Drum Horse Standard

Registration Requirements (effective 1/1/05)

A horse seeking registration as a Drum must meet the following standards: (According to the American Drum Horse Association)

The Drum Horse Studbook is for those approved horses that meet all the criteria for registration as a Drum Horse. These horses are a combination of any of the following breeds: Shire, Clydesdale, and Gypsy Horse, where no single breed listed above exceeds 7/8 of the total make-up, and the percentage of Gypsy Horse blood does not fall below 1/8. Only horses that are approved and meet all the criteria will be allowed in the Drum Horse studbook. Click for registration forms.

The Foundation Studbook is for those horses that are approved and certified for the breeding of Drum Horses. These horses are approved fullblood Clydesdales, Shires, and Gypsy Horses or combinations of these breeds that do not fit the criteria for registry as a Drum Horse. Foals that are born from a cross between a certified Foundation Horse and a Drum Horse which meet the criteria for registry as a Drum Horse will be placed in the Drum Horse studbook. The crossing of two Foundation Horses will result in a horse registered in the Foundation studbook, unless the resulting foal meets the criteria to be registered in the Drum Horse Studbook. Click for registration forms.

Please Note:

Horses registered as Drums may NOT be dual registered as a Gypsy Cob or Vanner, either pure or part.

Gypsy Vanner Horse (According to the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society)

The Gypsy Vanner is a “people sized” draft horse with heavy bone and broad body, but on a smaller scale then the large draft breeds.

#1 Color: The Gypsy Vanner Horse® is not a color breed it is a body type, therefore all colors, markings and patterns are acceptable. In honor of the British Gypsy heritage of the breed, the following names will be used to describe a Gypsy Vanner horses color.

A. Piebald: Black & White

B. Skewbald: Red & White, Brown & White, Tri-Color

C. Odd Coloured: Any other color

D. Blagdon: Solid color with white splashed up from underneath

#2 Height: No height limits, all sizes have the same standards, all equally acceptable.

#3 Body:The Vanner has the look of a small to average size horse with a draft horse type body.

A. Back: Short coupled and in proportion to overall body

B. Withers: Well rounded, not high and fine

C. Chest: A deep, broad chest with well sprung ribs.

D. Shoulder: Sloping shoulder with well developed muscle

E. Hindquarters: Heavy, powerful hips with a well muscled rounded croup, tail not set too low. Slab sided or severely sloping hindquarters are considered a fault.

F. Neck: Strong and of ample length, stallions must display a bold look with a rainbow (well arched) crest.

#4 Legs: Clean, heavy to medium heavy bone set on medium to large hoof .

A. Front: Set square, muscular with broad flat well developed knees.

B. Rear: Hocks that are broad and clean, a Vanner will have the modified closer hock set of a

pulling horse, but not as close as the modern draft horse. Set back or sickle hocks are a fault.

C. Hoof : large round hoof , open at the heels with well developed frogs. Small contracted hooves are considered a fault

D. Leg movement: Clean, straight and true with energy and a distinctive and effortless trot.

#5 Hair: Ideal hair is straight and silky, with some wave, curl and body being acceptable, kinky hair is a fault.

A. Abundant feathering should begin at the back of the knees on the front legs and at or near the hocks on the rear, extending over the front of the hooves.

B. Mane, forelock and tail should be ample to profusely abundant, double manes are common but not required.

#6 Head: A sweet head is a more refined head than a typical shire might have, set on a strong neck in harmony with the horses overall look.

A. Throat and jaw: Clean throat-latch and jaw.

B. Nose: Flat and tapered, a slightly roman nose is acceptable if it goes with the horses over all look. A heavy roman nose is not acceptable.

C. Eyes: Any color, wide set, bright, alert and kind.

D. Ears: In proportion to the head, not too large.

#7 Nature: A Vanner should be alert and willing with traits of intelligence, kindness and docility, a Golden Retriever With Hooves®.

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