From a very young age, Kristina Rodriguez remembers her infatuation with horses. Having spent most of her life around horses and working with different breeds, Kristina’s life changed when she encountered her first Gypsy Horse – she knew that the Gypsy had stolen her heart forever. Her husband remembers the day well. “She told me she wanted to buy a Gypsy Horse. I had never heard of them, but we had Belgians, so I figured ‘What’s one more?’ Little did I know you can’t have just one of these horses! Now we have a hundred.”

Kristina and her husband are the owners and managers of West Hill Ranches. Nestled in the rolling hills of central New York, the 500-acre ranch is home to one of the largest Gypsy Horse herds in the United States. The farm’s mission statement, “Dedicated and committed to importing and breeding only the finest quality bloodlines,” reflects the promise of excellence on which this ranch is founded. Conformation, DNA proven lineage, breed preservation and consumer education are the fundamental pillars of West Hill Ranches’ equine program. The team at West Hill Ranches works diligently to incorporate these principles in their day-to-day operations. Kristina describes the qualities in the Gypsy Horse that captivated the entire Rodriguez family, “These horses have been bred for decades for their gentle, docile nature and their intelligence. They are the most easily trainable horses we’ve ever worked with. They have proven their versatility, excelling in every discipline from riding and driving to jumping and dressage.”

West Hill Ranches is constantly looking to improve their breeding program and the quality of Gypsy Horses available in North America. Over the last few years, Kristina has successfully assembled the backbone of her breeding program: the stallions. ”The Boys of West Hill,” as they are affectionately referred to, were carefully selected to reflect the genetics, lineage, conformation and color variety required to continually improve and complement even the most discriminating breeding programs. The all-star stallion lineup includes Silky Boy (black and white); The Rock (tri-color); Blue Billy Boy (grey); The Boss (black); Falcon (buckskin); Simon (strawberry roan); Sir Collin (buckskin tobiano); Prime Time (chestnut and white); and Viking (maximum expressed sabino). When we asked Kristina if she was finished assembling her stallion line, she was quick to point out that striving to improve one’s breeding program is a never-ending task. She quietly mentioned that she is working on a further acquisition and expects to make an announcement sometime in November of this year.

In her continued efforts to maintain the integrity of the Gypsy Horse, Kristina has researched the Gypsy Horse extensively. Together with her husband, she travels each year to England’s famous Appleby Fair, a four-day celebration of Gypsy history, horses and culture. Kristina and her husband have entered into an exclusive alliance with legendary Gypsy Horse breeder, Tom Price. Based in Wales, Price is a true Gypsy who has devoted his life to these horses and has been credited with raising the first selectively bred horse developed by Gypsies to be recognized as a breed. He has long been recognized as one of the largest and top breeders of Gypsy Horses in the world. “Price breeds for excellence,” explains Kristina. “If he believes a horse is 80% good, it’s not good enough to be in his breeding program.” Price’s bloodlines have been historically traced with DNA-proven lineage.

West Hill Ranches offers a large selection of premium mares, stallions, fillies and colts for sale in a wide variety of colors, including many from Tom Price’s breeding and personal collection. Breeding and importing only the highest caliber Gypsy Horses is their current focus, and it is here that West Hill Ranches fulfills the need for top quality Gypsy Horses in North America. They offer live cover or shipped semen from their herd of stallions, and they are expecting 40 foals in the spring of 2010. Kristina and the team at West Hill Ranches have attended many Equine Affaire shows and breed shows to promote the Gypsy Horse. They will also be hosting their second annual open house with Tom Price in Wales in conjunction with the 2010 Appleby Fair. For more information on this exciting event, or to visit West Hill Ranches online, see www.WestHillRanches.com.

Contact Kristina Rodriguez at 315-691-2565. West Hill Ranches is a certified equine facility (NYS Department of Agriculture – NYSHHAP) and a lifetime member of GHA, GVHS, GCDHA, and GHRA. West Hill Ranches is a Corporate Member of AGHBA.

Photos: Fran J. Scott