Who am I?
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I am a working people's horse. I am a horse that earns his keep. I am a family horse, responsible for the old and young alike. I am prized and respected by my people. I am currency. I am an "all-rounder." I am the Traditional Romani Cob, also known in the world as a Gypsy horse, a Gypsy Cob, or a Gypsy Vanner.
I was born out of the right opportunity, circumstances, and need during WWI in the United Kingdom, when less expensive flashy colored horses were left behind from the battle lines. Many believe I sprung from the crossings of native Dales and Fell ponies, as well as the heavier draft breeds of Shire and Clydesdale. Little is written on paper for my history is mostly a spoken one, passed on and passed down.
I belong to a culture of people that call themselves the Rom, or Travellers, the Romani of England, Wales, and Ireland. Many know us as "Gypsy", a mistaken identity for we are not from Egypt, but from long ago India. My people were the craftsman, the artisans, the musicians, the storytellers, the animal trainers, and the wanderers. My people are the Rom.
'It was the travelling, rather than the arriving that was important. Every lane and the surroundings were a part of a Romani's life, and they knew every road.'
I was created not only to pull the family home, called a Vardo or Caravan, but also the cart that carried vegetables and wares to sell. I was created to be a riding horse, able to get my master and his children safely through the thickest and noisiest of traffic, and I was created to be gentle, steadfast, and comfortable enough for the youngest Romani girl, or boy to hop on and ride about with nothing but their fingers tangled in my mane, and legs gripping my sides.
My traditional conformation is similiar to a small draft horse; short coupled, heavily boned, large solid flat joints, wide deep chest, ranging in size from 13hh to 16hh. I am flashy enough to show off the wagon I pull, with a 50/50 of black and white coloring (piebald) being the most prevalent, but any colors you can dream are acceptable. I even saw a Palomino colored once! You will know me when you see me, for I am drama and beauty in both looks and movement. Long silken mane and tail, feathers that fall from my knees and hocks, and a high flashing action, make me look like I float and fly on the air itself. You will come to love me for my tractable nature, gentle temperament, intelligence, hardiness, and adaptability.
Today you will find me not only in the Traditional setting of my people, but I have become every person's horse throughout the world. Some of us are athletic enough to jump, or to be a dressage horse, a western mount, or even an English hunter. I work with the disabled, and I am a school horse to teach new riders.
So now when you are driving along through your countryside, or watching a parade, or sitting in the stands of a horse show perhaps your eyes will widen, your jaw will drop, and you will recognize me, for now we, the Traditional Romani Cob or horse, are part of your culture too.
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