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BWS Feather Dancer ("Harley") (Born June 10, 2002; Imported 2003)
ADHA Registration #D0102S
GCDHA Registration #FD1021036SPS
Gypsy Stallion x Shire Mare

BWS Feather Dancer (aka Harley), Drum Horse stallion, came into our lives when we were searching for a Gypsy Horse show gelding.  We saw Harley advertised for sale by BlackWater Stables of Odessa, Missouri, and requested a video. When we saw him move, we knew we had to have him. The movement we saw on the video, his big, rolling canter in particular, showed great potential for dressage. That he was not a Gypsy but a Drum Horse gave us pause, but then we realized that he could be an ambassador for the entire family of Gypsy-bred horses and crossbreeds. We bought him with the intention of gelding, but not only did his temperament make this unnecessary but we became excited by the possibilities of this new breed.  As one of the few Drum stallions in the U.S., Harley has much that he can contribute—a wonderful temperament, movement that will take him far in dressage, and the abundant feathering, mane, and tail so desired in a Drum Horse.

Harley’s Origins and History.  Harley was born in the U.K. and imported in 2003 as a six-month-old by Jeff and Chris Bartko of Black Forest Shires & Gypsy Horses. On his web page, they reported that he was at that time 14.2 hands and that his Gypsy sire and Shire dam were 15.2 and over 17 hands, respectively. Chris Bartko, whom we have found to be an excellent judge of horseflesh, wrote about him, "As a dressage horse, you could stop traffic…boy can he MOVE! He steps like a friesian, WOW." Chris went on to describe his origins as follows: 

While with BlackWater Stables, Harley received a well-rounded education. He spent twelve weeks in training to drive with the Amish, six weeks in trail riding, and six months beginning his dressage education. After the latter, he scored in the upper 60s on two sets of Intro and Training dressage tests, quite an achievement given his youth and the fact that these were his very first such tests. These scores deeply impressed us, and we began the dialog which led ultimately to his purchase in February 2006.

Since that time we have gotten him out and about in a series of appearances and shows.   He has shown at River Glen, the Ohio State Fair, and the first ever Feathered Horse Classic held at the 2006 Georgia National Fair. He has excelled wherever he has been shown. For a list of his appearances and how he placed, please see here.  His achievements have also earned him recognition in the Equine Journal, the Wall Street Journal of the horse world.

The Drum Horse: the World’s Newest Sporthorse. The Drum Horse breed is named for and patterned after the horses traditionally attached to British regiments.  Their function was to carry the huge drums beaten during regimental parades to mark time for the march. Since the rider beat the drums with his hands, he controlled his mount primarily with his feet and legs. By necessity, these horses had to be large, strong, and very manageable. Breyer, maker of realistic equine models for over five decades, issued a limited edition porcelain figurine of a Drum Horse in full regalia in 1999. This figurine is pictured above.

Two registries currently exist for the Drum Horse—the Gypsy Cob and Drum Horse Association (GCDHA), an umbrella registry for both the Gypsy Cob and the Drum Horse, and the younger American Drum Horse Association (ADHA), which exists solely for the Drum Horse. The breed is in its foundation, and so the registries define a Drum in terms of its founding breeds. The ADHA defines it as a cross between a Gypsy Horse and a Clydesdale or Shire; the percentage of Gypsy Horse blood cannot fall below 12.5% and the percentage of any of the three cannot exceed 87%. The GCDHA has a similar formula, except that it includes the Friesian as one of the possible founding breeds along with the three employed by the ADHA. However, note that the ADHA does maintain a crossbreed registry for Drum crosses, including Drum/Friesian ones. 

In its modern incarnation, the Drum Horse is envisioned as a heavy riding horse.  We consider it the answer for those who want the Gypsy temperament and "look" (possibly color and definitely profuse feathering, mane, and tail) in a larger, more athletic package.  While she will not admit it, we suspect that our trainer, Lisa Baker, found our smaller Gypsies, who average around 14.2 hands, somewhat tame. Harley, who has not yet reached his full growth, will probably top out at or near 17 hands.  

Harley illustrates the versatility of the Drum as the world’s newest sporthorse.  Although we have not yet hitched him to a carriage, he would make an awesome driving horse and has the training to do so. He possesses the stamina, control, and balance to excel at driven eventing. The same qualities will carry him far in ridden dressage. Aside from his general athleticism and stunning good looks, he possesses the most important characteristic of all—a businesslike attitude when at work and a willingness to please. Although a stallion, he is so well behaved both under saddle and on the ground that he could be a lesson horse for novice riders. At shows, small children cluster around his massive legs, and he stands perfectly still. This tractable personality and good work ethic will take him far in any equestrian sport he attempts.

Our Plans for Harley. In the last few months, Harley has participated in two firsts.  Although it consisted of only two classes, the Drum Horse show held at the 2006 Ohio State Fair will be remembered as the very first Drum Horse show ever held.  Two horses were in attendance, Harley and Old Mills’ saddleseat-trained Chewmill Guiness.  Public reaction to Harley in Ohio was stupendous; after his last class, crowds lined up to meet and lay a hand on him.   

Harley also participated in another first—the 2006 Feathered Horse Classic held on October 15, 2006, at the Georgia National Fair. This show transcended registry, allowing Gypsy and Drum Horses from various registries or no registry to compete together. Harley excelled and was awarded Reserve Champion Versatility at the end of the show. This award recognized achievements in many different disciplines. The Champion, DF Chalk Talk, was also a Drum. 

We plan to continue showing Harley in 2007. Although the 2007 Ohio State Fair (mid-August) and Feathered Horse Classic (mid-October) will certainly be high points in the upcoming year’s show schedule, we also expect to get Harley out and about in as many smaller shows and appearances as we are able. One such is the Tennessee Volunteer Fair held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in March. As far as we know, the TVF has never had a Drum in attendance, and so this will constitute another first for Harley.

In response to many requests, we plan to stand Harley at stud beginning in 2007, and details will be forthcoming. Harley has already sired three extremely nice foals, all when he belonged to BlackWater Stables. Their photos are shown in the gallery below. We are excited about this new breed and Harley’s role in it. We believe that Harley will make a significant impact on it, both as one of its founding sires and as an exemplar of what the breed is capable of being and doing. 

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Contact Silver Feather Gypsies
423.538.7966
317 Sharps Hollow Road | Bluff City TN 37618

Harley in Shows

Harley in Print

Harley's Foals