Travelling communities..do they care for them?

[QueenDee_]

Slight carry on from some of the comments on the threads about the recent news article on the 'abandoned foals'...a few of the comments has veered in the direction of 'travelling communities' Having had them up near us recently i was wondering what peoples opinions were on their horse care..i've heard different views on this in the past, some uncaring, some say they do care a lot for them..However the people down the road from us have their horses tied up on the verge by the side of the road, not even with head collars, just coarse rope round their necks and pegged into the ground. From when i've driven past they don't seem alarmed by the traffic [by a very busy road] but the idea of one of them getting loose and wandering onto the road

On a slightly different, but curious note..does anyone know the reason for their apparent liking for coloured horses? I know it is quite stereotypical, i've had a few comments on my coloured yearling that i'll have to 'lock him up when they come by' but majoritivley when you see them with horses they are coloured..

Please note- this thread was not created with any stereotyping in mind, just genuinely curious for peoples views.

 

[ISHmad]

If leaving horses in ragwort infested wasteland and without water often is reflective of this community or any other than my feeling is not very well. BUT we have some local romanies who use their ponies to pull wagons and theirs get exemplary care.

Presumably you have got your youngster freezemarked?

 

[Hedwards]

Some do and some dont, just as with all sectors of the community

Havent a clue about the coloured preference though...

 

[flyingfeet]

IMHO proper gypsies look after their horses. These are the ones that need them to move around and have the proper traditional horse pulled vehicles and live in them.

Travellers who are of the white van persuasion and dwell in non-horse pulled caravans or houses seem to treat them as very disposable.

 

[Toffee44]

The coloureds are to do with flashyness. I remember an old gypsy who used my old local said that it was only gypsys that even had coloured cobs, not like today. They were a status symbol for the travelling community.Thicker and silkier the feather and mane the more worth, go to Appleby these are still the type of horse than fetch stupid money today. He said in the last 30-50years the use of the horse has changed so more are bred and sold etc.