Italians want to ban Appleby

Fairynuff

Fairynuff

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2004
Messages
4,993
Location
italy
Visit site
as the 'tradition' of forcing horses to swim with their heads under water is barbaric! Seemingly after the fair there are dead horses everywhere:O and others die of respiratory diseases ???? Mind you, this is coming from the Italian BHs but isn't it amazing how people equiped with little knowledge can blow something out of proportion and even give it a completely different meaning! One of their friends went to the fair armed with her camera and came back to reveal to the world what she found. I have stolen the gist and the video link from the Italian equiv of H an H.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGIcFQRXjS8

I cant comment on the forum as Im banned....thank god.
 
Actually I agree with the protest. I've swum horses and they keep their heads above water, it is unnecessary and cruel to force their heads underwater.
 
I'm no fan of Appleby, and wouldn't object to it being banned. Seems to me the italians ought to be focussing on their own welfare problems, though!
 
the Italians believe that the whole purpose of the fair is this 'tradition'..the swimming of horses. I rode a pony on the Isle of Bute and we took him swimming in the sea. He loved swimming and would put his head under water deliberately and blow bubbles. Im not for nor against the fair, as I have never been, but I hate the idea that something is to be condemned on little or the wrong information. Not all of Appleby can be bad but the person who put the video together has only shown what she wanted to get an 'ooooooooooooh' reaction. She got what she wanted :)
 
The saying "pot kettle black" springs to mind!! I think they definitely need to put their own house in order before interfering in ours, don't get me wrong I don't have a problem of Appleby Fair been banned at all, but, I do object to been dictated to by a bunch of people who have a particular fondness of eating "fresh" horsemeat - I know, that is a separate post!! :)
 
Hmm - wasn't aware it was traditional to swim the horses with the heads under water?!

But surely - galloping horses around a square of bricks until the point of exhaustion/broken necks/limbs in the name of tradition is ok then....

And then of course there is the live export... which causes no distress/injury or respiratory disorders at all...oh, sorry, that doesn't count as their days are numbered anyway......

I know it is traditional to swim the horses - but is the underwater thing a real issue or just an unfortunate extra?

Don't have an issue with the sale. Have a serious issue with poor welfare, regardless of location or tradition.
 
I've been to appleby and have never seen a horse being forced underwater.

There are things about appleby that are not good and should really have something done about them (welfare etc) but who are the Italians to point the finger at anyone

People in glass houses and all that!
 
oh good they have bad so do we....so yes that is good that someone else from good old Europe is taking an interest in our bad things as we cant obviously do anything about it ourselves....so this is excellent idea.
 
1) The Italians cannot claim the moral highground with their welfare standards.
2) This is unaccepable behaviour from a minority of the trailer trash call them what you will.
3) Spineless police will do nothing to stop all the illegal activities at Appleby or Stowe horse Fairs.
3) Life is made intolerable for local residents whilst these fairs are conducted
4) No doubt human rights will be spouted what about the rights of the LAW ABIDING
 
madlady said:
I've been to appleby and have never seen a horse being forced underwater.

There are things about appleby that are not good and should really have something done about them (welfare etc) but who are the Italians to point the finger at anyone

People in glass houses and all that!
Click to expand...

^^ this

The video doesnt show all the police and RSPCA workers (*ducks for cover*) watching the swimming and calling up and talking to anyone who mistreats their animal in anyway.
 
mmmm whilst not a lover of appleby as it is now and i wouldnt cry to see it banned in its current form i do ask "the italians are talking about cruelty !!!" kettle calling pot black given the transportation of horses live in europe mmmmmm hey italians look closer home look to rid your country of cruelty and then start preaching to us x
 
I think that there are people all over Europe, the World if you like who are against animal cruelty, and a good thing too, I don't think that someone's nationality who speaks out should provoke an overly patriotic, little Englander approach.
 
sadly to many people have to many rights and cry to human rights people ( oh how they rub thier hands with the money going "cerching") instead of common sense kicking in - wish we could turn clock back a few years were ok you commit cruelty(or a crime) you pay !!!!!!!
 
pale I totally agree but all im trying to say is look closer to home before shouting at another country - we should all be aware of cruelty around the world. :) x
 
babymare said:
pale I totally agree but all im trying to say is look closer to home before shouting at another country -

Why? cruelty should be shouted at and exposed where ever it happens. Are English folk who oppose bull fighting in Spain doing a good job or poking their nose into another country? Personally I support what anyone anywhere does about animal cruelty.
Click to expand...
 
I spent 5 months working in Italy on my year out, running a livery yard. It was in the north, where welfare concerns are not so great, and the livery clients were rich (ish) people from Milan. I've never encountered so many ignorant people - they would buy horses without being able to ride or any idea how to treat a horse correctly, read something somewhere and insist on that being followed to the letter, even if it was cruel.

For instance, I was told not to rug a very thin, bony horse that used to shiver in the stable because everyone else would want theirs rugged too. And I used to put in ad lib hay for it and the owner would remove it. Or horrible, severe rusty bits on very soft mouthed horses. And badly fitting saddles. I've never known anywhere like it for people losing their temper with their horses and blaming the horse for something going wrong. I got criticised for doing things to too high a standard!

I'm not a fan of Appleby, but its easy to read about something and not really understand what you are criticising.
 
pastie2 said:
Well Fairy, you admit you have never been to Appleby so I cant understand your stance at all. Yes they submerge horses underwater and hold them down, its meant to make them lucky and make them a good horse! FFS. That is why 3 years ago a young horse was drowned. For a horseman/woman to watch these uneducated morons take these more often than not, terrified horses into the river Eden is a most unpleasant sight. The river drops to 6ft after the first 10ft of shallow. Yes and there are dead horses scattered about, 2 young mares and a foal were found on Orton scar by the side of the road with bullets in their heads. The knackerman goes and collects all the lame unwanted horses, foals, colts at the end of this fair, they are either dead or he has to shoot them. This of course is not common knowledge.

I dont agree with racing horses on cobblestones round a square either, but because they do it doesnt mean that every Italian agrees with it, anymore than everyone in Britain agrees with Appleby.
Click to expand...

As usual - well said Pastie!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top