Documenting Appleby Horse Fair

The Appleby Horse Fair is a unique event. It’s a long-held tradition and often contentious event in the Cumbrian calendar, and one of the biggest fairs in Europe where people annually gather to trade horses. As 30,000 visitors descend on the town this weekend to experience the gathering, I decided to dig out and revisit a series we hold documenting the fair.

Appleby Horse Fair was shot by Dave Thomas in 1969-1970. His images excel in capturing the energy of the occasion; they convey the excitement of being up close to big, powerful animals and the drama of seeing them run through the streets. In one photo, Thomas captured a man dashing past leading a horse tightly by the reins; both are almost blurred into one and give the viewer a real sense of being caught in an equine whirlwind. Another photo shows crowds lining the streets - visibly leaning-in towards the action - in anticipation of catching a glimpse of the next horse shooting down the lane.

Alongside these chaotic images are other beautiful moments of quiet. In another photo, Thomas depicts a dog sleeping soundly under a wooden carriage, watched over by a single horse. These intimate moments allow the viewer to feel a real sense of being allowed behind the scenes of Appleby; they invite the viewer to experience a new perspective of the fair, removed from the gaze of the crowds. The intricate hand-painted carriages and vardos documented here convey some of the enduring aspects of the traveller life; an emphasis placed on passing on craftsmanship and a pace of life shaped by horses.

Many of these images document annual occurrences at Appleby: the gathering of people and horses on Fair Hill, the washing of horses in the River Eden and the parading of the horses on ‘flashing lane’. Thomas chose to shoot quite ordinary moments, such as a group of men shoeing a horse, and the collection of these moments leave an impression of the great time and effort invested in bringing the horses to the fair and of the enduring bond between people and animals. They also articulate a community working together - men, women, children and animals altogether - to preserve a way of life.

Thomas evidently took the time to document and show different aspects of the Appleby Fair; his images demonstrate a thoughtful approach to the subject and combine to create an engaging and in-depth portrait of a community. The series captures the vibrancy of the event, but also offer reflection on the meaning of community and enduring traditions and remain highly relevant and captivating today, as people continue to meet, trade and celebrate at Appleby.