Pretty cute. Did they buy him as a yearling or later after he had some training?
Those Desert Jewel people know how to use media to promote a horse. I wasn't super impressed with them in person, though, but perhaps management has changed in the last four years or so.
They bought him earlier this year (he's four) after he'd gotten 40 days under saddle at some quarter horse ranch in Ohio. I am not impressed by gypsy horses in general. Wink is VERY cute and VERY sweet, but he's the type of horse that you could get for $200 if he didn't have spots and feathering. I don't know how much they paid for him, but I'm willing to bet he was over-priced.
I think with Gypsies 80% of the pricing is "the look". You could get the same exact thing (hair, stocky draft look, and good, easy-going draft-type personality, just lacking feather) in a Haflinger or Fjord for half, even a quarter of the price, or even get a finished horse for what a yearling costs. It's nuts. I'm waiting for the bubble to burst. I'm sure the quality of the breed is suffering for it as the quality of Friesians in the US has as well.
I haven't worked with many Gypsies, but I do think "the look" and the fact that their proponents have both money and media saavy makes them so popular and so terribly overpriced despite some breeders churning out foals as if they were puppies. DJ had 90 head of Gypsies and Drums when I looked at a Haflinger they had. It boggles the mind.
It is very very very hard to find a good Gypsy in America for anything less than $6,000. I have seen foals listed for $10-$12k. I've seen low-quality, poorly trained mares for sale for $8,000. And stallions are just in the "forget about it" price range.
I love Gyspies, but I.... Like everyone else... just love the look. I like the cob style, the feathering, and of course, the black and white. You just don't get that look with an American breed. In Europe, Gypsies are everywhere, they are as back yard bred as we breed Quarter Horses. They are low end, and nothing special. It's just the looks. And in America, our options are to either pay over priced for one bred/imported here.... or to import one yourself and pay an equal amount just in transportation!
That being said, someday I would love to own one. No, actually, I'd like 2, and do a pair. But again, just the look. I look at ads now and then for Gypsies and have a hard time finding any decently broke geldings for less than $6,000. And that's DECENTLY broke.
There is a woman in Illinois that is breeding mini Gyspies and trying to create a new breed in America. Some of her stock shows real promise, with stallions, mares, and their foals winning champions in classes, and more. They also don't carry the killer price tag of a full Gyspy. Mini Gypsies are in the 10-12.2hand range and have all the features of their full size counterparts. They are really cool and interesting, and more doable for someone who wants the look (and maybe not the full 14h size!)
Also on my list of fantasy horses to own when I buy my dream come true farm. lol ;)
It's rare to find a saddle-broke gypsy gelding for less than $10k. Desert Jewel sold one a few months ago for maybe $8k, and he was discounted due to excessive slobber or something like that. One of the gypsy horse importers used to say that a good gelding is more difficult to find than a good stallion. Many of the breeders seem to agree with this philosophy, and their horses are priced accordingly.
There is a ranch in Texas that regularly lists geldings in the $3k range, but I have no idea of their training level. The sale photos are taken in the pasture with the horses at liberty, all wild and wooly. They currently have 3-year-old that has a decent build for riding, aka, not the extreme draft type, and his breeding is from recognized lines. Either way, $3k is still a bit steep for what you're getting.
I guess they don't believe in the philosophy that a good stallion makes a great gelding? That just seems really odd and a bit backwards considering that all geldings start out as stallions.
Unless he has outstanding potential for some event or, perhaps rides and drives, 3k is a bit steep for a greenbroke horse.
The "rare good gelding" philosophy is a ploy to keep prices high when the horse can't be used for breeding purposes. It's a practical approach because enough people are willing to pay those prices.
Out of curiosity, a very quick look at Drafts For Sale revealed a pretty decent Friesian cross that is green broke to ride and drive for $2k, as well as a Halflinger pony for $750 that needs a refresher. One of the gypsy breeders has a three-year-old gelding listed as "in training" for $12k. Some people can justify the expense, but I'm not one of them.
Pretty cute. Did they buy him as a yearling or later after he had some training?
ReplyDeleteThose Desert Jewel people know how to use media to promote a horse. I wasn't super impressed with them in person, though, but perhaps management has changed in the last four years or so.
