Auteur: Joyce M. Christian

Joyce M. Christian has loved horses all of her life. As a child and young adult horse ownership was prohibitive, but this did not diminish her passion for all things equine. Career and family responsibilities would create further delays – the wait would in the end bring with it an amazing reward – a rare, new breed – a horse like none she had ever encountered and far exceeding her childhood expectations. This horse would not only capture her attention; it would redirect her life. As an educator she found it fascinating that little if anything was known about the breed or its origins. Her desire to better understand this horse has developed into fourteen years of study and a tireless effort to introduce, protect, and promote the Gypsy Vanner Horse. Ms. Christian is a retired teacher/school administrator. Her career spanned thirty years, twenty-three of which were spent with the Department of Defense Schools in Germany, finally culminating at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in July 2009. In January 2008 she was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society and has served as the organization’s Executive Director. Ms. Christian has written articles on the Gypsy Vanner Horse for Equine Journal, American Livestock Magazine, and was a contributor for an article on the breed in Horse Illustrated. She has been a presenter or guest speaker on behalf of the Gypsy Vanner Horse either introducing it for the fi rst time or participating in a special program at many events to include: New Jersey State Fair Horse Show 2003, Massachusetts Equine Affair 2003; Ohio Equine Affair 2004; Dutchess County Fair – Rhinebeck, New York 2005; New York State Horse Council Annual Meeting 2008; Louisiana Equine Council Horse Expo Parade of Breeds 2010; and Southwest Louisiana Horse Expo 2010. Currently Ms. Christian lives in Monroe, Louisiana with what she calls her six treasures – Gypsy Vanner Horses – Bandit, Magic, Cushti Bok’s Lord Marlborough, Babes, Shaylee’s Bevin, and VV Mayacaymus.