DJ
Well-Known Member
Quirky, you seem to have been over looked elsewhere 
, so i though i`d share my tale with you here .... I enjoyed my time at Appleby, though it was a few years ago now, and I know things do change. I haven`t been in recent years, however I would love to go again one day.
I went to Appleby Fair about 15 years ago. I was 18 and newly driving and wanted to take in the whole world, so away I tootled, with a change of clothes, my wellies and my wages from that week.
I had the most amazing weekend ever in my life, even now I look back and smile. I walked round the "market" and watched the horses being tried out by the *man folk* and listened to the banter and sales ... I stood in awe of the lads jumping into the river with the horses, I was on the banks taking it all in when an old guy with a walking stick hobbled over to me and shoved a bottle of fairy liquid into one hand, and a lead rope into the other, on which the other end contained a magnificent (if not a bit bedraggled) 15 hh coloured cob ........ "Git it washed na" he said to me, in a broad irish accent, heaving heavily, like he`d just ran a marathon !!
"No No" I protested heavily ... "i`m just a by-stander" I tried to argue ... "ah get on wi ya lassy" he replied and with a couple of swift jestured hand movements I found myself walking down the concrete ramp and on to the sand banks in the river ........ !!
I walked the horse into the shallows, and though I was a novice at the whole riverbank cleansing ritual, he`d done this many a time before. I stood there knee deep in the water, and used my hands to throw water over him the best I could, when with out warning a strong hand grabbed my leg and I was thrown up into the air and rather unceremoniously onto the horses back .... "Ride him in the water lassy .... go on now ... giit on .. giiit on boy" ..... and into the water we went, into a deep wide river, this brave handsome steed went, not once hesitating, surefootedly carrying me through one of the most amazing experiences of my life EVER ...... I kept hold of his mane, as he swam, as the water lapped over my legs and his back I knew I was safe, I knew he`d look after me, and he did ...... and the feeling when his hooves lifted from the riverbed, those powerful legs were driving us forward and we were gliding effortlessly through the water, it`s about the closest feeling i`ve had to heaven .... like flying !!!!!
Once back on the sand banks I jumped down, and got a good lather going ...... he splashed about in the water with his front hoof completely saturating me .... as I scrubbed his legs he nuzzled and nosed me and splashed me again, I was a grinning giggling mess ... and bless him he stood so well for me.
I was then pegged back up, and allowed that little piece of heaven once more to rinse him clean ..... magical.
I walked him out up the ramp, he was rinsed but I was still covered head to toe in soap suds .... He had a good, thorough shake, and again nosed me gently. I found the old gent not far from where this had all began and handed the lead rein and the fairy liquid back to him .... The stupid smile and glazed over eyes must have been there for all to see The old gent thanked me, and shoved a crisp £20 note into my hand .... "No No" I cried again .... "You don`t need to pay me" ... "Aye lassy, ya did the work, now take it" he said ... again dismissing me with the same hand jesture as he turned and limped away ... "I stood there for a couple of minutes ... truly gobsmacked .... I didn`t need payment, the magical experience was worth more than any financial reward !! Not a few seconds later my gaze was broken by another man ... with a mare and foal, again the lead rein shoved into my hand, he`d seen me do the cob and assumed I was there to work, and work I did for the rest of the afternoon.
I have a number of Romany friends, and 'true' Romanies they are, they have a gift with horses and an understanding and patience that knows no bounds. Sadly in all walks of life you have to take the bad with the good, that will never change. But I shall always look for the best in people of all back grounds.
, so i though i`d share my tale with you here .... I enjoyed my time at Appleby, though it was a few years ago now, and I know things do change. I haven`t been in recent years, however I would love to go again one day.I went to Appleby Fair about 15 years ago. I was 18 and newly driving and wanted to take in the whole world, so away I tootled, with a change of clothes, my wellies and my wages from that week.
I had the most amazing weekend ever in my life, even now I look back and smile. I walked round the "market" and watched the horses being tried out by the *man folk* and listened to the banter and sales ... I stood in awe of the lads jumping into the river with the horses, I was on the banks taking it all in when an old guy with a walking stick hobbled over to me and shoved a bottle of fairy liquid into one hand, and a lead rope into the other, on which the other end contained a magnificent (if not a bit bedraggled) 15 hh coloured cob ........ "Git it washed na" he said to me, in a broad irish accent, heaving heavily, like he`d just ran a marathon !!
"No No" I protested heavily ... "i`m just a by-stander" I tried to argue ... "ah get on wi ya lassy" he replied and with a couple of swift jestured hand movements I found myself walking down the concrete ramp and on to the sand banks in the river ........ !!
I walked the horse into the shallows, and though I was a novice at the whole riverbank cleansing ritual, he`d done this many a time before. I stood there knee deep in the water, and used my hands to throw water over him the best I could, when with out warning a strong hand grabbed my leg and I was thrown up into the air and rather unceremoniously onto the horses back .... "Ride him in the water lassy .... go on now ... giit on .. giiit on boy" ..... and into the water we went, into a deep wide river, this brave handsome steed went, not once hesitating, surefootedly carrying me through one of the most amazing experiences of my life EVER ...... I kept hold of his mane, as he swam, as the water lapped over my legs and his back I knew I was safe, I knew he`d look after me, and he did ...... and the feeling when his hooves lifted from the riverbed, those powerful legs were driving us forward and we were gliding effortlessly through the water, it`s about the closest feeling i`ve had to heaven .... like flying !!!!!
Once back on the sand banks I jumped down, and got a good lather going ...... he splashed about in the water with his front hoof completely saturating me .... as I scrubbed his legs he nuzzled and nosed me and splashed me again, I was a grinning giggling mess ... and bless him he stood so well for me.
I was then pegged back up, and allowed that little piece of heaven once more to rinse him clean ..... magical.
I walked him out up the ramp, he was rinsed but I was still covered head to toe in soap suds .... He had a good, thorough shake, and again nosed me gently. I found the old gent not far from where this had all began and handed the lead rein and the fairy liquid back to him .... The stupid smile and glazed over eyes must have been there for all to see The old gent thanked me, and shoved a crisp £20 note into my hand .... "No No" I cried again .... "You don`t need to pay me" ... "Aye lassy, ya did the work, now take it" he said ... again dismissing me with the same hand jesture as he turned and limped away ... "I stood there for a couple of minutes ... truly gobsmacked .... I didn`t need payment, the magical experience was worth more than any financial reward !! Not a few seconds later my gaze was broken by another man ... with a mare and foal, again the lead rein shoved into my hand, he`d seen me do the cob and assumed I was there to work, and work I did for the rest of the afternoon.
I have a number of Romany friends, and 'true' Romanies they are, they have a gift with horses and an understanding and patience that knows no bounds. Sadly in all walks of life you have to take the bad with the good, that will never change. But I shall always look for the best in people of all back grounds.
