Winslow wins Gypsy Vanner therapy horse in contest

WARWICK — We won!
At the end of April, Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center in Warwick entered a contest given by Lexlin Gypsy Horses, a breeder of Gypsy Vanner horses in Tennessee.
To participate in the contest each center had to mobilize their community to vote for them on Facebook for almost two months every day.
The top 10 centers with the most votes each would win one of Lexlin's beautiful Gypsy Vanners.
After only one week of voting Winslow Therapy Center was in sixth place.
But toward the end of the contest it had fallen to the number 11 spot, just outside the running.
After getting the word out with help from the media and a last minute email blitz, Winslow received an amazing amount of support and finished in third place with 14,744 votes.
Winslow Therapeutic Center, located on 100 acres just off Route 17A between Bellvale and Mt. Peter, has been offering horseback riding experiences to children and adults in this community since 1974.
The not for profit hippotherapy and therapeutic riding center is accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association and devoted to the special needs population of Orange and surrounding counties.
It's easy to see why Winslow would want to own a Gypsy Vanner.
For hundreds of years the nomadic peoples in Europe known as Gypsies or Travelers created an extraordinary breed of horse with an extremely calm temperament.
The Gypsy horses, originally imported from the United Kingdom, are now bred at Lexlin Gypsy Ranch.
Later this month Winslow will welcome The Dance, a three-year-old black and gray mare that stands around 14.3 hands or almost five feet, to its new home in Warwick.
"Having a Gypsy Vanner as part of our herd will increase our ability to serve more people," said Executive Director Sue Ferro. "This horse will impact the lives of so many. I am overwhelmed by the support of this incredible community and friends and family from all over world."
For more information on Winslow or The Gypsy Gift competition contact Winslow at 845-986-6686.
- Roger Gavan