Working Horse at Sallygardens

A few months ago we started researching the idea of getting a working horse to join us on our smallholding. We've pretty much been researching this idea full time since then. I've gone from not knowing anything about horses, other than what they look like, to having at least enough knowledge to consider what horse might suit our needs. We  considered various breeds such as the French Percheron, UK shire horses or Clydesdales and the Belgian Ardenne.

Finally we set our hearts on a native traditional heavy Irish Gypsy Cob. They are ideal because they've been bred to suit our wet climate and do well outside the year round.

This is a yearling colt 'Shruna's Boy', not fully grown, from www.gypsyirishcob.com
 

They are also economical feeders and generally  have a very gentle nature. The traits have been selectively bred into the gypsy horses by the Travellers for generations because this animal was just the thing they needed on the road... something that could survive outdoors and didn't need expensive stabling, something that could feed economically on the roadside grass, a horse strong enough to pull a family and it's caravan, and last but not least, an animal kind enough to be easily handled by the children of the family. It's all of these qualities combined that have made the Irish cob a horse that is bred extensively in Ireland and one which people from all walks of life seek out. When I was a child in Dublin these were the horses seen being ridden by inner city children, used to pull cart loads of vegetables into Moore's Street or coal to the housing estates. They were often left to graze the central reservations of the city roads and I'll never forget the excitement of waking up one morning to see a lost horse standing in our own front garden. Indeed their legendary gentle nature means that people from as far as the UK and US are now eagerly importing these gentle giants.

The horse itself is magnificent to look at, especially when the feather (lower leg hair) and mane is long and they are running or jumping with hair billowing out behind them in the wind. Yep, we got it bad! I apologise if this blog takes a bit of a 'horsey' turn for a while, I promise to try and balance things out with various vegetables and other smallholding animals!

And some very exciting news ... if all goes according to plan our very own Gypsy Cob is due to arrive here at the weekend. Stay posted for news.

Comments

[Cheryl]

How very exciting for you all! I'm sure that your newest acquisition will be a great asset in many ways.

We're in the process of watching 'The Good Life' on DVD (a family favourite) and have just watched the episode where Barbara wants to get a horse to solve their transport problems. Glad to see that in your case a horse is a logical addition to your smallholdings! And he's cute too!

[Wild Rose]

What a lovely post Rebecca. How nice to be able to make a connection with your own childhood too. You must be counting the hours until your Irish beauty arrives.

Marie x

[alan]

What beautiful horses. Good luck with this project. I'll not be sharing this post with my kids (who love reading about your adventures). We have just gotten over a serious bout of eques-complex, and I wouldn't want it to start again.

[kaat]

Wow I am so impressed! They are so beautiful! Even the idea of some chickens intimidates me but this does it: I am going to talk to the town to see if they'll allow them anyway.

[carolyn]

Green with horse envy...

[leslie]

What a fabulous choice.
You could make this an "all vanner all the time" blog, and I wouldn't mind :)
Can't wait to hear how it goes.

[Laive]

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[Laive]

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