In keeping with a tradition that I started two years ago I’m reviewing an Irish animal for St. Patrick’s Day. Only this time I decided not to review a wild animal but a domestic one instead. In finding a subject to review I researched what livestock breeds come from the Emerald Isle and although I was able to find some, very few of them had figurines to their name. One exception was this horse we’re looking at today, for which there are as many figures as there are names for the breed. CollectA stamped this one as a gypsy mare, but the breed is known as the gypsy cob, Irish cob, Romani cob, Gypsy vanner, Galineers cob, Irish tinker, and tinker horse. There are more names, but you get the idea.
The gypsy horse comes from the British Isles where it was bred to pull wagons used by the Romanichal Travellers of Great Britian and the Irish Travellers of Ireland. The Irish Travellers are a nomadic, indigenous, ethno-cultural group that are not genetically related to the Romani people, the people often referred to as gypsies that are of Indo-Aryan origin and present in Great Britian. Irish Travellers are also known as tinkers, since they would travel around mending pots, pans, and other metal utensils. This is where the name tinker horse comes from.
The gypsy horse is considered small for a draft horse, standing 13-16 hands (52-64” or 132-163 cm) tall at the withers (shoulders) and weighing between 1,000-1,800 lbs. (452-816 kg). The CollectA figure measures 7” in total length and stands about 3.5” at the shoulder, putting it at 1/18 in scale.
CollectA’s gypsy horse is presented in a striding posture not too dissimilar to their previously reviewed Clydesdale figure. It gives the illusion that the horse is pulling a cart that isn’t there. I don’t think CollectA makes carts or tack for their horses but I’m sure there are options out there. It would be neat to see an Irish Traveller’s wagon or vardo (gypsy wagon) hitched to this horse.
The figure has the solid, compact, powerful build that you would expect a draft horse to have. She has a thick neck, broad chest, rounded hips, and thick legs with lavish feathering. The mane and tail are also abundant and lengthy. All this long flowing hair makes the gypsy horse among the most beautiful of horses, like something from a fairytale. This is translated well into CollectA’s figure with the intricate detail and depth of its hair. The mane attractively weaves and rolls along the back and the tail flows behind the figure, curling up at the tip, beautifully conveying the motion of the animal.
The figure is painted black and white in a piebald pattern. This is common in gypsy horses, but the breed comes in a range of colors and patterns. The muzzle is pink with some black speckling and a shiny finish that makes it appear wet. The eyes are blue with black pupils and the hooves are tan colored. The white portions of the mane and feathering on the legs also have some tan coloration integrated into them.
If the CollectA gypsy mare isn’t to your liking, there are plenty of others to choose from. ToyAnimalWiki lists over 30, including a stallion and foal by CollectA. I came across the Schleich tinker stallion shortly before purchasing this one and briefly considered it before reminding myself that CollectA’s would be better. I was right, but that’s not surprising, as far as horses go CollectA is the only company that really interests me. The CollectA gypsy mare is currently in production and retails for about $8-13.
