"One rider, who clearly had little ability to control the animal, took a horse in to the water, despite its obvious fear of the situation."

So, we have one idiot here.

"Howls of disgust and pleas to remove it emerged from the crowd...Cries of "Get it out" shattered the deathly silence that had descended on spectators huddled on both riverbanks and across a bridge over the water...Experienced fairgoers looked on in horror, shouting: 'Get him, get him up'...Another man then plunged in to help..."

Does this sound like those attending regarded what was happening as usual practice?


"As a crowd built up around the animal, the rider – who did not own the horse – fled among a group of other young men...Groups of angry horse owners gave chase and police radioed to officers to search the town."

Does this sound like the other fairgoers and horse owners condoned what happened?

"RSPCA officers were on the scene to monitor the washing ritual."

So the RSPCA know all about it, and monitor the practice - they haven't shut it down, which they would have done by now if they felt the risk to the animals normally warranted such action.

And the last word to an "experienced fairgoer" who witnessed the scene:

"It just takes one idiot to spoil things."

That's what it was: one stupid bloke. I hope he's caught and prosecuted. But previous comments about getting some perspective on what happened, and about the far greater risks posed to horses through racing, eventing and hunting, are entirely appropriate.