Our Vanners
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Here at Unicorn Meadows our mission is to preserve, protect and promote the horse that is "the breed." It is important for everyone to understand that all gypsy horses are not "the breed." With the way horses have been imported to the United States and how they have been imported throughout Europe, confusion exists for those who suddenly have discovered these horses.
Elsewhere in this Web site we discuss our mare, Magic, who was our first. In this section we will introduce you to our stud colt and geldings. The first is my horse, Bandit, who was the answer to my childhood dream. We found him while in Germany. He is a perfect example of a classic Gypsy Vanner Horse. Being solid black with white accents (a blaze, and four white feet), he is referred to as a blagdon. He was one of the first blagdons to be in the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society™ Registry. He meets all the standard requirements and stands 14.2 hands. As shared in Our Educational Efforts, Bandit is a Pleasure Driving Champion, having competed against a variety of breeds and as many as eleven competitors in a class, and winning three consecutive First Place ribbons. This makes him an excellent horse to demonstrate not only the beauty but the potential of this breed.
In the summer of 2004 a colt imported by Blarney Stone Acres became available. I had fallen in love with this little guy when he arrived at Blarney Stone with his dam Melodee. Melodee was purchased in foal, but she foaled while still in England in April 2003. Robert Watson, the breeder, named the foal "Babes." He is out of Blarney Stone Acres' Melodee, a Pratt family bred mare, and his sire is Robert Watson's stallion, Lad, who is a son of the UK Roadsweeper. This is an incredible heritage. Babes is our senior stallion. He turns five in April 08. His first foals are due in the Spring of 08. We are anxiously awaiting their arrivals.
At Unicorn Meadows our primary and utmost purpose is to educate the equine and general public on "the breed." Therefore, Babes will be used as a sire only for the protection and preservation of "the breed" as well as for promotional purposes.
At Unicorn Meadows we only register with The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society Registry. Why? Because at this time this is the only registry for gypsy horses that has indicated a commitment to the gypsy horse that is "the breed." The name that Dennis and Cindy Thompson gave the horse was Gypsy Vanner Horse. They established the first and only registry for these horses anywhere in the world. Though the term "Vanner" can be misinterpreted by some in Europe, here in the US the name reflects horses that are true to the foundation bloodlines that created "the breed." We at Unicorn Meadows will uphold what The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society™ began in honoring the horse that was selectively bred by a few dedicated Romany gypsy families.