On Sunday July 19th a colleague and I attended the horse fair at Hazle Field, ross Road Ledbury. The fair was in full swing when we arrived about 10-30 with approximately 40 lorries and some smaller vehicles on site.

We noticed a hand written sign on the entrance stating  'NO DOGS/PUPS TO BE SOLD'

Immediately we saw a lorry with 8 cobs, 4 foals and some yearlings tied to it although how so many had been transported on one 7.5 ton lorry is a question! The regulations with regard to transporting animals including horses are very clear.

Walking round we noticed a transit type vehicle with 4 donkeys tied to it. A child was being encouraged to jump on the backs of these animals despite two of the donkeys being clearly last year foals (yearlings) and far too weak and young for such weight. The donkeys were on sale with no passports to hand which in turn meant that the vendor had clearly transported these donkeys in breach of regulations that the rest of us have to adhere to! The matter is now in the hands of the authorities responsible for such matters.

We noted one case of rough handling on unloading and several cases where the transport was totally unsuitable for horses.

The majority of horses on sale however were in good condition and as always the concept of the Horse Fair is only that of a horse show ground,  horses in general are less distressed by goings on at Fairs unless mares and foals are sold away from each other without proper weaning taking place.

Despite the sign at the entrance at one stand we spotted three puppies for sale. More distressing was the selling by children to children of living animals. At least one of these pups was later seen being mauled about by a young child.

We met with a friend and colleague from Worcestershire Animal Welfare who was also concerned about the trading of puppies etc. The fair is still small but it already is showing the same leanings towards becoming a glorified 'animal carboot' as other such fairs preceeding it did that have occurred on the Welsh borders and in Wales.

Next date for this fair is September 20th.