Appleby Horse Fair - Anyone been??

chickeninabun

chickeninabun

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My husband loves camping and is dragging me away next month, which got me thinking about combining both our hobbies a bit and trying to go camping in Cumbria during Appleby Horse Fair next year.
Has anyone been? Would it be a horrendous experience for a horse-lover or is an educational experience? I don't want to go and be appauled by the treatment of the horses, but I think I'd like to see how it all works.
An hopefully not come home with some poor soul that I needed to "save"!!
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You will be appalled by the treatment of the animals - there's no doubt about that. But it is an experience. I would be careful if you are camping anywhere near Appleby - we live about 30 miles from the town and are on 24hr alert for about a month either side of the fair
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It's rather difficult for a member of the public to actually buy a horse there - as strictly speaking they are not allowed to do it on the land or the road but you generally have to go and meet the seller in a crowded pub and haggle out a deal - and then go back and make sure he hands over the actual horse you haggled for!
 
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she did say next year!! LOL
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i would also like to go but am the same as you
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God, I'm dense!
 
I've been a couple of times, once for the experience and the second time to try and locate my tack that had been nicked the weekend before.

I actually enjoyed the day, especially the track races that were held in the evening. I was less keen on seeing the trotters being slammed up the road.

I'd say it's worth a visit but go with an open mind.
 
It was in June, yes, but I'm asking about it for next year, as per my above post.

Edited as just noticed I've clashed with all the above posts! I must type s-l-o-w-l-y!!
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Yes I think thought I'd be a bit appauled, but am curious too! Not sure about getting my tent nicked though. Might arrange to camp miles and miles away and then just drive to the fair one day.
Oh definately won't be buying one there if it involves haggling for it. I couldn't haggle my way out of a wet paper bag. If it ain't got a price sticker on it, I ain't buying!
 
I went for the first time this year, just for the day. I think you do have to go with a certain attitude and not allow yourself to be pulled into the emotion of it all, if you can do that, it can be a really exciting day. I definitely would not try and camp anywhere near Appleby itself but if you were within driving distance it was a really good day out. It was almost like being in a different country, it is a totally different culture, a really interesting and enjoyable day.
 
Yes you have to go with two minds though, it can be a pleasant experience but equally leave a nasty tastes in your mouth, if you see what I mean.

Basically its a horse fair with more tinkers than you can shake a stick at, which is the norm.
Young lads driving, riding and running horses up and down, shouting/beating them with sticks, again the norm.
Horses tethered about, some in lovely condition, others looking poor.
Thieves, pick pockets and people looking for a fight, drunk men (specially on an evening) and lads taking a p*ss where ever they wish.
Gypsy tat for sale on stalls, people wanting to read your palms and sell you gold, again the norm
Young girls walking round in what I can only describe as belts.

So some interesting sights to be seen

But, on the other hand, there is some truly wonderful horses and cobs, a lot of the dealers and tinkers DO look after their horses and they are their pride and joy, you see them taking them down the the river to wash...in some cases swim, again some don't use any common sense, others so it can be both nice and at the same time disturbing to watch.

Its very interesting and its a an experience, I would recommend going, but it might only be something that you would want to do purely for the experience, I very much enjoyed it but if your a tree hugging drama queen who is easily offended then it might not be for you, I'm a soft person and can easily get upset seeing something not very nice, so I have to be careful and bite my tongue but thankfully when I went I didn't see anything that upset me, in fact there was plenty of horses there that were in better condition than some of the horses I have seen on some livery yards.

Avoid the pubs, all the tinkers will be in there every evening causing trouble and stay away from the fields on an evening, so no romantic walks with your OH where the camp fields are! so if your camping, you need to stopping miles away from the place and finding a nice local pub for your bar meals etc.

And always always ''watch ya backs!'';)
 
I've been to Appleby horse fair, fair enough it does have a bit of a bad reputation but i really enjoyed it was desperate to buy one of the horses i saw this year big grey horse looked lovely and came home with two wee jack russels so i wasnt complaining there are some of them there who dont look after the horses but this yuear the rspca were out in full i realli liked the feel of it as have been to cavan in ireland but prefer appleby
 
you can see the good bad and ugly thier, if you do decide to go as others have said go open minded, we have been their for numerous years and it is getting alot better each year, you still get the odd d******d who treat their horses like shite, but the majority are realy well looked after and change hands for alot of money (we watched a sale go through for £50k!), i wouldnt advise camping their on your first time, but its definetly worth a day out especially on a hot day when you can chill out on the river bank watching the beautiful horses being washed, honestly im not cobs biggest fan but some of them down their had me drooling
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ive been many times , some things you see is not easy , go with an open mind , but i would not want to be living or camping anywhere near the place at appleby fair time..........
 
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Not sure about getting my tent nicked though. Might arrange to camp miles and miles away and then just drive to the fair one day.


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There are 3 campsites and 2 lovely pubs in my village, you can come and visit me.
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