That news report makes it sound like this has never happened before but it has! flipping rspca want to get involved now its all over the papers, diddnt want to know at the time, they have such a cheek!
Oh I see... so the RSPCA can ignore cruelty and ignore cruelty and ignore cruelty - and come on how many of you have terrible stories about how crap they are - and have been guilty in the past of not taking ANY action on some horrific cases...
Yet one horse drowns at Appleby out of however many hundreds have had this symbolic washing over hundreds of years... and because the press get in volved - OOOH the RSPCA are involved.
Just like they got involved in Hunting.
There are far worse things go on re: cruelty - and they don't want to know unless there is publicity in it.
I have friends who live at Appleby, and rent land and rooms to some of the Irish travellers every year, and get on famously with them. Just remember most genuine travellers have a reputation for how well they look after their horses and its a matter of pride with them. You are tarring some amazing horsemen with one brush when its an exception not a rule.
Yes there are "theiving Pikeys" but there are theiving non pikeys too in the world. The real pikey element are not at representative of all travellers!