The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: silver swan on February 15, 2011, 10:33:57 pm
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Hi All,
Caught some of 'Big fat Gypsy Wedding' (by mistake and filling gap 'til 10 o'clock news, really!!!!!!!!!!!) and part of the programme focused on the Appleby Horse Fair. Having a traditional coloured cob myself, for several years I have toyed with the idea of visiting. Not too sure if I would get upset/p****d off/accidentally buy several horses though!!!
Do any of you have experience/words of wisdom to share?
Thank you. :horse:
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If in doubt don't go. I cannot trust myself at horse sales would end up bringing home some poor animal and then my OH would be looking at the divorce court. We have 5 ponies which cost me enough to care for. ;D
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The best horses can change hands ten times during the fair, all between travellers for ever increasing sums. An outsider is unlikely to find a bargain I reckon, more likely to be fleeced.
Personally the way the horses are hammered up and down the roads I wouldnt take one on, with the leg problems it could bring later. Thats OK for the gypsies as the horses are primarily garded as a tradeable commodity, our local ones at our old place just shot any horse that got lame or fought back, so they didnt have to worry about long term arthritis! They bred so many, there were always new ones to take its place.
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My Dales type came from Appleby, My friend bought him and I then swapped him for a carriage I had for sale! Best thing I ever did, I was at Appleby that year when Odinn came into my life, being a lover of traditionals also (I have 2) and cobs in general ( I also have a black with 4 whites) I was in cob heaven, would never ever have attempted to buy though, left that to my mate.
Watching them go up and down the roads, pulling the loads they are pulling can be a bit stressful but in all, I enjoyed my day out.
Not been since though!
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You're not likely to get a bargain,too many of the "Isn't it sweet"brigade about which puts the price up through the roof.Personally I can't afford to buy on impulse I leave that to those with more money than sense ;)
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All,
I have only ever wondered about visiting Appleby as a 'day out/experience'. Not with the intention of purchase but can imagine seeing something that no one else wanted and going home with it (well maybe not as it would take forever to walk it up to Moray). Sucker for an under dog/horse me. Just wondered if any of you out there had been and what you thought of it?
Thanks for the responses. More needed as still on fence about going!
Cheers. :-*
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Thanks for the responses. More needed as still on fence about going!
Go!
If you only go the once, which I have, go! Then you have been, you can drool over the horses or make your own opinions of what the Fair is like, a lot of people have opinions of it and have never been. Ok, when I went the weather was totally gorgeous, which helped walking up and down to Slaughter Hill but I enjoyed it (the ice creams got more expensive every time we stopped for one, which was more than once), only havent been back as too busy and now, too far away for a day out.
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Appleby is one of the most important events in the gypsy calender. If you can stand the crowds, and do not mind parking miles away in a farmers field and paying whatever for parking, then yes, go for the experience. It is nice to see the horses, and be part of the atmosphere. But if you are easily upset, just remember that you may see things that upset you - there is the racing up and down the road, but this is part of the selling process, and you may not agree with the way some of the people handle the ponies, but this is the way they do things, and like it or not, it happens.
I have not been in recent years, and have been told that sadly, things have changed. People with horse and carts can no longer camp by the roadside, and there is a big police presence there. Lots of the pubs close up for fear of trouble. Such a shame. Yes, there are trouble makers, but not all the gypsies are like this.
I have a lovely photo of one of my Dales grandsires being driven at Appleby, and I have this dream of one day taking my ponies with a bowtop up tobowtoAppleby. Quite a few people from my area set off in convoy in their bowtops, and I love seeing them on the road.
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im planning on going in the next few years if you need a buddy im sure we can sort something out my OH is unsure to go or not but i want to go just for the experiance i dont have a problem with the people and i wont get in there way i wont outstay my welcome at any time
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i would say go for the experience, i am an appleby fan, love the fair, there is an atmosphere like no other, sitting at the river and watching the horses swimming and being bathed, watching them all on millionaires lane, so many different horses, cobs, trotters, its incredible, all the differnet stalls, it is a really good day out, if you get there about 8am in a morning you can generally park in the village then watch everything come to life, seeing all the old bow tops is incredible all the detail there is an element of romance about them.
The other side of it is, remember that it is a gypsy fair, you are seeing an insight into there way of life, you may not agree wih alot of what you see, or not like things that you see, but you have to try to be impartial, there are good and bad in every walk of life, if you meet any of the old horse men , nicer more genuine folk you will never meet, the knowledge they have is second to none.
It will be a day that will leave you with many questions, and a mixture of thoughts and feelings, but it is worth going just the once, just be open minded. love it or hate it appleby horse fair, has a long long history, it would be ashame if we lost it.
