With the biggest social event on the travelling community’s calendar in full swing, Helen Smithson headed to Appleby, in Cumbria, to experience all the fun of the horse fair.

THE overwhelming smell of horses, combined with well-trodden grass, made for a heady aroma on a warm Saturday sun.

The small, quiet Cumbrian town of Appleby had been transformed into a hub of activity, with hundreds of caravans sited in the surrounding fields and thousands of travellers, Gypsies and tourists pouring into its town centre for the annual horse fair.

For centuries, the fair has attracted travellers from across the country to buy, sell and race horses, as well as reuniting families and offering the opportunity for younger people to meet members of the opposite sex.

There was extra excitement surrounding this year’s event after it featured on the hit Channel 4 series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

As highlighted in the programme, there were countless groups of young girls walking around in eyecatching, sometimes skimpy, outfits and high-heeled shoes, hoping to catch the eye of a future husband.

It seems the most popular place to gather is on the grassy banks next to the River Eden, overlooking the ancient ritual of horses being washed down in the river.

The atmosphere was relaxed, but lively, akin to that of a music festival.

One woman who was attending the event with her family for the first time after watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, said: “I wasn’t really sure what to expect when we got here, but there’s a real family feel about the place.

“Everyone seems to be having a good time and we are really pleased we came.”

Scores of people of all ages – families with children, groups of friends, men, women and tourists – aligned the river banks and many more gathered on the bridge over the river, watching the scene below.

It is a spectacular sight – as is the speed at which the horses and traps pass through the town, given the volume of visitor numbers.

The guttural sound of horses being geed on by their riders is never far away.

There are dozens of temporary signs around the town centre and on its outskirts warning people to take care over the risk of horse-related injuries.

Getting around the town was slow-going as the visitor numbers increased through the day and there were queues at many of the cafes and shops.

Lively crowds – predominantly male – also gathered outside the pubs as drinkers soaked up the atmosphere and the good weather.

While many businesses made the most of the extra trade, some outlets were locked up with signs stating the premises would be closed throughout the fair, which ends tomorrow.

But many householders living on the hill leading into the town centre have been keen to cash in on the event, with several operating makeshift refreshments stalls from their gardens.

Despite being held since the 17th Century, the appeal of Appleby Horse Fair shows no signs of waning and, if anything, the event appears to be more popular now than ever before – what you might call a Big Fat Gypsy Fair.