Greg - that is my point entirely - so many things have been lost and I would hate to lose Appleby - but there is a real danger that it could go, if some loose cannons go rattling round and hitting the headlines. I agree - don't want it to be sanitised - I've probably been closer to the dealers and travellers who go than most, who are participating on this thread. I want it to be real - earthy - I don't care if there's a bit of bare-knuckle fighting goes on back at the campsite - that is up to them. Dog fighting / cockfighting and ruining horses by running them up and down all day until they are of no use to anyone and are just abandonedoutside a pub is another thing. (I thought the riding the horse into the pub quite funny - but could have been nasty if it had panicked).

(I had an aunty who was cruelly scarred when a horse in a field was spooked - it jumped out of its field and landed on the soft top of her car! It proceeded to thrash about and did both itself and her considerable damage - so I'm also pretty familiar with what sharp hooves can do to human flesh in a confined space)