Appleby - horses everywhere on the main roads *sigh*

Shysmum

Shysmum

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It's gone beyond a joke this year. Less than half a mile from our yard, on a main A road, there are no less than 13 horses tethered on the road side. Not to mention the ones that are on the green (which is allowed). It's a serious accident waiting to happen, but what do I know, eh :confused:

And how exactly are three caravans going to take over 20 horses across the A66 to Cumbria ? Such lovely gyspy cobs, such a horrible time of year. :(
 
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no they're all tethered up here where I live ;). I think it's too early for the move to Appleby, as they're quite strict about timing now. I just wish they could use the field and site that is designated for them, but someone particularly anal at the council made a byelaw that the place can only be occupied for 28 days - and now it's closed. DUH !!!

So now the travellers have set up camp right on the main roads instead. Hope the council are pleased with themselves, idiots.
 
Don't have a go at me !! I just said above that they should be allowed to use the designated sites and fields so they are not camping and tethering on busy 70 mph roads.

If it weren't for this 28 day rule, they would be fine. One of my good friends is a traveller who goes to Appleby every year , and he agrees they have just got it wrong this year.

:rolleyes:
 
devilwoman said:
Chill out, it is clear that OP is worried for the horses safety, read her post properly.
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I did read her post properly...and I read all the posts she wrote about the same subject last year.

Appleby Fair comes and goes every year. Love it or loathe it, it is going to be over soon.
 
Be thankful you don't live near Appleby then...

OP we have Wickham fair down our way and in the weeks before you have to hide any cob types out of sight of the road and lock gates each night! Do you hide your coloured away?

Oh and yes our yard was approached by men wanting to 'buy' a black cob in the field by the road. She was not for sale and moved pronto... just in case.
 
I really do feel for you, I think I would hate it. We just get the traveller 'traffic' moving through our area the weeks before Appleby and, well maybe it's coincidence, but horse related items just seem to go 'missing' at the same time the travellers are in the area! For instance, over the last 2 weeks, several horses have been stolen - odd that happens at the same time travellers are in the area.........hmm............!!

Of course it's not them though, they are just being 'victimised'............
 
Amazing how people who don't have to suffer the concequenses of travellers think how wondeful it all is and spout off about "rights" "culture", not quite so rosy specs for those that have to put up with and clear up after them, or worry about the animals welfare when it's in your face.
 
Pedantic said:
Amazing how people who don't have to suffer the concequenses of travellers think how wondeful it all is and spout off about "rights" "culture", not quite so rosy specs for those that have to put up with and clear up after them, or worry about the animals welfare when it's in your face.
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Completely agree - once all you have been a victim of their 'work' you tend to lose all sympathy for them!
 
I hate seeing them tethered at the best of times but by the side of an A road! Yikes.

They used to tether their ponies on the science park where I work. In fairness the ponies seemed very healthy and happy but on a science park? It's meant to be a professional place of business. Not quite sure where they get off in honesty!

I'm short of grass this year, perhaps I should try it and see what happens.
 
very hard to ignore it when three young kids come flying past your house at god knows what speed with a huge horse, in a tiny cart. It happens every evening, from now on, and I try and stay sat here so I don't get upset. What age do you have to be to drive a horse drawn vehicle anyway :confused:
 
Hedgewitch13 said:
Be thankful you don't live near Appleby then...

OP we have Wickham fair down our way and in the weeks before you have to hide any cob types out of sight of the road and lock gates each night! Do you hide your coloured away?

Oh and yes our yard was approached by men wanting to 'buy' a black cob in the field by the road. She was not for sale and moved pronto... just in case.
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thats awful :(
 
I really do feel for you. I have to use the A66 quite a lot for work in the summer, and it is just a nightmare when the road is filled with carts, maybe ok to use that road 20 years ago, not so much now!

There are loads (20+) ponies tethered and loose (fenced in - badly) on a site I work on in York. The foals this year are indescribably (sp?!) cute, and I have only just stopped myself from putting the tiny pony stallion in the passenger seat of my car and strapping him in :eek:
 
Serenity087 said:
*yawn*

And I bet you're frightened of the monster under the bed too.

I can't WAIT for the Gypsy bashing to be over the summer...

Meanwhile, better hog all your cobs, don'tya know Gypsy's can't theive a horse unless it's all plaited up...
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I notice you live in Surrey - why not have a holiday in the Lakes and a trip to Appleby Fair while you're here. I was of the same opinion as you - live and let live, but when you see the youngstock being dragged along behind the caravans and being ill treated and the rubbish they leave behind - which MY council tax has to pay for, I changed my mind pronto.
 
Then why, if the post was about animal welfare, are people discussing how gypsies theive anything that isn't tied down?

Seriously... you lot started it. Someone has to stand up for them.

And, ftr, my old housemate goes every year. She's a vet nurse, so I hardly imagine she's blind to the horrific cruelty thats supposed to happen every year?
I mean, seriously, what is the point in a HORSE fair if all the horses die?
*facedesk*
 
Serenity087 said:
Then why, if the post was about animal welfare, are people discussing how gypsies theive anything that isn't tied down?

