At 09:50:49 on 04.06.11, Flicka wrote:
It's that time of year again when the Appleby Horse Fair takes place-what's your view about this event?

At 14:51:47 on 04.06.11, Em28 wrote:
Its a tough one, I have never been. From what I have seen it looks cruel with horses not in the best condition being made to charge up and down the roads and people generally showing off to other people through the use of the horses. I saw a programme on it, from the gypsy's point of view and did think it seemed a bit harsh how they were enforced not to pull up on verges, thus horses getting more exhausted on the journey there. Plus the fact it is such an event for the travelling community that has happened for a long time, although that does not necessarily make it right. The RSPCA presence there is also quite heavy I believe to monitor it more? Would be interesting to hear anyone's opinion that has been there?

At 00:37:02 on 05.06.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I hate it, it always scares me to death i keep grenville in cos last year they let our horses out and stole 2 of them, our yard owner had to round up the loose horses from the villages and found the missing two tied at the side of the road which he also retrieved. I know its bad to judge or stereotype and i know a wonderful gypsy family who lives on my street but i really really hate it when they let the horses out, they do it most years but this year we padlocked out field and hid the key where only yard members knew, i have no problem with the actual fair just the event that happen every year around here in the run up to it.

At 08:46:44 on 05.06.11, Flicka wrote:
Sorry, don't think that link I provided worked. I'll try again!!
http://tinyurl.com/42cdxmp

At 09:12:17 on 05.06.11, Em28 wrote:
Thanks for the link, hadnt realised it went back to the 1600's, although I was aware it was a tradition that went back many generations. Must have been on the programme 'My big fat gypsy wedding' I saw something about it. That's pretty rubbish Jess, people letting the horses out and taking them, glad you now have padlocks on your gates. Just wondered how far away from Appleby do you live, or do live there? It sounds horrible that the shopkeepers have to close their shops whilst the fair is on.

At 23:31:41 on 05.06.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I live in middlesbrough which is quite far away from appleby but obviously not far enough! Its one of the few times i am thankful grenville only catches for me in the summer - it's a mixed blessing.

At 15:37:27 on 06.06.11, ToriSilverson wrote:
i've never been but id like to just out of curiosity...i don't see anything wrong with the fair itself, but it must be a nightmare for people living in the area :( that must have been terrifying Jess.

At 19:52:15 on 06.06.11, minki31 wrote:
I haven't been but I saw it on 'my big fat gypsy wedding'. The boys on there said they only go there to pick up girls, so I don't think some of the people go there to see the horses. I heard they sell their horses to people outside of the gypsy community and take down their address and where the horse is being kept (they say to the buyer "because we would like to stay in touch") and a few months later they go and steal them back because the police can't touch them. Then the cycle starts again. (just a warning). I have seen on tv that they race their horses on the concrete at flat out gallop. That must hurt the horses feet!

At 21:02:02 on 06.06.11, Flicka wrote:
Hmmm unfortunately, there are a lot of 'stories' about gypsies which are more fiction than fact. As many of you know, I'm a big fan of the eventer Phoebe Buckley who also happens to be a Romany Gypsy. Here she talks about the prejudices that she's up against.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/01/phoebe-buckley-show-jumping-horses

At 00:08:24 on 07.06.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
BHS are running a investigation around my area on a few gypsies as they had taken a horse to be sold at appleby horse fair (TB type, about 2yo) and it hadn't sold so they brought it back and if you saw it you would know why, the bhs have gave it a body score of 1.5! My friend who found it alongside some other horses is hoping the bhs take it and will let her adopt it. I really don't mind gypsies but sometimes i wonder is it fair to allow them to have horses when they are moving around and the horses are tied to the side of the road and technically the horses don't have the '5 freedoms' which animals rights state all animals must have. Personally (no disrespect to gypsies) i don't think they should be allowed to keep horses or large animals, i have seen far too many horrible sights including gypsies and horses, one man was hitting his horse with a foam tube that children use to learn to swim and the horse was terrified, i have seen another in a makeshift pen of branches covered in thorns to stop it cribbing, the poor pony had still been biting the 'fence' and was bleeding, i spent a good half hour getting all the thorny branches off. There is also a family of gypsies in the village near where we keep our horses and they have two horses that are let loose in a concrete yard for hours with no hay or water and some tie their horses on our tracks (they belong to our yard owners) and the horses charge at our horses when we pass by. I think a horse needs a stable environment and shouldn't be moved alot or tied at the side of the road, like i said though i know a lovely gypsy family but they don't have horses just a dog and chickens and if they had a horse tied at the side of the road somewhere i probably wouldnt like them either lol but thats probably down to the fact i prefer horses to people.