Whats the difference between a Traditional Gypsy/Drum Horse and a North American Spotted Draft, or other spotted draft type horse?
Genetics and Feather! There are plenty of spotted draft horses in the US and Canada, most of which have been bred from Belgian and Percheron stock. There are some with Shire or Clydesdale blood in them, but it takes at least 2 generations, usually 3, to get the feathering and British draft breed characteristics back. Before then, the stock just looks like a large pinto horse, with maybe a smattering of hair on the legs. When you see a real gypsy horse or drum horse, the horse will just SCREAM Shire/Clyde at you, with the body characteristics, and all of the hair and feather. In fact, when we are in the UK and see solid colored gypsy horses from a distance, we still cannot tell the difference between them and a shire until we are standing alongside and can see the size.
