Grimmy

bashing a horse over the head with a crowbar (which I have personally witnessed at Appleby)

Where the blue blind blazes did that come from? Why haven't you mentioned this before? Were there any other witnesses? What was their reaction? Did you report it to the police or the RSPCA?

YES - I CAN just talk about animal cruelty at Appleby here, because THAT'S WHAT THE THREAD IS ABOUT.

If you're going to be that picky, it's actually about the single drowning incident. If you are broadening it to cruelty at Appleby in general, then comparisons with other horse events are perfectly legitimate.

Whenever the word 'tradition' crops up

I don't think I've mentioned tradition. Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National are traditions in their own way.

There have been repeated incidents of extreme animal cruelty year on year at Appleby Horse Fair.
These incidents have been largely ignored, hushed up or 'undetected' by the authorities.
This is unacceptable and must cease.

So what else are you doing about it apart from arguing here which can achieve nothing to stop it?

The fact that these incidents have been perpetrated by travellers, or taken place as part of a tradition, is an immense irrelevance.

Actually, it's implicit in the title of the thread.

I want Appleby Horse Fair to continue.

Why, if you are convinced the cruelty is a fundamental part of it?