They bought him earlier this year (he's four) after he'd gotten 40 days under saddle at some quarter horse ranch in Ohio. I am not impressed by gypsy horses in general. Wink is VERY cute and VERY sweet, but he's the type of horse that you could get for $200 if he didn't have spots and feathering. I don't know how much they paid for him, but I'm willing to bet he was over-priced.
DeleteI think with Gypsies 80% of the pricing is "the look". You could get the same exact thing (hair, stocky draft look, and good, easy-going draft-type personality, just lacking feather) in a Haflinger or Fjord for half, even a quarter of the price, or even get a finished horse for what a yearling costs. It's nuts. I'm waiting for the bubble to burst. I'm sure the quality of the breed is suffering for it as the quality of Friesians in the US has as well.
DeleteI haven't worked with many Gypsies, but I do think "the look" and the fact that their proponents have both money and media saavy makes them so popular and so terribly overpriced despite some breeders churning out foals as if they were puppies. DJ had 90 head of Gypsies and Drums when I looked at a Haflinger they had. It boggles the mind.
With regard to the above comments, it's almost entertaining for me because, to my knowledge, they're worth sod all in the UK.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, as a baby he looks like a fuzzy round little couch on legs. Too cute!
ReplyDeleteIt is very very very hard to find a good Gypsy in America for anything less than $6,000. I have seen foals listed for $10-$12k. I've seen low-quality, poorly trained mares for sale for $8,000. And stallions are just in the "forget about it" price range.
ReplyDeleteI love Gyspies, but I.... Like everyone else... just love the look. I like the cob style, the feathering, and of course, the black and white. You just don't get that look with an American breed. In Europe, Gypsies are everywhere, they are as back yard bred as we breed Quarter Horses. They are low end, and nothing special. It's just the looks. And in America, our options are to either pay over priced for one bred/imported here.... or to import one yourself and pay an equal amount just in transportation!
That being said, someday I would love to own one. No, actually, I'd like 2, and do a pair. But again, just the look. I look at ads now and then for Gypsies and have a hard time finding any decently broke geldings for less than $6,000. And that's DECENTLY broke.
There is a woman in Illinois that is breeding mini Gyspies and trying to create a new breed in America. Some of her stock shows real promise, with stallions, mares, and their foals winning champions in classes, and more. They also don't carry the killer price tag of a full Gyspy. Mini Gypsies are in the 10-12.2hand range and have all the features of their full size counterparts. They are really cool and interesting, and more doable for someone who wants the look (and maybe not the full 14h size!)
Also on my list of fantasy horses to own when I buy my dream come true farm. lol ;)
What a cutie!
ReplyDeleteIt's rare to find a saddle-broke gypsy gelding for less than $10k. Desert Jewel sold one a few months ago for maybe $8k, and he was discounted due to excessive slobber or something like that. One of the gypsy horse importers used to say that a good gelding is more difficult to find than a good stallion. Many of the breeders seem to agree with this philosophy, and their horses are priced accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThere is a ranch in Texas that regularly lists geldings in the $3k range, but I have no idea of their training level. The sale photos are taken in the pasture with the horses at liberty, all wild and wooly. They currently have 3-year-old that has a decent build for riding, aka, not the extreme draft type, and his breeding is from recognized lines. Either way, $3k is still a bit steep for what you're getting.
I guess they don't believe in the philosophy that a good stallion makes a great gelding? That just seems really odd and a bit backwards considering that all geldings start out as stallions.
DeleteUnless he has outstanding potential for some event or, perhaps rides and drives, 3k is a bit steep for a greenbroke horse.
The "rare good gelding" philosophy is a ploy to keep prices high when the horse can't be used for breeding purposes. It's a practical approach because enough people are willing to pay those prices.
DeleteOut of curiosity, a very quick look at Drafts For Sale revealed a pretty decent Friesian cross that is green broke to ride and drive for $2k, as well as a Halflinger pony for $750 that needs a refresher. One of the gypsy breeders has a three-year-old gelding listed as "in training" for $12k. Some people can justify the expense, but I'm not one of them.
Pulling a big ol' gypsy caravan they are really cool! But give me a Friesian any day. :)
ReplyDelete