Appleby Horsefair
First time at the Appleby Horse Fair, which really is a site worth seeing
Unfortunately this years fair is likely to be remembered for the wrong reasons
Daily Mail link to story here
10 Responses to “Appleby Horsefair”
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11. June 2007 at 11:32
This photo causes strange stirrings in me.
Your link to the local paper article is dead. What happened there?
11. June 2007 at 11:57
really?
works for me:
Horse drowning horror at Appleby
Published on 09/06/2007
By Matthew Legg
Use the next button under the picture on the right to see how the tragedy unfolded.
TRAGEDY marred the first day of Appleby Horse Fair yesterday when hundreds of onlookers watched as a horse drowned.
The shocking scene unfolded during a controversial washing ritual where young men ride horses into the River Eden, in the centre of town, watched by crowds of spectators.
One rider, who clearly had little ability to control the animal, took a horse in to the water, despite its obvious fear of the situation.
The panic-stricken animal began to flail wildly and run in circles, but the man continued to steer it through the shallows and off a steep shelf into a ‘bowl’ of deep water in the centre of the river.
Howls of disgust and pleas to remove it emerged from the crowd, but the man began to duck the animal’s head beneath the murky water to clean it, regardless. As it struggled, it slipped from his grasp and fell to the riverbed.
Cries of “Get it out†shattered the deathly silence that had descended on spectators huddled on both riverbanks and across a bridge over the water.
Women screamed and some began to weep as the horse failed to reappear.
Experienced fairgoers looked on in horror, shouting: “Get him, get him up†as the man froze, unsure of his next move.
Another man then plunged in to help and the pair dived beneath the surface.
They reappeared dragging the horse by the head and made for the shore.
As they began to struggle, more people entered the water, grabbed the man’s hand and pulled them to the bank. The horse was laid on the bank, clearly dead, despite attempts to revive it.
As a crowd built up around the animal, the rider – who did not own the horse – fled among a group of other young men.
Groups of angry horse owners gave chase and police radioed to officers to search the town.
All horses were taken out of the water and the scene closed off.
One experienced fairgoer shook his head in disbelief at the scene as he watched from a bridge. “It’s a macho thing with the young men,†he said.
“They’re idiots trying to prove how hard they are by riding the horses through the deep part of the river. That poor horse didn’t want to be there – you could see the terror in its eyes. He wasn’t capable of handling it; an experienced rider would not have got into that situation.
“It just takes one idiot to spoil things. This has ruined the fair for everyone here.â€
RSPCA officers were on the scene to monitor the washing ritual.
The association has long been unhappy with the practice and the steepness of the bank the animals have to tackle to get into the river.
RSPCA chief inspector Michael Marsh said: “We will follow this through and find out whether a crime has taken place. It appears to be a clear offence under the new animal welfare legislation. It’s a tragic way to start the event and the first time we have lost a horse for seven or eight years.â€
14. June 2007 at 01:31
Theres more than a touch of Tallaght about all that. Great shots though…
12. July 2007 at 11:21
He is Lovely Looking Any Chance you can get his name and number..?
12. October 2008 at 14:09
naw hes a tidy sort
5. November 2008 at 09:18
hes a hansum feen id like to be him beour id like to feeg him
2. December 2008 at 10:15
hes a lovly loking feen! id love 2 b his bure!
11. June 2009 at 08:52
dear applaby horse fair
i would like to be gratful to tell u hat u have the best horse fair ever
yours faithully joe coffey ne63 0be ashington 61 sycamore street xxx i love horses
11. June 2009 at 08:55
i like that horse on th pic any chance i could have some details on it please its quite bonny and ask the owner if i can have his addie for hotmail i am quite intrested in the horse…
11. June 2009 at 08:56
I LOVE THAT HORSE