Cushti Bok
1992 ~ 2014 | Black & White Tobiano Stallion | GV00001F
the good luck horse
And the first Gypsy Vanner entered into the registry.
The Old Horse Of Wales | The Old Horse Of Ireland |
I.C. Mare | |
Callie | Unknown |
Unknown | |
What can be said about CUSHTI BOK? This boy, or should we say “old man”, was quite the character. He loved it when Dennis hosted the farm tours, because he knew he would get lots of cookies and attention from the participants of the tour. He loved to pose for pictures, every time a camera was focused on him he just seemed to know and held a pose. He was a very lively horse despite his age, and was just absolutely a treat to watch run around in his paddock.
In Dennis’ words —
The true story of Cushti Bok, the world’s first selectively bred horse raised by Gypsies to be recognized as a breed, seems surreal. We met him by chance, but it was pure passion that drove us to understand the vision and genetics that created him. On the long journey…
- We became the first Americans to ever attend the oldest Gypsy Horse fair in the world, Appleby. Cushti Bok was—as the Gypsy predicted—better than any horse we saw there.
- We traced his genetic history through three countries.
- We found his DNA proven sire, The Old Horse of Wales, one of the breed’s greatest sires. We stood overlooking the Irish Sea with The Old Horse of Wales, and the Gypsy who raised Cushti Bok, as he pointed to a clearing under a tree and said, “He was born right over there; I will never forget the day he was born. I held him in my arms and knew he was special… he is the best colt I ever raised.”
- We uncovered the vision that created him and his breed—the vision to create the perfect caravan horse or Vanner was born soon after World War II.
- We traced the breed’s genetic origins back to the two stallions that inspired it: Sonny Mays and The Coal Horse.
- We named the unknown and unnamed breed the Gypsy Vanner Horse, with the approval and blessings of Gypsies.
- We established the first breed registry in the world for a selectively bred horse raised by Gypsies: The Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. Cushti Bok is GV00001F (the ‘F’ is for foundation).
To this day, the best breed specimen I have ever seen was a daughter of Cushti Bok. The Gypsy who owned Cushti Bok was holding her back as a gift to his son.
“He’s a one off,” said the proud man with words and accent unique to his heritage.
He is indeed.
At Gypsy Gold Horse Farm, we have three descendants of CUSHTI BOK.
BPF Little Big Man, a grandson of Cushti Bok, standing at Gypsy Gold.
GG Taylor Burton (pictured below left), a granddaughter of Cushti Bok and available for Embryo Transfer.
MMV’s Sharp Dressed Man, a great-grandson of Cushti Bok, standing at Gypsy Gold.
A few of Cushti Bok’s most notable get—
- Cushti Bok Lady, out of Rosie UK, 1996 Imported Mare
- Lash, out of Darby Dolly, 1999 Gelding
- Romipen, out of Crown Darby, 1999 Stallion
- Rawnie, out of King’s Kaulo Ratti, 1999 Mare
- Pearlie Queen, out of Chauvani, 1999 Mare
- Cushti Bok’s Misto, out of Darby Dolly, 2000 Mare
- Ves’tacha, out of Esmeralda, 2000 Mare
- Bok Shey, out of Gypsy Gold’s Rexie, 2001 Mare
- Sheba Bok, out of Darby Dolly, 2001 Mare
- Rose Petal, out of Gypsy Gold’s Rose, 2002 Mare
- Cushti Bok’s Valley, out of Crown Darby, 2002 Mare
- Vintage Vanner’s Treana, out of Gypsy Gold’s Rexie, 2003 Mare
- Turley, out of Crown Darby, 2003 Stallion
- Cushti Bok’s Perfect Storm, out of Gypsy Gold’s Rose, 2004 Stallion
- CB Lord Marlborough, out of Magic, 2005 Stallion
- Cushti Bok’s Baby Doll, out of Darby Dolly, 2006 Mare
- Cushti Bok’s Anniversary, out of Crown Darby, 2007 Mare
- WR Big Son Of Bok, out of Jasmine, 2013 Stallion
- SGV Cushti’s Maxamillion, out of WR Trillium, 2012 Gelding
- and many, many more!