More thread drift.

D'you know... I'm from the West Country, my family came from a coastal village with a murderous beach - I have 193 years of family records if you want the proof - but I have never found any evidence that the inhabitants ever did anything other than try to help those in trouble at sea. If a ship were ever to founder off that particular part of the coast, it was a goner - it's that dangerous.

There are records that things were 'recovered' from the sea - goods, timber, rope and sails, sailors' chests, passenger's luggage and so on... if it was perishable, it was eaten. If it was useable, it was recycled. If it was personal, at least one parish Clerk made an attempt to restore lost items to the families of the former owners who like as not, got a Christian burial in the churchyard. Wrecking doesn't run in my blood... I'd like to think that compassion does. That parish Clerk was my great, great grandfather.

Back on topic now...

As for the "intentional" drowning of a horse at a festival few non-travelling people understand - my reading of the articles is that someone took a frightened horse into deep water having been told previously not to. The horse, not liking water or having it's head dunked panicked. During that panic it broke a leg and, unable to get it's footing whilst trying to escape the rider, drowned. I can't see anywhere where it suggests the horse was being deliberately held under. If the horse couldn't get its footing, it's likely the man couldn't either and didn't dare let go the horse.

As for "the people who are attending have no respect for horses" - I've never known ANY people (other than upper class little white girls and their ponies) who have more respect for their horses than the Travelling people and their families.

Would there be demands to close down the Horse fair if it were the human who had drowned?

LTS