Grand Marshall for 2012 Grand Parade
It will be an equine (Shamrock Billy O’Brien) – Gypsy Vanner Horse
Shamrock Billy O’Brian – Gypsy Vanner Horse
He will be presented pulling a carriage which will be provided by the KHP.
The Gypsy Horse has originally bred by the Romany men to pull their heavy traveling wagons called caravans. They traveled constantly, with their wagons basically carrying everything they owned traveling 15-20 miles a day was common. Their goal, was to create a unique draft type horse that could pull their caravans in fancy fashion yet was docile enough to be handled by their children and would work all day with small amounts of food and water.
Through selective breeding over more than 100 years the Gypsy men and their families in England and Ireland created this beautiful breed of horses. They wanted the horse to have a “WOW” factor! The average Gypsy horse should stand about 14.3 to 15.2 hands, and can be most any color these days. They should have small ears that curve inward, a round and correct heavy neck, thick boned legs with feathers that start at the knee in the front and the hock in the back that are tent-like and cover the hooves. he feather must be long and silky starting from the knee – not coarse or curly. You must have feather at the front and back.
2012 Festival of the Horse Grand Parade Winners
Adult Ridden: Cindy Burns
Youth Ridden: Ashley Burns
Best Costume: Sarah Schaaf
Driven-Youth or Adult: Cynthia Bellis-Jones
