Appleby - horses everywhere on the main roads *sigh*

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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Well said!!!!
 
My OH's parents live in Appleby, I went to the fair last year.

How many of you have actually been?

For all it's bad points, it has good points too. It's an immense event to attend.

And FWIW, they're not all bad. In the same way that not all non-traveling horsey folk are perfect people who put their animals welfare first.
 
The 28 Day thing is not a local bye law. It is the amount of time/times an activity can take place on land before plannig permission can be applied for.
 
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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LMAO, such naive generalisations. you certainly havent met the gypsies near us, cobs as fat at barrels, munching grass all day.

I wont deny that gypsies can be great horsemen and women, i just wish they would stop trying to steal from me!
 
Bit off thread, I'm all for seeing the good in people, but did think again regarding travellers when just before a local travellers funeral all the local shop owners were told by the police to close for the day, & I was advised to hide my coloured cob!!! & I've caught 5 of them rooting round my garden!!
 
Was approaching Appleby on a B road a year or two back. Didn't know the road, came round a corner and was face to face with two racing sulkies, filling the road. The one on the correct side of the road flashed by; the guy who was due for a head-on with me took to the (mercifully) wide flat verge, but he had a hell of a bumpy ride for 50 yards or so till he could pull up.

I've always been pro-Appleby, as my best hunter-pony ( Connie + TB) was bought straight out of the fair, but the travellers/dealers really are their own worst enemies. Agree about the Council being daft though....
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pedantic
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.



DipseyDeb said:
Well said!!!!
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Absolutely! Just like the stupid politicians who have no clue they are that removed from the reality!!!
 
Surely the local council tax paying to clean up after the Appleby fair is mitigated somewhat by the extra business that it brings to the local economy every year? Granted the rise in crime probably mitigates that, too...

I don't know, I do feel sorry for the local folk who have to put up with this huge fair and dangerous practices with horses, and also for those members of the travelling community who are stereotyped because of the not so pleasant members. I've never been, but I would imagine there are also many well looked after horses there? Perhaps hidden away in well fenced fields and overshadowed by the plight of the not so fortunate?
 
Naturally
I think many businesses actually close for the duration of the Fair.
Others hopefully do make money
Suspect most money made by ''stands'' at the Fair
 
I'm in Doncaster where it appears gypsies have forgotten how to tether - it seems to have become acceptable to just dump their horses in any vacant field they can find - two of which are ours. When asked to remove them one of these law abiding citizens laughed at me and said we know our rights! If I'd have done that I'd have the police banging down my door.

I know they'll be moving on for Appleby but that's not the point, one of the fields they're trashing is a hay field and we all have an idea of how short hay's going to be this year. It's a pain in the arse we could do without.
 
pastie2 said:
I think that I might just have to give you a few facts. The horse that was thrashed up and down the road all day, it finally collapsed, broke its pelvis and was abandonned outside the Grapes pub until 1am in the morning before being put down by the vet. The coloured trotter that had his ear hanging off and fist deep wounds in is neck full of magets, hand made shoes and 18 months old. He is currently in a rescue, unable to ever be ridden again as his joints are shot to hell. The yearling that was ridden into the River Eden and held under until he drowned. The horses that die every fair being flashed and running into each other. The horses that are flashed all day long and die of either colic or dehydration. The injured horses that are picked up from a pen at a farm near fair hill by the knackerman at the end of the week. The dogs abandonned on the hill after the fair. Horses travelling in unsuitable trailers, one near my house had its leg go through the floor of the trailer 5 miles before it was stopped by a local, its leg had come off. I could go on and on but I am making myself feel sick thinking of it all. You serenity 087 should not have an opinion about something you know begger all about. The fair years ago was a true gypsy fair, now it is a free for all for all for the dregs of society. I hasten to add that there are SOME genuine folk there, but most I wouldnt want to come accross on a dark night.
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God Pastie that is horrific! I agree that there are some very genuine people in the travelling community, sadly they seem to be outnumbered by the scum element.

Serenity, for one so young you do seem to have had a lot of experience and expertise on lots of subjects, especially as you have had such a priviledged and middle class up bringing.
 
Why is tethering by a main road any more dangerous than having horses in a field next to a main road? Just a thought.
As I won't discuss the rest as its not the original OP...its only ok to do that if anti appleby it seems by the rest of thread.
 
Im also in Doncaster & a few years ago 2 cobs turned up in next doors field. The travellers had actually walked them through the garden to put them in the field during the night! The house/field owner removed them from the field & tied them to a fence on the street, the traveller soon got word they had been left there & turned up to take them away. His reason for putting them in the field was, he had knocked at the door to ask, no-one answered so he thought it would be ok!! He apparently had brought them from Hull because they kept escaping from a field & onto the road there!!!
 
I drove past the horses this morning, and one lovely chesnut has bad cuts all over his chest, right in line with where his harness goes.:mad: It did have a white cream put on it, I just hope to god he isn't put back to work pulling a caravan.

