Travellers race horses through muddy Appleby hours after stallion ‘worked to death’ as thousands descend on annual fair

TRAVELLERS were today spotted racing horses through a muddy Appleby days after a stallion was allegedly worked to death there.

The three-year-old steed was reported to be "covered in sores" when it collapsed at the annual Cumbria event on Thursday.

Travellers race their horses and traps along the ‘Mad Mile’ during the Appleby Horse Fair on Thursday
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Travellers race their horses and traps along the ‘Mad Mile’ during the Appleby Horse Fair on ThursdayCredit: Getty
Travellers wash their horses in the River Eden
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Travellers wash their horses in the River EdenCredit: Getty
People sit outside a pub to watch the horses ride by
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People sit outside a pub to watch the horses ride byCredit: AP
A woman guides her horse through deep water
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A woman guides her horse through deep waterCredit: Getty

Thousands of travellers descended on the market town from Wednesday, with horses pulling bow top carts carrying adults and kids alike.

The annual event sees travellers gather to take part in horse sales and bathe their horses in the River Eden.

They rode mostly along country lanes, with photos also showing the crowds holding up traffic on main roads.

Other snaps saw horses taken through the River Eden for bathing, or galloping down the 'Mad Mile' track.

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Spectators gathered at various points, including outside the Grapes Inn pub - while scores of caravans were parked at nearby camp sites, which got increasingly bogged down with mud.

Part of the fair also sees stalls set up for food and souvenirs, as well as clothing.

Yesterday a horse died after an act of "inexcusable cruelty", according to cops.

Police arrested two people at the Midland Hotel the same day the same day the horse died, on suspicion of public order offences.

Referring to the horse death, a spokesman for Cumbria constabulary told The Sun: "We’d been called to assist the RSPCA who were having difficulty being allowed access to their horses as owners were being obstructive.

"However, both of those arrested have subsequently been released with no further action."

The poor helpless animal was said to have been suffering from an extremely high temperature before it dropped dead around 3pm.

Travellers arrive for Appleby fair

It is not yet clear if the person responsible for the horse's killing was part of the travelling community.

The RSPCA has since released CCTV images of a person they would like to identify.

Chief Inspector Rob Melloy said the skewbald trotter "undoubtedly suffered before he died".

He said: “The horse’s temperature was very high, and he was covered in rubs. He had been worked until he dropped. 

“This was an inexcusable act of cruelty. This person has let themselves, their family and of course this poor horse down, who undoubtedly suffered before he died. 

“We want to hear from anyone who knows who is responsible and are releasing CCTV images of a man we're keen to identify in connection with the incident, so that we can ensure this doesn’t happen again."

Adults and children take part in the various activities
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Adults and children take part in the various activitiesCredit: Getty
The tradition dates back to the 1600s
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The tradition dates back to the 1600sCredit: Getty
Travellers race their horses and traps
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Travellers race their horses and trapsCredit: Getty

Traveller community leaders Billy Welch and Bill Lloyd have been left "sickened and saddened" by the death.

The two have "condemned it in the strongest possible terms" as they urged anyone with information to come forward for the "future of the fair".

Welch and Lloyd said those in the community are supporting the RSPCA following the tragedy.

They added: "We are fully supportive of the efforts of the RSPCA and their partner charities to improve the standards of horse welfare, and this is a body blow to all our efforts.

"Appleby is one of the greatest celebrations of the horse in Europe and this tragic event is a stain on the fair that will be hard to wash out.

"The standard of horsemanship among Gypsy people is usually high and they are often among the first to report abuse at the fair when they see it.

"We do not yet know the identity of the person responsible and if it was a Gypsy, we will condemn them even more strongly and loudly, but please do not leap to any conclusions until we know the facts."

The market town has shut down to avoid around 10,000 travellers who flock there to buy and sell steeds.

History of the Appleby Horse Fair

The Appleby Horse Fair is a traveller horse event which has been an annual tradition since 1685.

The fair is a major gathering place for the British traveller community.

Huge crowds come to attend horse sales and bathe their horses in the River Eden.

This year, more than 1,000 caravans and 3,000 horse-drawn vehicles pulled up to the event.

The annual meet-up sees animals that are looking to be traded, tethered to railings outside pubs and shops on the market town's main street.

This year's fair is running from June 6 until June 12.

More than 1,000 caravans and 3,000 horse-drawn vehicles pulled up to the event, which dates back to the 1770s.

The annual meet-up sees animals that are looking to be traded, tethered to railings outside pubs and shops on the market town's main street.

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This year's fair is running from June 6 until June 12.

Anyone with information on the horse's death can contact the RSPCA on their appeal line 0300 123 8018 or call police on 101.

The RSPCA has released CCTV images of a man they wish to speak to
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The RSPCA has released CCTV images of a man they wish to speak toCredit: MEN Media
The event sees thousands of people gather to trade horses and bathe them in the river
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The event sees thousands of people gather to trade horses and bathe them in the riverCredit: Getty
Food and other stalls are also part of the event
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Food and other stalls are also part of the eventCredit: Getty
A foal is tethered on the camping field
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A foal is tethered on the camping fieldCredit: Getty
Stalls sell all kinds of souvenirs, clothing and accessories
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Stalls sell all kinds of souvenirs, clothing and accessoriesCredit: Getty
Cars parked in one of the camping fields are covered in mud
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Cars parked in one of the camping fields are covered in mudCredit: Getty
Two horses are ridden through the River Eden
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Two horses are ridden through the River EdenCredit: Getty
A horse leans over as a woman sits on a bench
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A horse leans over as a woman sits on a benchCredit: Getty
Caravans are parked at Appleby Horse Fair today
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Caravans are parked at Appleby Horse Fair todayCredit: Getty
A group of men bathe their horses as people watch on from bank
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A group of men bathe their horses as people watch on from bankCredit: Rex
A young man gallops his horse down the road during the festival
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A young man gallops his horse down the road during the festivalCredit: Getty