Appleby Horse Fair – Washing Down in the River

I managed to get a few hours down at the River Eden at Appleby Gypsy Fair.  For those of you not familiar with this fair it is the annual gathering of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Gypsies to trade horses and generally have a good time.  It is held in Appleby, Cumbria, UK every June and has been going on for several hundred years. It was first chartered in 1685. The River Eden loops through Appleby and traditionally the annual scenes includes the gypsies washing their horses in the river before trying to sell them. The scenes, sights and atmosphere are wonderful. Find below a small selection I took this weekend as the fun returned for this year. A group of horses on the shingle about to be driven into the river for a wash. Riding the cobs into the river. Note that this guys tattoo is a picture of the bridge crossing the River Eden in Appleby.  He is obviously very proud of his gypsy heritage and Appleby Fair’s part in that heritage. Over the next couple of posts I will be showing many more scenes around this event in Appleby. I will be sharing the trotting of the horses which is a crazy traditional event. Sunshine, horses and wonderful people. A great weekend.