Would it be improper to say where the pic of the Sire was taken Tom?
No. I chose this horse for that very reason.
He was owned by Thorn Hill Farms, which is located in: Kansas City, Missouri.
Thorn Hill Farms are a member of the Gypsy Cob Society of America.
The GCSA are very knowledgable and dedicated, but like most societies, they are not content to allow things to carry on as they have done for hundreds of years. They, (along with others who are interested) want to "Unify the breed" i.e. set out on paper a blueprint for the perfect Gypsy horse.
According to them Thats where the problem lies. The perfect Gypsy horse is in the eye of the beholder. A mythical beast that exists only in the imagination of the men that have been around Gypsy horses all their lives. The standard evolves over the years, and it is this constant, yet almost imperceptible change that keeps the breed fresh and healthy. even in my half decade (not long in evolutionary terms) I have seen minor changes in what is considered to be a good cob.
Once you set a standard down on paper, it becomes rigid and inflexible. It promotes inbreeding and is ultimately responsible for a huge number of genetic defects.
At the moment, the GCSA are buying most of their breeding stock in the UK and Ireland, but if they do "unify the breed" (and I think they will) Then soon, their version of a good Gypsy cob will be something completely different from ours.
PS- This is of course, just my opinion.
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