Seriously... you lot started it. Someone has to stand up for them.

And, ftr, my old housemate goes every year. She's a vet nurse, so I hardly imagine she's blind to the horrific cruelty thats supposed to happen every year?
I mean, seriously, what is the point in a HORSE fair if all the horses die?
*facedesk*
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They don't have to die to be ill treated....and why not ask for a freedom of information report from Cumbria Police to find out how much the reports of theft increase just prior, during and after Appleby Fair? I think you'll find the figures will speak for themselves.
 
Serenity087 said:
*yawn*

And I bet you're frightened of the monster under the bed too.

I can't WAIT for the Gypsy bashing to be over the summer...

Meanwhile, better hog all your cobs, don'tya know Gypsy's can't theive a horse unless it's all plaited up...
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S. Grow up and don't be trolling on a perfectly sensible thread which has a genuine point. The OP's posts were about the welfare of the horses tethered beside a main road and how the council had made a mistake not opening the field where they usually stay early enough.

I am certainly not trying to deny anyone their life style choice, nor imply that every member of the travelling community is a criminal. I am however, well within my rights to question their methods of horse husbandry. Especially as I live somewhere that actually has more than one camp of travellers within walking distance and see it on a regular basis.
 
Serenity087 said:
Then why, if the post was about animal welfare, are people discussing how gypsies theive anything that isn't tied down?

Seriously... you lot started it. Someone has to stand up for them.

And, ftr, my old housemate goes every year. She's a vet nurse, so I hardly imagine she's blind to the horrific cruelty thats supposed to happen every year?
I mean, seriously, what is the point in a HORSE fair if all the horses die?
*facedesk*
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Oh get a grip!! Nobody's slagging off all gypsies, and people are allowed to express their concerns over the welfare of horses. Surely a classy girl like yourself is aware of animal welfare??
 
Dont really want to get involved but, in my opinion it is a small minority of gypsies that cause the trouble and a lot of locals jump on the bandwagon and cause a lot of trouble they wouldnt usually cause, because they know they will get the blame for it. I do think its unfair the fair gets paid out of tax payers money and the amount of rubbish that is left behind. But equally it brings in a lot of trade to the area during the week, from gypsys using the local shops to tourists coming to visit the fair to, so swings and roundabouts really :)
 
We used to have a field at the back of our house, quite of fen gypsies would come and set up camp for a few weeks. Never had an issue, same family every year. Nothing ever got nicked, horses were well looked after, shoes done, vet to one mare would cut her self v ery badly. ,

now ok, some may miss treat there horses but on the whole there horses are there money, they ant going to keep it skinny, and looking like poo if they can help it.

The problem is years ago the local stops on the way to Appleby were allowed, like pubs car parks, parks etc. Now there closed and they aren't allowed. Where are they going to go?

In fact I was beacon horse (gypsies sales) on fri, not one horse looking poor, ok in need of a groom, feet a tad long, but no more then a month over due.
Saddles didn't fit, but half of our don't ether , we just spend more money on it.

Have a word with the concil, local farmers one may open up a field to use for them, unlikely but you never know
 
I know animal welfare.

It's nice to see cobs who aren't rippling with fat when the gypsies are in town. We have a few youngsters who've turned up locally who are nice weights. Perhaps lean, but certainly not about to die of laminitus.

one was tethered in a bush so that I didn't see it until last minute and it gave me quite a fright but it was TETHERED so it wouldn't be wondering out in the road... thats kinda the point behind tethering... even on the side of an a road...
 
Serenity087 said:
I know animal welfare.

It's nice to see cobs who aren't rippling with fat when the gypsies are in town. We have a few youngsters who've turned up locally who are nice weights. Perhaps lean, but certainly not about to die of laminitus.

one was tethered in a bush so that I didn't see it until last minute and it gave me quite a fright but it was TETHERED so it wouldn't be wondering out in the road... thats kinda the point behind tethering... even on the side of an a road...
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And the thundering up and down the roads on these lean yearlings by kids of no age is acceptable too then I presume :confused: Sorry but I disagree with you, most of the horses are not kept up to a minimum basic standard and certainly are not ridden/driven carefully and with respect to other road users/pedestrians/cyclists/other horse riders yadda yadda yadda
 
devilwoman said:
And the thundering up and down the roads on these lean yearlings by kids of no age is acceptable too then I presume :confused: Sorry but I disagree with you, most of the horses are not kept up to a minimum basic standard and certainly are not ridden/driven carefully and with respect to other road users/pedestrians/cyclists/other horse riders yadda yadda yadda
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A few weeks ago I posted about some idiots in Old Windsor riding on the road like jackasses.

I'm pretty sure they're not gypsies...

I used to have a trotting mare, her legs were covered in splints. She loved life mind, was a very happy little girl. I don't think our gelding had trotted for long, he was sold as part of a scam that we didn't fall for. Never managed to get him to ride however, think he ended up getting sold to another driving home.

The horses we had in the worst conditions were left to rot by settled folk who got bored of their horses. One was starved, the other practically rotted inside and out.

What's a couple of splints, really...
 
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