never put a foot wrong in all that time and is the steadiest on the roads . . . unless the hunt is about :rolleyes:

If you find a horse you like then go and look at it and try it as you would any other horse.
 
A friend of ours is a gypsy, all be it turned farmer now, but still travels a fair bit, does Appleby and other events. He found me a perfect childs pony, honestly my four year old can lead her up the road she is so sensible. All his animals are fantastic and he's totally honest about what they will or won't do.

On the flip side of it I went with a friend to look at a pony and the minute we drove in we knew it was a mistake. Dogs chained in filth, several horses with wounds running pus some feet that had virtually rotted away with seedy toe. Horrific I felt sick for days.

Guess the point is there are good and bad in everything.
 
Totally depends on the individual seller (travellers or not) you could buy a horse that had been looked after perfectly and was happy or in my case my mare was from a dealer but originally from travellers as a driving horse/broodmare. She's a nervous wreck to be honest, it's obvious she's been beaten in the past and if you push her she will attack you (learnt that one the hard way trying to put fly spray on her once!) my mums had her 3 years now and she's had no bad experiances in that time but she's still tricky to groom etc because she's always keeping a very close eye and expecting a slap :(
She also had probably never had her teeth done so had some pretty serious issues there!
 
If you serious about buying a traveling horse.

I would suggest going to buy one through the markets, take a reputable person with you , this way you are in a safe environment.

I would not advice buying in a travelers camp or such.

I have seen many nice coloured cobs go through places like reading and Southall
 
In the past I've bought a weanling from travellers - he turned out well. In saying that they were people who I knew and I knew this horses dam, sire and history from birth. I would happily have bought an older horse from them but they would have been way out of my price range...

In the area I live in now I have to be honest and say I wouldn't touch any of the traveller horses with a bargepole, mainly because they are all grazed on ragwort infested fields and started under harness as yearlings. Nice as the horses are (gypsy cobs x Sec D x TB normally) they are unlikely to stay healthy into their teens and I don't need the heartache nor will I support breeders whose principals I abhor.
 
Hi, I don't see an issue with buying from a traveller or gypsie. You just need to judge the seller. Our neighbours are settled travellers and are lovely people and we've brought a cob off the field from a traveller, it was a case if me jumping on bareback and him leading me around the field to prove it was already backed, lol, but mum loved the mare and she was a good price.
We've also just brought a mobile home from a traveler, ( to go on our own land) my dad was very worried handing over £40k before it was even delivered but they were the nicest people and were a pleasure to deal with.
So I wouldn't be too worried unless the seller seemed to be hiding something, you could always have a vet out yo check it and see if its micro chipped if you were worried about it being stolen! But most are bred by them anyway.
 
Seren was purchased off an irish gypsy at an auction in Wales, she was my horse of a lifetime, an absolute gem of a horse.

I purchased Nell from a local farrier, but she had come from gypsies I believe as this farrier often buys from them and sells on for much more!

So my experience is good
 
The genuine Gypsy type horses (skewbalds and piebalds) are generally very safe with children and laid back in temprement. Clearly it also depends on how they have been treated but if you get a good one they are worth their weight in gold if you are after a horse that will remain calm and steady in all situations and can be safely hacked on the road.
 
Wizzkid said:
This just seems like a thread to get people arguing.
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If so, it doesn't seem to be working. Most people seem to be in a agreement that you look for a right horse, and judge the seller as an individual, not by what social group you think they belong to. :)
 
If the horse passes a cetting and is what it says on the tin then what difference does it make coming from a dealer, private seller or traveller/gypsy.

I have to say I have seen some gorgeous horses come from these people and they have had long useful lives :)
 
I wouldnt rule it out in the event they had something I was interested in. Ive known some nice beasts come from travellers, and also a complete mess that a novice owner got well and truly ripped off with. Buyer beware as with any sale.
 
Leviathan said:
If you serious about buying a traveling horse.

I would suggest going to buy one through the markets, take a reputable person with you , this way you are in a safe environment.

I would not advice buying in a travelers camp or such.

I have seen many nice coloured cobs go through places like reading and Southall
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I saw the nicest cob go through Reading at the start of the market crash.
Nicely marked, correct passport.....they had even chipped him.
£380......for a ride and drive 6 yr old....crazy!

Agree.....you need a horse that fits the bill, and that may come from any walk of life!
 
It's the same as buying from anyone else really - you should take the usual precautions and judge the horse, not the people. My first horse was bought from a gypsy and kept on a livery/scrap metal yard owned by gypsies. I tell you what - they were all a lot more polite and respectful than your average horsey person back in the 80's.

It actually really gets up my nose when people here are snotty about working class people and gypsies and their horses. Anyone who mistreats their horses deserves to be condemned, but you'll find just as much mistreatment in what is considered a 'better' class of person.

Paula
 
joeanne said:
I saw the nicest cob go through Reading at the start of the market crash.
Nicely marked, correct passport.....they had even chipped him.
£380......for a ride and drive 6 yr old....crazy!

Agree.....you need a horse that fits the bill, and that may come from any walk of life!
Click to expand...

yep if its the horse you want buy it. After looking at 22 horses last year non gypsy/traveller sellers(which woundnt bother me in the slightest) I wouldnt rule out any sellers(I only met about 3-5 honest sellers then). My old boy had been driven in his early days by gypsys and he was hence sound as a pound on the road, great on the ground...never kicked bit etc....he did have trouble getting into canter due to being driven only although once in was great, had the best trot ever...fast, but when his back end went the vet and I suspected it was due to being driven hard at a younger age(no doubt). But lovely boy and I wouldnt hestitate to get another from anyone.

But agree if you find buy and do usual checks etc, vet etc. Good luck
 
Bought my lad from a gypsy and he is my horse of a lifetime! I still see the man I bought him from and he still asks me how "that little bay cob" is getting on - bearing in mind I bought him nearly 6 years ago ;)

As MJR2BT said you need to differentiate between "traveller" and "gypsy" because there is a huge difference.
 
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