Spectators' horror as horse drowns at popular country fair

But this year, the annual ritual at Appleby Horse Fair ended in a sickening spectacle.

Although dozens of horses swam safely in the water by the bridge in the Cumbrian town, one appeared to lose its footing and drowned despite frantic efforts at a rescue by onlookers.

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The fair for horse trading began at the site in 1685, when James II granted it the protection of a charter. It is attended by 25,000 visitors each year.

At the event, horses are raced in front of prospective buyers. And, to prepare them for the day's trading, they are washed in the Eden.

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The animals are ridden bareback into the water. When their feet come off the ground, they begin to swim.

Tradition dictates that the horse's head should be dunked beneath the surface before it is ridden on to dry land again.

But this distressed animal is thought to have pulled away from its owner in a panic, lost its footing and possibly broken a leg.

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It sank beneath the water and re-emerged but its rider continued the ritual, dunking the horse's head under the water.

Again, the animal disappeared, but did not surface again.

Worried onlookers began a human chain to pull the horse to shore. But by the time it was brought to the bank, it was dead. The rider fled.

One man, who was present at the horse's drowning, said: "It's a macho thing with the young men.

"They are trying to prove how hard they are by riding the horses through the deep part of the river. That poor horse didn't want to be there. You could see the terror in its eyes.

"The rider just wasn't capable of handling it. An experienced rider wouldn't have got into that situation."

But Eden councillor Ella Langan, who chairs a committee in charge of planning the event, said there were no plans to stop the tradition in light of Friday's accident.

She said: "We're hoping to introduce a ramp for the horses to get into the water for next year, but there's certainly no way the historic ritual will be stopped.

"As I understand it the horse was bought earlier that day by someone who was specifically told not to take the horse into the water as it was not used to it.

"Of course this person insisted on taking it in. I'm told that the horse broke its leg while in the water before drowning.

"It was later hoisted out of the water but by then it was too late. All we can do is ensure that the RSPCA are there and on hand to make sure everything is safe.

"People have been trying to stop the tradition for years but it's part of history and is set in stone by way of a charter."

The horse show, which is held over seven days, is attended by Romany and travelling communities from across Europe.

Last night, RSPCA chief inspector Brian Jeffries said the organisation had launched a joint investigation with Cumbria Police.

He said: "We are extremely disappointed that it happened.

"Those responsible for the horse have not yet come forward, but we are working to track them down."