Gypsy Horse Society vs CHAPS vs BSPA - opinions

[zoeshiloh]

If you had to register a gypsy type horse, who would you go with? I have looked at CHAPS (not too impressed) and BSPA but both seem to cater more for the non traditionals, and passports without lots of pedigree etc are just 'basic'. I think for a gypsy cob it would be better to go with Gypsy Horse Society but I have never seen one of their passports and don't want a cheap tacky looking thing. It will be overstamped with both CHAPS ad BSPA anyway, so would it just make more sense to go with one of them?

 

[Shysmum]

erm.....go for BSPA for a quality passport. Had all three and that was the most professional. Just mho.

 

[zoeshiloh]

Thank you - I was erring towards BSPA as I am already a member, but just wanted some first hand opinions too, as being a gypsy cob you would think it would be better to get a breed passport so to speak.

 

[The_snoopster]

I have seen a gypsy horse society passport and tacky is the word, also a friend had a passport for her red and white mare off them when it turned up it said piebald, so she rang them to tell them of the error and they just told her to cross out the wrong bits "dodgy or what" and write in herself the correct info.

 

[FMM]

You talk about registering then about passports. The passport is irrelevant - get it wherever you want! It is a legal document and it matters not what it looks like providing it is correct. My horse has no breeding, and it has not exactly been a major drawback in his showing career!

The difference between the BSPA and CHAPS boils down to the two major shows of the year - RIHS and HOYS.

BSPA runs the RIHS qualifeirs and CHAPS runs the HOYS qualifiers. BSPA tend to have more shows in the southern part of the UK and CHAPS historically is more of a northern based society. Having said that, they both have shows around the UK.

If you are not interested in showing, then I wouldn't bother joining either society.

With regard to the Gypsy Horse Society - sorry, not heard of it but it would not be relevant to my horse anyway. So obviously cannot comment.

Hope this helps!

 

[zoeshiloh]

I'll be showing under both BSPA and CHAPS, although predominantly BSPA. She will be registered with both, but I just wasn't sure who the best PIO would be (I know some think it doesn't matter). I think I will passport with BSPA and overstamp with CHAPS as there is no real value of going to the GHS. Thank you for all the help.