Appleby Horse Fair takes place every June and attracts some 30,000 visitors who come to see horses being paraded, raced and bathed, and to get a taste of what they think is a Romany tradition that supposedly dates back to 1685.
Animal Aid filmed at the 2009 Fair. Amongst the incidents captured were:
- Terrified horses being repeatedly whipped, kicked, yelled-at, pushed and manhandled towards the river
- Scared horses jumping out of the water and onto the river banks
- Horses being ridden into the river and repeatedly kicked and shouted-at to move into deeper water
- Horses thrashing about in the water and nearly drowning whilst having their reins held tightly
- Horses being ridden into the deep water, and then the riders standing on their backs whilst the horses attempt to swim
- Children kicking, whipping and shoving a miniature pony into the river
Watch Animal Aids footage here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzJ0jc_dbGg&feature=player_embedded
Horses & ponies, terrified & unwilling participants of "traditional" bathing in the River Eden at Appleby have drowned & horses have also been destroyed following injuries whilst being raced on Flashing Lane.
While we campaign & petition against festivals based in animal cruelty overseas, we will not overlook one that continues on British soil. Appelby Horse Fair.
At Appleby, frightened & unwilling horses have drowned after being beaten & forced into River Eden for the tradition of bathing. Horses have been destroyed following injuries sustained whilst raced on Flashing Lane. Cruel beatings & mistreatment is regularly observed at Appleby Horse Fair, but the ratio of less than 30 RSPCA inspectors in comparison to an estimated 10,000 travelers & 20,000 means they are unwilling or unable to intervene due to intimidation & fear of reprisal.
It is time for you to call an end to this annual event of cruelty & animal abuse.
