This is an interview with Mandy Kramar. She and her husband Kim own WillowWind Stables in Charlotte, Michigan.
Vanner Banner: can you tell us how your farm name was chosen?
WillowWind: Our farm name came from a childhood dream that cam true. The farm name comes from my first horse, WillowWind Bygoli. She was an Arabian bred at Michigan State University. The story of Goli can be read on our website www.willowwindstable.com
VB: Tell us about any horses you owned before Gypsy Vanners.
WW: I have had horses since I was 12. A quarter horse and an Arabian. I regretably sold them to MSU. Being horseless only lasted for a year, then I bought a yearling paint/arab. I trained her and sold her about a year after I imported my first gypsies, about 3 years later.
VB: How many years have you owned Gypsy Vanners WW: 10 years
VB: How many do you own? WW: Right now one senior stallion (Fionn mac Cumhaill picture above), one junior stallion, 8 mares, 2 foals. I have 2 foals due in 2010. I also own a gypsy cross gelding.
VB: How many foals do you usually have per year? WW: 2 - 3
VB: Do you limit your foals per year and if so why? WW: Mostly no, it really depoends on everything going on at the time. I do like to skip years for the mares if I can.
VB: Do you have a favorite of your horses and why?
WW: Of course I have my heart mare, Sorcha. She has been my best friend ever since she first landed hoof on Michigan soil. Sorcha waas one of my first imports. She literally taught me how to train a Gypsy Vanner. So really, she trained me. You can also read her story on our website.
VB: Do you feel any of your mares or stallions are prepotent in producing one thing or another? WW: That is a great question. I really love the study of genetics. But to answer the question, yes, I do believe if you breed to the best, your chances of getting the best is really good. Our mare Grainne has produced excellence routinely. Our stallion has routinely put his stamp on his fillies.
VB: Do you ride or show, prefer a discipline?
WW: Yes we do ride and drive our horses. I personally love driving and occasionally ride. I love dressage and am looking at taking lessons myself this summer. But other than that, we ride and drive for pleasure. Cause hey...thats what it's all about.
VB: Do you train your own Vanners and at what age, tell us about that:
WW: I have no worries training these horses as two year olds. And in fact, I start teaching the kids to drive as early as weanlings by tying them up to their dam's harness and head down the road. I don't let them pull weight till they are closer to 2 though. I have done most of my own training for riding and driving. But I do enjoy sending them off to a trainer if I don't have the proper amount of time to spend myself.
VB: Tell us what you look for when purchasing a Gypsy Vanner.
WW: The first place I look is conformation, of course. Then I look at the ears. Small cute ears usually mean a small cute head. When they have their winter coat on, it can be hard to get an accurate glimpse of their head. Feather of course is a must. Temperament is huge. If they are too jumpy for me to pick up their feet or handle their ears I make a judgement of whether I can easily correct the behavior or if it is part of their bloodline.
VB: Do you prefer to buy from an importer/trader or a private breeder and why?
WW: O fcourse a private breeder is preferable. The horses born on a farm here in the states are almost guaranteed to be handled and loved from birth. This is very important to me. But for me as a breeder, sometimes we must look to the importer to find a certain bloodline I may be looking for. But, my importing days are over. I have had one too many issues with importing. Most every bloodline is here already, and its great when you can just drive over to see a prospective horse.
VB: Does it matter to you if the seller shows their horses or not?
WW: Nope. Until the judges start properly placing horses showing means nothing to me. The GVHS is doing a wonderful job at training judges and having inspections, but it is still in its infancy. I can't wait till every show has a trained judge. Also, the inspections, what a great way for the GVHS to stand up and take care of this most special breed. The inspections are awesome and I am very impressed. We recently experienced one in Florida and I was very pleased. It's all about perfection of the breed, thats what I look for constantly. Not only that, but purity as well. These horses were never meant to ride saddleseat. Never meant to act crazy in the show ring, but yet that is what is winning in the shows today. It is a huge problem. I pray that the GVHS will act quickly on taking care of those issues before its too late. After what I saw at the inspections/seminar I have faith that they will. Love it, need more of it!
VB: What made you decide to become members of the GVHS and register your horses?
WW: I get asked this all the time. We are founding members and have always agreed with "the vision" of the breed. I pray that it continues to have the vision as time goes on. We all need to work hard at keeping the purity of this breed.
VB: Do you have a specific feeding program?
WW: Yes I do. 1st cutting of hay and pasture. I truly believe that the less we try to change this breed the better. All natural only. Grain and supplements are not natural. Of course I keep grain around for special circumstances but that is it. These horses are just like me, we look at food and we gain weight!
VB: How about crossbreeding?
WW: Well, no, I don't agree with crossbreeding, but eventually crossbreeding will be acceptable to me. It really has to do with where the breed stands in America. There is already an over abundance of crosses out there that are either selling extremely cheap or extremely expensive. I have a big problem with Drum Horses as it is an American "breed" that they just decided to create. When all in all, its a cross bred. That is exactly what I don't want to see happen with any other cross.
VB: Do you stand your stallions to the public?
WW: Of course I do. If I have a nice stallion, he needs to get as many foals on the ground as he can. The better the stallion the better the foals. For me, its all for the betterment of the breed, not marketing.
VB: Is there anything special or funny that has happened with your Vanners you can share?
WW: Way too many to type! But one in particular. I was at an expo with my mare Sorcha. I had her in an antique basketweave tub cart waiting to go into the ring. I have no idea what happened but somehow her overcheck got caught in the shaft. She instinctively backed up then when she knew something was wrong she just laid down. WE fixed the problem then into the ring we went. Sorcha did great of course, as always. I full heartedly love this breed and will never look back.
VB: Anything else to add?
WW: We all need to stick together. We need to stop standing alone and come together for one common good, The Gypsy Vanner.
Gypsy Vanner Horses Take Part in Dressage Under the Stars at the Players Club
Get to know.....WillowWind Stables
