ADVICE was issued to 29 horse owners and six people required medical attention on day one of the Appleby Horse Fair.

The sun shone brightly yesterday as the annual gathering of travellers kicked off.

Today the Multi Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG), who work to improve the safety of the fair each year, revealed the RSPCA had also given one warning to a horse owner while collecting five other horses before returning them.

Two other incidents are being investigated. 

The Ambulance service dealt with six incidents on Fair Hill where people required medical treatment - mainly due to people falling off horses. 

The volume of traffic in the area was greatly reduced yesterday morning with bowtops and trailers (caravans) being allowed on to Fair Hill early and throughout the day everyone worked together to ensure motorists and members of the public were safe around the Fair. 

Overnight there were very few incidents and Cumbria Police issued only one dispersal order. 

The Community Advisory Group had their first meeting last night in Appleby, with members attending from both the local and travelling communities to discuss the Fair so far and to provide feedback for the Multi Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG).

Overall there was a positive feeling about the Fair and praise for the low number of early arrivals and reduced traffic congestion in the Appleby area as people migrated onto Fair Hill.

Dr Robin Hooper, Chair of MASCG and Chief Executive of Eden District Council said: “Each year we talk about the holiday feeling at Appleby Horse Fair and it is evident again this year. This year the reductions in early arrivals and early migration onto Fair Hill have all contributed to a very positive event so far. The co-operation between all the parties involved in the last 24 hours has resulted in no major incidents or arrests and we thank everyone for their assistance.

“Today there will be a lot of people around the Fair and fast moving horses, so we appeal to people to be aware and stay safe. We ask people attending the Fair this weekend to respect the local community and use the bins provided or take your rubbish home with you.”

Billy Welch, a Gypsy and Traveller representative on MASCG, said: “The Fair is going very well, everyone is enjoying themselves and the warm weather. If we all keep working together we can make sure the Fair is enjoyable and safe for all concerned.

"I appeal to everyone who is attending the Fair with horses both Gypsies and Travellers and people from the settled community, please use your common sense when handling your horses, we don’t want to see any person or animal injured."

Detective Chief Superintendent, Sean Robinson from Cumbria Police, said: “We have had positive feedback and few complaints from the local community and Gypsies and Travellers about the Fair so far. We do of course take forward any concerns and raise them immediately in the morning’s MASCG meeting so they can form part of the event’s planning.

“Safety of pedestrians becomes the focus now, with people being advised to take care on the flashing lane, Sands and Battlebarrow due to fast moving horses. We ask that people with horses to take extra care around pedestrians and show courtesy to other road users during the Fair, by reducing speed, stopping gradually and not overtaking lines of traffic.

"Horses are not permitted in Appleby town centre and we ask people to respect this. The designated areas for trading horses are Long Marton Road and The Sands during the period of the road closures. We continue to ask motorists in the Appleby area to be aware of horse drawn vehicles in the area as people continue to arrive at the Fair. Please slow down and allow more time for your journeys.”

RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Melloy said: “This is a Horse Fair and people should not bring pets along. Horses can get ‘spooked’ by dogs and horses can trample dogs. In previous years we have had problems with dogs being left in cars/caravans/awnings, all of which can get hot on even cloudy days.

"The temperature in enclosed spaces like these rises quickly, causing heat stroke and death. The message is simple leave your dog at home. We are also aware of a few instances of people being heavy handed with whips and sticks with their horses, if we see instances of this we will act and seize the items.”

Keep up to date with the latest messages about Appleby Fair at www.applebyfair.org or via Twitter @Applebyfair or Facebook.