The fair is not what it used to be, not as many horses, the introduction of the passport system seem to have a knock on effect there, and as folk have said, camping on the road is not ment to happen anymore, there are new restrictions put in place evey year, which are slowly taking the heart out of appleby horse fair.
At the end of my ramble, my advice would be go but take your wellies.
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Thanks Folks,
If it's changing that quickly I' better go soon then; before there AREN'T any horses!
:horse:
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Our nearest is the Stow gypsy horse fair in the cotswolds and I am planning on going to that this year. A lot of the travellers that I know are going too so will be finding out from them if there is any etiquette as a 'gorja'. taking my 9 year old with me as she shares my love of the horses and traditions :)
The horses at our local travellers site are beautiful and my daughter was invited by the king of the gypsies there to meet his new foal. An honour that she tells anyone who will listen all about!
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Our nearest is the Stow gypsy horse fair in the cotswolds and I am planning on going to that this year. A lot of the travellers that I know are going too so will be finding out from them if there is any etiquette as a 'gorja'. taking my 9 year old with me as she shares my love of the horses and traditions :)
The horses at our local travellers site are beautiful and my daughter was invited by the king of the gypsies there to meet his new foal. An honour that she tells anyone who will listen all about!
been to stow for many years but have not been since it stopped and they bought the land mum went last year and said it was pointless going as the preivious years was much better and it even goes to show they dont trust themselves as they blockade the stalls so noone can enter them and steal from them. i personaly last went to stow fair a good 10 yrs ago now its a differant story i am in two minds wether to go there trying to make it the 2nd appleby when it will never be like it is a bit disapointing imo. what dat is it this year? may 13th ish last year was the 1st one wasnt it?
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Silver swan - it's a great day out, a totally unique experience. In a way it's like stepping back 100years or so as once you are in Appleby the normal rules of the land do not apply. Health and safety, traffic regulations etc are just irrelevant. You are stepping into the gypsy world for a short period and if you accept that then you will have a good day out.
Bye way, you can get a cheap donkey. Towards the end of the fair you can get an entire male for @ £100 as they don't want to take them back to Ireland.
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Yes Stowe is the closest thursday to the 13th May and 24th Oct (I think)
daddymatty82,don't suppose you take photo's do you?I'm looking for ones of my hinny at Stowe about 1992/3 or at Andoversford 1996/7 ish,can't miss her she was a flea-bitten grey part bred arab
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Sarah-leesfirstsaddle.jpg)
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Man is that an donkey x? those hughed ears, drop belly and donkey feet.
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Whoa belgianblue!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!!!!!!!!!!!!
:-*
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No she's a Hinny with lovely ears!(Although I did get the gypsy kids chasing me down the road asking "Is your mule pregnant Missus? ;D)
Let me know if you find a flea-bitten grey donkey 13.1hhs ;D
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Bms-1.jpg)
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Really lovely pictures of your hinny Jinglejoys :)
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lovely photos, the hinny looks full of character :wave:
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My daughter and her friends went to Stow a couple of years back after we had all our tack stolen (goodness knows what they thought they could do if they saw it as I believe the police dont even go onto the site!) Anyhow one of the girls with them got accosted with, 'this is the last puppy, he is all on his own, need to sell' line, being a sucker she bought it, walked back past later to see another 'last puppy'!!! A lesson for all ;D
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Boy did they see her comming ::) as for no Police!!!! There are often more bloomin police than travellers ;D I think I counted 12 couples of mounted police riding in one year,not to mention the ones on the ground,RSPCA and trading standards ;)
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you find police will never set on foot on any premises of gypies site. they will try always go with the sas team just in case of trouble.
when tack goes missing try looking at another end of the country. ( tack goes missing in south, it will always goes north of the country vise verser)
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No she's a Hinny with lovely ears!(Although I did get the gypsy kids chasing me down the road asking "Is your mule pregnant Missus? ;D)
Let me know if you find a flea-bitten grey donkey 13.1hhs
A hinny's a horse / donkey cross isn't it? But the opposite way round to a mule? Which is which?
Whatever she is, I think she's gorgeous. Love her.
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No she's a Hinny with lovely ears!(Although I did get the gypsy kids chasing me down the road asking "Is your mule pregnant Missus? ;D)
Let me know if you find a flea-bitten grey donkey 13.1hhs
A hinny's a horse / donkey cross isn't it? But the opposite way round to a mule? Which is which?
Whatever she is, I think she's gorgeous. Love her.
A Hinny has a Horse for its sire,a Mule has a Moke as its sire ;D
And yes she was gorgous.She was retired to The Horse Trust a few years ago and unfortunately had to be put to sleep a few months ago :'(My chestnut mule Amber is still there. :)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Sarah-leeAmberandStevie.jpg)
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you find police will never set on foot on any premises of gypies site. they will try always go with the sas team just in case of trouble.
when tack goes missing try looking at another end of the country. ( tack goes missing in south, it will always goes north of the country vise verser)
at our old place in home counties they wouldnt go in without armed backup - and that was a small council run site...anything stolen was exchanged with a 'sister' site over the county border very rapidly - by the time the police had gathered their troops the goods were gone and 'John Smith' was nowhere to be found'.
