Early arrivals for Appleby Horse Fair are already putting pressure on limited resources and people are urged not to arrive too early.
The event starts on June 5 and the RSPCA said the prolonged period of dry weather has prompted animal welfare concerns.
Weeks of dry weather has led to poor grazing on all routes into Appleby. Some smaller water springs and becks, traditionally used for watering horses travelling to the annual fair, have dried up or been reduced to a trickle.
Despite requests for people to stay away until the fair’s official start date of Thursday 5 June, people have already begun to arrive.
The RSPCA said it was concerned that this could lead to problems in the run up to the fair, as horse owners struggle to find adequate supplies for their animals.
Rob Melloy, RSPCA chief inspector, said: “Horses travelling to Appleby Horse Fair need plentiful supplies of good quality grazing and clean, fresh water.
“Unfortunately, the very dry weather that we’ve been enjoying means that the quality and quantity of grazing available on all routes into Appleby is low.
“We’re also seeing that a lot of the traditional water springs and becks that are used to water animals are very low, or have dried up completely.
“With early arrivals already putting pressure on the limited grazing that is available, there’s a very real prospect that people may struggle to find adequate grazing and water supplies for their animals as the Fair draws closer, with all the attendant animal welfare issues that that entails.
“Our clear message is please don’t come early to the fair.
“We recognise that those travelling by horse and in horse drawn bow tops do have to adopt a staged approach when coming to the fair and in order to ensure that they have access to grazing and water, we ask that those with access to motorised vehicles show some consideration and delay their arrival until the fair starting date.
“It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure their horses have adequate food and water. Because the grazing is so poor this year, people may need to consider bringing additional supplies with them.”
Steph Cordon, director of thriving communities for Westmorland and Furness Council and chair of the Multi Agency Co-ordinating Group for Appleby Horse Fair, said:
“With more than a week to go before the official start of the fair, the facilities required to support people and their animals travelling to the fair, at licensed and tolerated stopping places, are not yet in place.
“Early arrivals raise significant road safety and animal welfare concerns, as well as environmental issues related to waste management.
“We are keen to echo the RSPCA’s don’t arrive too soon message and we encourage everyone to abide by the locally agreed terms of use at licensed and tolerated stopping places.”
