GDHW
SHOW RULES
Gypsy Horses West Show Rules
Using Gypsy Horse Show Rules, Drum Horses will be judged along with their description in mind.
a. Size: The Drum Horse is a larger breed and the ideal horse will be a minimum of 16hh.
b. General Appearance: The overall appearance of a Drum Horse should give the impression of
intelligence, kindness, strength and agility. The Drum Horse is considered a heavy riding horse
and should display the athleticism to allow for a pleasant day of hunting, hacking or other
ridden discipline. They should be a large well-muscled horse of either medium weight or heavy
weight, with good quality bone, a sturdy body, kind expression and abundant hair. 
c. Disposition: The Drum Horse should be, above all else, a kind and willing partner. It should
display an intelligent character and docile temperament with a calm and sensible attitude.
d. Hair: Mane and tail should be long and thick. Abundant feather should start at the knees and
hocks, preferably with some hair running down the front of the leg as well as the back. Feather
should be soft and silky but may be straight or curling, and should cover the hoof. Docking of
tails is not permissible.
e. Color: Any color or pattern.
f. Movement: When in motion, the ideal Drum Horse should move with action, power, grace, and
agility. Head carriage and collection should appear natural, not overly exaggerated or forced.
Movement should be free, straight and square with ample impulsion and purity of gaits. Knee
action should be somewhat snappy but a long, free moving shoulder should allow the ability to
reach forward in a classic extension. The horse should move up under itself with a smooth,
powerful stride, should be light on the forehand and exhibit 3 good gaits. The Drum Horse's
movement should be suitable for a variety of ridden and driven disciplines.
g. Head: The head should be in proportion to the body, neither too large nor too small, with
broad forehead, generous jaw, square muzzle and even bite. The ears should be cleanly shaped
and well set on. The eyes should be large and set well apart with an intelligent, kind expression.
Eyes can be any color, and blue eyes shall not be penalized. Both convex and straight profiles
are acceptable. Stallions and geldings should have a masculine appearance to the head, and
mares a feminine appearance.
h. Neck: The neck should be substantial and well muscled with a defined arch. It should be clean
through the throat, not too short, and tie in well at the shoulder and withers. Stallions may
exhibit a masculine crest in proper relationship to the size and thickness of neck.
i. Chest: The chest should be broad with ample muscle. The muscle along the bottom of the chest
should appear in an inverted "V" shape as it ties into the forearm.
j. Shoulders: The shoulders should be deep, powerful and of a correct slope to allow for ample,
free movement.
k. Withers: Withers should be average in height, not too high, with a generous layer of muscle.
l. Back: The back should be short to medium length, supple, well muscled and tie in strongly at
the loin.
m. Barrel: The barrel should be deep with well-sprung ribs and a solid covering of muscle. The
depth of flank should be in proportion to the depth of the girth. The loin should be strong and
tie into the croup with a smooth, well-muscled appearance.
n. Hindquarters: Smooth and rounded across a long croup, with a medium to high tail set, long
hip with wide pelvis and well-muscled thighs and buttocks. 
o. Feet & Legs: The legs should be set squarely under the body, straight, with clean joints and
plenty of dense, flat bone. Forearms and thighs should be well muscled. Hind legs should
display clean and well-defined hocks that are broad, deep, flat and wide when viewed from the
side. The Drum Horse may or may not exhibit the influence of the draft horse hockset. Pasterns
should be long enough to allow a proper slope of about 45 degrees from the hoof head to the
fetlock joint. Feet must be sound and substantial with a generous, open heel.