Scumbags at Appleby Abandon Injured Horses

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horserugsnot4u

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Two horses have died at Appleby Horse Fair this evening when they were in a collision, presumably with each other whilst being 'shown off'. Owners didn't have the decency to stay with their injured horses but cleared off, leaving them to be attended to by Redwings. Disgraceful behaviour 😡
 
Apparently one died in the accident and the other had to be put down by a vet with Redwings. Owners had scarpered before vet and RSPCA arrived at the scene and of course nobody who was there will know anything about them.
 
I heard that one of the horses was only a yearling and the other a 2yo. What are they doing racing them up the road anyway.
 
neddy man said:
out of curiosity, have you been to either of these fairs ? and why in your opinion should they be banned.
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I've been to stow but only once and that was enough. It epitimised the type of people who shouldn't be allowed animals. I'm sure plenty of people will come on here and state that they've bought wonderful animals from these places and whilst I believe that to be true I also question what kind of person would put an animal in a sale like these and how many animals suffer horribly as a result of these sales.
 
neddy man said:
thank you,fair comment, but similar could be said about lots of shows, there will always be good and bad everywhere.
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Yes that's true. If I'm honest my opinion is probably biased as my only trip there resulted in me bringing home a puppy who was being kicked around in a box with 3 others. This was 16yrs ago and the teenage me found the terrified horses being raced around the grounds and dragged around the ring horrific. Perhaps the adult me would be more openminded but I personally won't return.

I accept though that local shows attract the same poor horsemanship - it's just not as well publicised. And realistically if other shows had fatalities year in year out I think they'd be closed down whereas these two seem to go from strength to strength :-(
 
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I have never been to this fair, but i would not go near it if my life depended on it. I do not like the way the horses are shown (racing on tarmac is not something i agree with) i do not like the ages of the horses being ridden/drove in a lot of cases, i do not like that the locals don't feel safe to go out (this is from a TV show on the fair a while back) i don't like that horses drown, die in crashes, get left behind after the fair etc.

There is good and bad people in all walks of life, but in a normal show or fair there are rules that some break but the majority abide by. I don't feel this fair does. It seems to be a free for all.
 
equi said:
I have never been to this fair, but i would not go near it if my life depended on it. I do not like the way the horses are shown (racing on tarmac is not something i agree with) i do not like the ages of the horses being ridden/drove in a lot of cases, i do not like that the locals don't feel safe to go out (this is from a TV show on the fair a while back) i don't like that horses drown, die in crashes, get left behind after the fair etc.

There is good and bad people in all walks of life, but in a normal show or fair there are rules that some break but the majority abide by. I don't feel this fair does. It seems to be a free for all.
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This - absolutely. Poor horses.
 
I live just outside Appleby and it is hell for us. But that aside, what strikes me is the RSPCA asking for witnesses. Every time I have had to go through the town they are standing about chatting with each other. Surely their job is to witness.
 
I saw an article romanticising Appleby the other day (there's usually one or two of these every year). It's a shame these stories turn out to be fiction pretty much. Having said that, I've never been. I hope that there are at least some decent people there?
 
My pony came from Stow as an apparently 3 month old foal. The people I bought him from bought him as a companion for a foal they had bred. I am not a huge fan of these fairs, but because of who attends them, and their 'rights' regardless of what happens they will continue. In view of this, it is a case of limiting the damage.
 
I have never been to Appleby or anything like it. But I have to admit to being quite upset by the pictures that I have seen published of the event. In practically every one the horses mouths seems to be being hauled on and they look really stressed. Often the horses look very young. Perhaps these are the bad shots chosen to make it look bad, I don't know, but it's not nice to see.
 
neddy man said:
thank you,fair comment, but similar could be said about lots of shows, there will always be good and bad everywhere.
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Good point - but I've had one of these fairs annually on my doorstep for the past 20 odd years now - each year seems to be more horrific than the last, but I think a big contributing factor to the mis treatment of these animals is the massive drinking culture around them. Things are bad enough , but when everyones tanked up it's REALLY bad. What I also find sad is the number of kids, taking their cue from their parents and believing that this is how they're supposed to treat animals.....and the whole horror just perpetuates itself.
 
I think - although I wasn't there - that only one man ran off, the other owners stayed with their horse. I still think it is hideous but hopefully not all of them are awful to their horses.
 
Jules_F said:
I have never been to Appleby or anything like it. But I have to admit to being quite upset by the pictures that I have seen published of the event. In practically every one the horses mouths seems to be being hauled on and they look really stressed. Often the horses look very young. Perhaps these are the bad shots chosen to make it look bad, I don't know, but it's not nice to see.
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If the only thing those poor creatures had to worry about was having their mouths hauled on,it wouldn't be so bad - you see a lot of that at most horse shows anyway. The ill treatment of animals at these fairs is just par for the course and seems to be accepted as part and parcel of the 'travellers' culture. If complaints are made, people just shout the word 'prejudice'. Someone said on here that there is good and bad at all horse shows - true - but the incidents of mistreatment at these fairs are all around for everyone to see. At other equestrian shows, ill treatment and cruelty are there, but a lot more isolated.
 
I really don't understand why Appleby hasn't been banned by now, I guess the police are scared of the backlash from the gypsies? Horrific that 2 horses have died and I've just seen a photo of them racing a mare and its FOAL (pulling its own trap) - absolutely barbaric, none of these people should have horses and something should be done about it.
 
Just read about this on the Daily Fail online - disgusted at what happened and shocked (mind you not surprised) that the Daily Fail wrote that the horse that did not die immediately had to be 'killed'. As it was euthanised by a vet/RSPCA why do they have to write 'killed'. Same thing I realise but bad writing.
 
It's awful.

Then again, it's not the most awful thing I've ever heard of in the world of horses. RIP young horses. :(
 
And looking at the Facebook page "Horses, ponies & tack for sale in Cumbria" the foal was PTS yesterday - concussive laminitis, severe dehydration and exhaustion.
 
Foals and yearlings being driven hard on the roads doesnt just happen at fairs, it is done all over the place - wherever there are sulkies and racing. A lot in Essex and Lincs, and Ive seen it in Ireland too. Getting rid of the fairs wont stop sulky racing!
 
I've also seen pictures of a seven month old foal being driven. It was dead at a year old. While they are so overbred and readily available they will continue to be disposable sadly. An organised fair should be easier to police against abuse though you would have thought.
 
LittleBlackMule said:
Oh God. I consider myself fairly hardened to many things but I think if I saw that I would actually vomit.
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The picture came up on my facebook feed. It is indeed a foal (6-7 months old Id say) racing alongside another horse both in traps. I clicked on the 'I don't want to see this link' pretty quickly. Made me feel sick.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
So......... where is the RSPCA in all of this?? Are they not in attendance to prevent exactly this sort of thing happening??

OK, so silly question :(

They seem to have the habit of never being there when they desperately need to be; and of interfering where they patently shouldn't.
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seriously, imle the police are too damned scared of them to do anything, I can understand why the RSPCA might be. but it's alright, its tradition, lets not criticise that set of society :(
 
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