All the other horses are in good condition, hopefully this is a one off. As a former Inspector, things like that hit me hard - it is actually an offence to cause unnecessary suffering through badly fitting tack and harnesses. But who am I to do anything, the RSPCA have proved themselves beyong useless here. I just have to hope that they do the right thing by this horse, now he's injured. :(
 
There was an incident next to our yard a couple of years ago (moved since). Several trailers suddenly appeared & unloaded about 7 horses in front the pub at the end of the lane. The landlord called the police, as they were trying to break the padlock off his field that ran behind the pub. Land lord went out & put another chain & padlock on the (permanently) closed gate. Police officer who came stood & watched them cut it off & dump their scrawny horses. They had such a hard job over the next few weeks getting them removed. Still can't believe the officer just stood & watched them as he was too afraid to say anything.

Then there was the time my friend got out of her car as she was checking on horses, just climbed over the gate to see them (were polos wintering out) when someone nicked her car. It could be seen the following week in the local traveller site, but the police rfused to go & retrieve it (they hadn't even bothered changing the plates). A week after this it was found burnt out in the forest after being used in a ram raid on a cash point locally.

Then of course there is the filth left after they been staying somewhere, it's disgusting.

These people I can't abide. But then I see the guy with his caravan & one cob who stops on the roundabout under the A30. No bother, cob obviously well cared for if a little mucky. Keeps to himself, does no harm & leaves his site so tidy you'd never known they'd been there. He, to me is a true gypsy, & a credit to his culture.
 
They were tethered next to a very busy B road this morning, must have been there all night on the grass verge. One of the cobs had his foot on the road. This road is very busy and they were right on a corner. As well as a danger to horses there is a danger to passing traffic who cannot see round the corner. The police have been informed but thats all we know so far.
 
pip6 said:
These people I can't abide. But then I see the guy with his caravan & one cob who stops on the roundabout under the A30. No bother, cob obviously well cared for if a little mucky. Keeps to himself, does no harm & leaves his site so tidy you'd never known they'd been there. He, to me is a true gypsy, & a credit to his culture.
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We had/have one guy like this near us who comes through Wetherby (I think on the way to Appleby) and parks on a large verge near on the road, he has a proper romany caravan and he'll be there a couple of days and then moves on. He never leaves any rubbish and his horse(s) look very well. However, it would seem the council now have decided to plant a load of trees on that same verge - whether this is a deliberate attempt to deter him i don't know but if so it is a shame as, as far as I know he caused no trouble at all.

Shame the community as a whole is let down by those few unscrupulous individuals really. My friend's niece's pony was nicked many years ago - early hours one morning, taken from his field and was last seen being hacked down the main road by a large man. He was never seen again. Imagine explaining that to a kid under 10 years of age!
 
Serenity087 said:
Then why, if the post was about animal welfare, are people discussing how gypsies theive anything that isn't tied down?

People can discuss whatever they want (within TFC's guidelines)

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

Yes the posh bird who 'even buys supermarket own brands' is the voice for the gypsies (I bet they are loving their designated spokesperson)

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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Where did anyone write that all horses die?
 
Serenity you know I like you but this is ridiculous.

There are, and nobody denies this, few decent travellers who are a credit to their culture.

There are also idiots who use the gypsy culture to explain their disgusting behaviour. Stealing, damaging peoperty, threatening people and treating animals disgustingly is NOT ok-whether you're a gypsy or a Christian, northerner or someone from France. It's not ok.

Unfortunately, more and more of these types of people are giving gypsies a bad name-and they now seem to vastly outnumber the good type. Which is a shame.
 
Most of the travellers I know- admittedly settled travellers - wouldn't set foot in Appleby, Wickham or the likes.Nor do they like being lumped in with the types that cause trouble by taking over areas. They are very clannish but easy to get on with and live happily and peacefully in our area.

Thinking about it, none of them have coloureds, they all breed and show Welshies, wonder if that is why?
 
Cedars said:
There are, and nobody denies this, few decent travellers who are a credit to their culture.

There are also idiots who use the gypsy culture to explain their disgusting behaviour. Stealing, damaging peoperty, threatening people and treating animals disgustingly is NOT ok-whether you're a gypsy or a Christian, northerner or someone from France. It's not ok.

Unfortunately, more and more of these types of people are giving gypsies a bad name-and they now seem to vastly outnumber the good type. Which is a shame.
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Good post. I can't comment on the bad outnumbering the good, but I think its sadly a symptom of the culture clash that exists. Bureaucracy, loss of civil liberties and policing policies have exacerbated it and pushed travellers & gypsies into crisis and they are struggling to cope. Two or three generations later and this is what we've got. Its 'our' fault really, for pushing them into a corner, but both communities really need to work on putting it right or else the future looks grim for all.
 
I think the crux of the matter is this - tethering is "legal" under the Animal welfare Act, as long as the horse is tethered in a safe place, unlikely to cause unnecessary suffering, blah,blah,blah. This very act should be made much more specific - making it an offence to tether on A or B roads, full stop, and the Police having the authority to move on any horses that they feel are not in a safe place.

The ultimate goal here is for the safety of drivers, as well as horses, and trust me, when you've seen a horse that has hit a windscreen, and literally gone thru a car, you don't want to see it again. But this is what is being risked here all over this area.

Human life has to come first, and the police have the power to enforce the above act, but will they do so ? It really isn't up to the animal agencies to sort this out, it's a matter for the police to sort out, before the next accident happens.

Rant over, I thank you.
 
there are 3 on the A4440 2 on the top of a roundabout! I've checked on them twice- both times without water- they have been there about a month. Ever so poor and shocking feet. I'm glad its a bit cooler for them. Can't imagine the mayhem if they broke free!!
 
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