About Gypsy Vanners and Drums

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Gypsy Vanners are the ”people sized draft horse.”  They originated in the British Isles and were bred by Romani and Irish traveler communities to pull their ”vardo” caravans. They range in height between 12.2 and 16 hands. Gypsies are valued and loved for their beautiful long manes and tails, ”feathered” legs, and their docile, gentle, and willing temperaments. Although they were orginally bred to pull wagons, they are actually versatile all around riding and driving horses. First imported to the USA in 1996, they have become a much desired gentle horse utilized in competition and pleasure riding.  Gypsies are a cross between Shire/Clydesdales, Friesians, and Dales Ponies. They are highly intelligent and easy to train.  Gypsies come in every color of the rainbow and some colors you may have never seen!  Some Gypsies carry the silver gene which can create the gorgeous Silver Dapples and Silver Bays.

Today, you can find Gypsy Vanners and Gypsy Crosses competing in every equestrian sport from show ring competition and working cattle to competitive driving events.  Gypsy Vanners are known for their easy going “draft brain” and make amazing competition horses in every discipline. Many dude ranches have changed to using Gypsy Vanners and Gypsy Crosses as mounts for tourists because of their easy going temperaments. They are also able to carry more weight because of their size and bone structure making them appropriate for riders of all ages.

At Rockin JM Ranch, our Gypsies are not only competition horses but our every day mounts along with several Quarter Horses.  They live up to their breed standards and prove themselves to be outstanding mounts and driving horses. Our Gypsy stallion, WS Wizard’s Task Ta Boom, is trained English, jumping, western, and pleasure driving.  His willing attitude makes him highly trainable.  He is currently be trained in ranch trail.

Drum horses are a rare breed in the USA which is a cross between a Clydesdale and a Gypsy Vanner and are an actual breed and not type of horse. These horses were originally bred to carry rider and ceremonial silver kettledrums. It is also suspected that Drums were the horses carrying knights into battle. Chain mail from that time period appropriately fits on the average Drum horse. They are generally around 16 hands or taller with the massive bone structure of the heavy drafts including heavy muscle and leg feathering.  Drums are an athletic breed treasured for their gentle nature, people-oriented attitudes, and highly dependable disposition. Drum horses can still be found carrying riders and kettledrums in the Royal Household Cavalry in England.

Drum horses have become an incredibly versatile, modern sport horse used in competition riding and driving events. They excel in dressage, jumping, trail riding, and can be seen in parades across the country because of their calm and easy going temperaments.

At Rockin JM Ranch, we breed a small number of Drums. We welcomed JM XCaliber on April 1, 2026. He will have a permanent home here at the ranch.  We expect nothing but greatness from this gorgeous colt. 

Caliber was born on the morning of April 1, 2026 and immediately stole our hearts.  His mother, Saoirse, is one of our favorite horses and this giant colt brings with him his parents’ athleticism and easy going temperament.

We think the ever affectionate Caliber will be a fan favorite here at Rockin JM Ranch.  Caliber will be registered in GHRA as a half Gypsy and also in the International Drum Horse Association (IDHA).