Horse charities offer welfare advice at Appleby

Horse welfare charities are joining forces at Appleby Horse Fair this month to offer advice on equine care.

Free advice

This is the fifth year the Blue Cross, RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, Donkey Sanctuary and Redwings have attended the fair in Cumbria.

This year they will joined by the British Horse Society and Bransby Horses. The charities provide free advice and encourage horse owners to take part in a number of activities.

Health issues

“Our presence at the fair is growing in popularity and attracts all ages from grandparents to young teenagers,” said Kerry Taylor, education officer at Blue Cross. “Each year we bring pots of worms, tethering equipment and pictures of horses with strangles, which have proven to be great conversation starters.

“Listening to horse owners talking about the health issues facing their horses is an ideal learning tool, helping us to provide the most relevant information and advice.”

Appleby Fair began in 1685 and has been held during the first week of June ever since. Each year it attracts around 10,000 Gypsies and travellers and more than 30,000 visitors.

Abandoned

The charities in attendance also help with the handling and transport of horses and take in horses that have been abandoned or miss-treated, such as two-year-old Chief. The trotter was seized at Appleby Horse Fair last year by the Blue Cross.

Despite his young age, he had been worked to exhaustion, was underweight and had cuts and sores over his back legs and face where his tack had rubbed him.

Chief was nursed back to health by the Blue Cross and has now been placed with in an experienced home, where he will be brought on as a ridden horse.