06-06-2025
Fury as gypsy influencer tells young Appleby Horse Fair travellers how to ride their horses into river even if they cannot swim
A gypsy influencer has been slammed for 'downright reckless' advice to young travellers washing their horses in a river at Europe's biggest gathering of travellers.
In a tradition dating back centuries, gypsies wash their steeds in the River Eden before trading them in street auctions.
However equestrian rider Martina Wright has caused fury among campaigners by advising horse owners to ride their mounts into the river even if they can't swim.
Martina, who has 200,000 followers across her social platforms, admits she can't swim herself but has been photographed several times submerging her horse, George, in the Eden.
A group representing Appleby residents criticised her for placing bystanders or rescuers 'who may feel compelled to intervene' in danger.
In the post on her social media channels, Martina advised non swimmers to hang onto their horse's mane if they get into difficulties in the river.
She posted: 'There's so many people that go to Appleby would do anything to get on a horse but honestly not every horse will just go in and swim.
'Make sure you can swim also (I can't swim) but I always stay on horses I know are comfortable with swimming etc.. It can all go wrong so easily and without the rider the horse could end up swimming further into the deep water rather than making its way out..
'Just be careful, take your time, if you come stuck grab the mane! Not the bridle. Stay safe xxx'
A spokesperson for Appleby Fair Communities Group hit out in response.
They said the group was concerned at 'the trend of individuals entering the river on horseback, despite being unable to swim.'
AFCG said: 'This issue has recently been highlighted by influencer Martina Wright, who posted that many people — disappointingly including herself — go into the river despite not being able to swim.
'While she advises others to 'be careful,' she also downplays the risk by suggesting it's fine because she doesn't fall off.
'No one ever intends to fall off — accidents happen precisely because they are unintended. It is not just the personal risk to these individuals that worries us, but the wider consequences: the risk to the horse, the potential danger to bystanders or rescuers who may feel compelled to intervene, and the trauma or burden left for those dealing with the aftermath of a preventable incident.
'This kind of behaviour is already high-risk under normal circumstances. When it involves non-swimmers without life jackets, it becomes downright reckless. How long until something tragic happens?'
The matter has been reported to the Multi-Agency Strategic Coordinating Group (MASCG) which oversees Appleby Fair.
Meanwhile, police have revealed there were 49 arrests in the days leading up to the fair opening and drug driving had been 'a theme.'
The RSPCA is also investigating reports of animal cruelty, including two ponies being abandoned by the roadside in a Cumbrian village close to where Appleby Horse Fair is underway.
A member of the public also reported a horse being beaten and anti cruelty investigators have launched a probe.
Cumbria Police Superintendent Daniel St Quintin, Gold Commander for the fair, said: 'The most serious arrests we had yesterday were two drug drivers.
'That seems to be a theme this year where we are catching quite a few drug drivers, either for cannabis or cocaine and they are getting dealt with accordingly.'
The arrests generally relate to drug and drink driving, drug possession and low level public order and anti-social behaviour offences.
Police said the arrests were not limited to travellers, with some local people also arrested.
Cumbria RSPCA chief inspector Rob Melloy, said: 'Unfortunately there are still a minority of people that come here who will abuse the animals and run the horses far too much and work them too hard, but that is what we are here for, we are here to try and find those guys and stop them.
'We have had a couple of ponies that have been dumped and we have an ongoing investigation into a horse that was being hit inappropriately.
'A member of the public saw the horse being hit and reported it, resulting in the investigation. We have managed to save that horse basically.'
The incidents are understood to have occurred in outlying villages in the Appleby area over the last week.
The fair is entering its second day in Appleby-in-Westmorland, which sees its 3,000 population swell by a factor of 10 as visitors swarm to the annual event.
Of those, an estimated 10,000 are from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community.
In its 250-year history the fair has only been cancelled twice, the first in 2001 during the foot and mouth outbreak and the second in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.
The gathering is billed as the biggest traditional gypsy fair in Europe and has developed traditions that take place every year.
Gypsy horses are washed in the River Eden in Appleby and trotted up and down the 'flashing lane' - a closed-off rural road - before being haggled over and bought.
There is a market on Jimmy Winter's Field with stalls selling everything from fashion to horse-related wares.
The fair is held outside the town of Appleby, at the point where the old Roman Road crosses Long Marton Road, on Gallows Hill, which was named after the public hangings that were once carried out there.
It was once thought the fair originated from a royal charter to the borough of Appleby from King James II of England in 1685, although more recent research has found the charter was cancelled before it was ever enacted.
The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, ceased in 1885.
The 'New Fair' began in 1775 for sheep and cattle drovers and horse dealers to sell their stock.
By the 1900s it had evolved into a major Gypsy/Traveller event which brought families from across the UK and Europe.
