The Certified Horse concept is an integrity based program made up of like-minded people who want to build consumer confidence in, and awareness of their breed... Certification states that a particular horse is what the breed was envisioned to be and that the horse has passed an inspection against genetic faults by a Certified Veterinarian Certification increases value, prestige, recognition and buyer confidence, helping to insure the breed's
look and genetic health forever.

THE VISIONS FOR THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ARE...

To create an international network of dedicated breeders and importers committed to the same visions.

To offer international advertising that helps the public understand and find Certified Horses and their owners/breeders or importers.

To build consumer confidence in a breed which certification and unity from like-minded people can help produce in the age of the Internet.

Gypsy Vanner mare Panda Rose is owned by
Bill and Wendy Ricci, WR Ranch (NC and FL) 


IN ORDER TO CERTIFY...

... a GVHS registered Gypsy Vanner Horse must first pass an AAEP
(American Association of Equine Practitioners)- based veterinarian inspection. The AAEP veterinarian you choose is invited to have his or her name appear on this web site as the inspector of your horse and will then be listed as a certified veterinarian.

Photos of the applicant horse are submitted with the vet's inspection report. Those will be juried by the Founder and former President of the GVHS (US), Dennis Thompson.  He will analyze the applicant on seven areas of the breed standard, scoring each area from one to seven points in half point increments.  A perfect score, therefore, would be 49, but a horse may still be certified with a score of 46.  (½ point is deducted for each parent without DNA).
  
In addition to your horse passing his vet check and photo jurying, the owner/breeder of a certified Gypsy Vanner Horse also commits... 

To display consistent and accurate breed information on their farm web sites and advertisements. To help alleviate confusion by registering Vanner horses only with the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society; no dual registering.

To embrace a supportive atmosphere for fellow Certified Vanner breeders.

To breed Certified Vanners only to Gypsy Vanner Horses; no cross breeding.

Certified Horse membership is not transferable with new ownership. Although another vet check is not required, the new owner of a Certified Gypsy Vanner Horse must join, understand and commit to the goals of the Certified Horse program to continue the use of the mark and for inclusion in the directory.

THE NEED FOR THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
by Dennis Thompson

In the old days we all knew that it was 'buyer beware' with a horse trader in our neighborhood who bought and sold horses and we also knew a dedicated breeder focused on perpetuating a breed.  The Internet is our neighborhood now, and it has clouded our ability to differentiate the trader from the breeder.  The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society is the first breed in the history of breeds to establish itself in the age of the Internet.  In a moment a new name can be coined or a new registry established. A horse trader armed with Internet savvy can wrongly influence a buyer who wants to embrace this new breed.  In this unique age, where the click of a mouse can result in breed and consumer confusion worldwide, think of the certification program as a firewall for breed lovers.

Six years ago, my wife Lynn (a very experienced horse person), bought a registered Shire gelding on the Internet.  She was provided with photos, a copy of his registration papers and a vet check.  Since he was intended to merely be a pet, she figured it was worth the risk of buying him sight-unseen. When the horse arrived, he was lame and 1,000 pounds underweight.  Turns out, the vet used was a close friend of the seller. The fact that the horse was registered with a breed society didn't help in this transaction... but certification would have.  Certified Veterinarians are willing to have their name linked with an inspection and horse owners have made a commitment of integrity. 

Over and over I get calls from - or hear of - people who have been involved in unsatis- factory or unethical transactions (see STORIES). Too often, they are not getting the magical looking Gypsy Vanner Horse breed they saw on a calendar cover at Barnes and Noble. Some advertisers go so far as to use photos of horses they don't even own in an effort to sell inferior horses. Bait-and-switch is what that's called; it's illegal and is exactly the sort of practice which inspired the Certified Horse program.

It is our observation that the system of buying and selling horses changes with the public’s knowledge of a breed and what can be demanded in a transaction. The more people know and the more they demand the more principled transactions become. (We strongly urge and encourage people to insist on pictures and DNA heritage of both parents, if possible, in all transactions.  Every young horse and many older horses can come with identified heritage with the right system.

Together we can make that happen.

A Certified Gypsy Vanner Horse owner, breeder or importer wants...

To establish the Vanner breed with the look Gypsies envisioned (a small Shire with more feather, and sweeter head).

To establish the Vanner breed with the genetics that created the look (increase knowledge of the heritage of imported horses, accompanied with DNA proof).

To establish the Vanner breed with parallel feelings of pride and prestige that Gypsies have for their breed.

To establish the Vanner breed with values parallel to those of Gypsies' selectively bred horses (for the good of the breed and all breeders we must not erode established values).

    
THE MARK

A certification mark is established to build consumer confidence and recognition. UL® is a certification mark of Underwriters Laboratory. It tells consumers that an electrical product is safe to keep in their home. The Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval is over 100 years old and like the Certified Gypsy Vanner Horse it was inspired by a system that needed change.

The Romany flag inspired the certification mark of the Gypsy Vanner Horse. The sixteen-spoke chakra wheel in the center represents movement and honors
the Romany Gypsies' nomadic lifestyle and Indian heritage. The mark is a chakra (which means "wheel" in Sanskrit), a symbol from India where Gypsies originated. It represents seven levels of perfection. It is believed that when all of your chakras are in order you have reached seventh heaven or perfection. On the certification mark, it symbolizes the seven points of the Gypsy Vanner breed standard.





Since it is the Gypsy Vanner Horse which inspired the Certified Horse program, we chose the same chakra wheel as the logo of Certified Horse...



The 16-spoke wheel has further symbolism as Cortez brought the first 16 horses to the Americas, and there were 16 Gypsy Vanner Horses first brought to America.

The mark is painlessly branded on the hoof of certified horses Additionally, or as an alternative, your horse can wear a Certified Horse medallion on his or her bridle or halter (available soon).