Welfare awards to run at Appleby Horse Fair 2022

The ‘Best at Appleby’ welfare award is back for a seventh year at the Appleby Horse Fair, celebrating examples of health, happiness, and horsemanship from the fair’s participants

The annual Gypsy and Traveller gathering begins on Thursday 9 June and runs until 13 June in the Cumbrian town of Appleby-in-Westmorland. It’s the largest and oldest gathering of the travelling community in Europe – estimated at over 300 years old.

The ‘Best at Appleby’ award, organised by Redwings, is supported by several other members of the National Equine Welfare Council and sponsored by the Traditional Gypsy Cob Association. The awards are judged by vets attending the event and each vet can award prizes in multiple categories, including junior awards, best stepping cob and best hoof health, as well as an overall vet’s champion. Since 2015 more than 45 awards have been given out to attendees of the fair for excellent examples of horse welfare.

Nicola Berryman, one of Redwings’ Welfare Veterinary Surgeons, attending the event, said: “Appleby Horse Fair is very important to the gypsy and traveller community, who love their horses. ‘Best at Appleby’ is a unique way of breaking down the barriers that sometimes exist between the Gypsy and Traveller and vet communities, allowing vets to get to know horse owners who wouldn’t ordinarily speak with us, and giving owners the chance to ask advice that will benefit their horses.”

Around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers attend the Fair, as well as around 30,000 other visitors. Nicola continued: “Several previous winners have won multiple times for the excellent care and attention they give to ensure the happiness of their horses, and we’ve seen some promote horse welfare alongside the vets at the fair.”

“We have three vets attending from Redwings as part of a six-vet team embedded within the RSPCA operations who’ll all be keeping an eye out for the very healthiest of horses and best horsemanship, as well as an engagement team who’ll be giving out rosettes to those who impress us during the Fair.”

All winners will be offered the chance to have their horse microchipped and passported for free, if they’re not already. They’ll also all receive a mini lick courtesy of Horslyx.

Redwings are among eight welfare charities taking on various roles at the fair – staff will also be assisting with any sick or injured horses and supporting the RSPCA with protecting the welfare of all animals over the five days. Blue Cross, Bransby Horses, British Horse Society, The Donkey Sanctuary, Oak Tree Animals and World Horse Welfare will all also be in attendance.

As well as the vet’s champion, you can also vote for a people’s champion, which will be decided through social media engagement. If you’d like to get involved, head to facebook.com/happyhealthyhorses