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you find police will never set on foot on any premises of gypies site. they will try always go with the sas team just in case of trouble.
when tack goes missing try looking at another end of the country. ( tack goes missing in south, it will always goes north of the country vise verser)
My eldest daughter (9) has a best friend who lives on the site here. He regularly gets bundled into a police van in a raid, middle of the night, pulled out of their beds at gun point. His mum was telling me he has nightmares and panic attacks :( I know some of the travelling community are slightly, how shall I put it, 'less than honest' at times (as are some of the non-travelling community) but I find it so sad that this little boy and all of the other traveller chidlren are subjected to this. He's told me so many stories - I actually feel quite privileged to be invited onto the site and be able to talk and listen with the travellers there - but you can see the self perpetuating cycle of travellers growing up feeling anger and hatred towards the police and authorities.
PLease don't get me wrong, I'm not yoghurt knitting ,hand wringing do gooder - I'm not blind to the bad stuff that goes on - but it does hurt to hear from the friends I have there how they are all subjected to the same treatment as those less honest on their site.
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travellers/ gypsies they are all tarred with the same brush, which is ashame and not fair, there are good and bad in every society,
i have known travellers/gypsies good and bad, the good ones are amazing people, with an amazing history and amazing way of life.
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jinglejoys, I am loving your photographs!
I wouldn't like to visit Appleby, too busy and I don't like crowds much.
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hi claire
I wouldn't like to visit Appleby, too busy and I don't like crowds much.
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i dont like crowds or busy places either, i never go to appleby at the week end ( far to busy and scary) when i used to go it was either fri or the monday, get there before 8am park up in appleby, get a brew and get your bearings before everyone gets out of bed, you can have a good look round the stalls, the horses, sit at the river bank, sit on trotters lane, and escape the folk to a degree and soak up the atmosphere. :wave:
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I'm taking my 9 year old out of school this year to go to stow (shh don't tell the school lol) as I'm hopeless with crowds - probably why I'm so at home with my animals really. I wonder if many of us animally peeps are like this?
Faith - on Big fat gypsy wedding they were saying that appleby was a 'man thing' and that the gypsy/traveller wives tended to stay home. What has been your experience being a woman there? Am just gathering info before I take milli. Was going to ask some of the traveller mums at school what they thought too. I soooo know I am going to come home with a blinkin donkey LOL>
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hiya plums, it is a mans environment, from a gypsy/traveller point of view, the women/wives stay in the trailers a lot, they dont have anything to do with the horses, the women wander round the stalls, the teenage girls get dressed up and walk down to the village,
all the horsey and business stuff is done by the men and boys,
I have honestly never had any trouble at appleby, i used to go with girly mates 3 or 4 of us, and i knew people there, so long as you remember you are in a gypsy/traveller world and keep ya nose down its really good.
Have a word with your friends they will point you in the right direction, and see you right.
getting back to the crowd thing, i cant do crowds or busy places at all, hate it, i hate going shopping, hate going to town, im happiest and at peace with my animals or in a muddy field in my wellies ;D :wave:
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Thanks Faith, that's good to know :) I really want to go now!
I've always hated crowds, weird really as was born in london. since we moved to the countryside and I had the children its become more obvious to me that I'm at home here, literally at home. hubby's family live in the city and I avoid trips there, hate going to the hospital and driving in city traffic, would rather be home with a glass of home made wine that out and about :) glad I'm not the only one!! At least you can't suffer road rage in the paddock with your livestock ;)
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Yeah, and no >:(one's going to ram into the back of your legs with a trolley or kiddy in a stroller.
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Yeah, and no >:(one's going to ram into the back of your legs with a trolley or kiddy in a stroller.
Nooooo I hate that!! or those people who just suddenly stop in front of you so you bump into the back of them ::)
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When is Appleby Horse Fair?
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tues the 2rd of june they will start letting everyone into appleby to start the fair, until the 8th june so the week end 4th and 5th june :wave:
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Don't like crowds either that's why I like to get here about 9.30 and leave midayish but the last few years my job wouldn't let me leave work till 11-30,by the time I've got home,let the dogs out etc I don't think its worth going!
Easy answer to the donkey thing...if you don't want one don't buy one (Plenty of animals "rescued"from fairs that end up in worse conditions in "sanctuarys" ;) )
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Easy answer to the donkey thing...if you don't want one don't buy one (Plenty of animals "rescued"from fairs that end up in worse conditions in "sanctuarys" ;) )
ooh crikey, don't get me started on that one ::)