The Gypsy Vanner horses are truly unique and the few we saw were very beautiful. The story of how they came to Ocala is certainly interesting …
Three Stars because... This is not a farm tour, it’s an outdoor classroom lecture about the life and times of Dennis, the owner…that droned on (and on) for an hour and 20 mins … He’s proud of his life and accomplishments, I get that – but this lecture is way too long given that this is a 2-hour event.
Part of the remaining 40 minutes was watching people’s children get their picture taken sitting on a horse (snooze-fest if you don’t have children) During the lecture, children were given pages to color.
We saw photos of beautiful, groomed horses (sort-of—I was in the back they were 8X10 photos) It would have been better if- when he was describing what a Gypsy Horse looked like (vs its imposters) if we could have seen an actual Gypsy Horse.
The ‘tour’ part of the presentation was walking around the three corrals we could see from our seats – in two of them were donkeys- during this part he re-iterated information from his speech...and let folks who knew to bring carrots feed the animals.
Three stars (vs two or one) because they have some amazing parrots there- they were the highlight of my experience at this farm.
Not at all what I was expecting ... and I think Dennis has done this presentation a few too many times.. I would have enjoyed learning about the horses while seeing them, but just talking about them -- meh.
Réponse de l'hôte
Aug 2021
Dear RGS 50, when we get a review like yours we loose sleep ( we really do) We loose sleep because we work very hard to give you the same experience as the almost 800 five star reviews that came before your review.
Let me respond by starting with , Save the $35.00. Beyond being the #1 Thing To Do in Ocala Florida #3 of Visitor Favorites in Central Florida with Harry Potter #1 and in the top 10% of activities for Trip Advisor in the world, Gypsy Gold is the least expensive Thing To Do that involves horses in Ocala Florida, a horse capitol of the world.
In the first sentence you express how truly unique and beautiful the Gypsies Vanner Horse is and express how interesting their story is.
The outdoor classroom about the life and times of Dennis Thompson is how you learned about the certainly interesting story .
While, once in a while we get the too long, its the only complaint we get ( and children getting their picture taken) . The story of Gypsy Gold, i.e. Dennis Thompson is a story that many can't get enough of so they return multiple times to absorb it all.
its, either I could listen to you forever or you talk too much, it depends on how interested the visitor is in learning.
I will take a chance and bet that you have never and will never as long as you live meet someone who discovered an unrecognized breed of domestic animal developed by one of the most colorful least understood societies on earth.
Thats what makes the tour special, its a once in a lifetime experience. That said next week I have a videographer coming to film the tour so it can be canned and last a specific period of time with improved visuals. Today, we are a horse farm with breeding birthing, feeding cleaning, fixing and replacing going on daily.The tours are a glimpse into that life and more.
There are three people who work here and only two if one is talking, so we do our best to have a horse cleaned up for visitors to see and touch but sometimes it's impossible. Charging more can cure that problem.
You saw probably 30 Vanner horses and they were all developed by a culture commonly known as Gypsies. Do you remember on the tour I taught that If you say Gypsy horse you will not be describing their breed 80% of time ?
Gypsy horses in general are raised for the restaurant business in Belgium Holland and France. The discovery was that there was a vision born soon after World war II for British Gypsies to create a special horse with a specific look to pull their colorful caravans.
That vision was unknown until six decades later my late wife and I noticed a horse on the border of wales and England. Thats the Dennis Thompson life story learned on the tours.
There are twenty one corrals (paddocks) at Gypsy Gold and you walked around over half of them. The ones you mention that contained donkeys , actually contained mules and donkeys and not just any mules , they were pregnant mules and mules can't get pregnant, remember.
Do you remember the history of Mammoth Mules and how they relate to George Washington and the King Of Spain or the reason they have bells on their tales ? None of that was in the tour, it was only on the walking part.
RGS50, you did learn many things about the horses while seeing them and if you don't remember please return as my guest ( no charge) with a mind set to listen and learn. When you do you will become another five star visitor.
Thanks RGS50,
Dennis