Big crowds gather for traditional horse fair - Peterborough

HUNDREDS of horse lovers descended on Peterborough traditional New Year’s Day fair.

The 11th horse fair returned to the car park at Peterborough United ground in London Road yesterday and saw huge crowds flock to the city.

They were there to see a display of hundreds of horses and grab the chance to pick up a bargain at the same time.

The event has become a celebrated tradition in the travelling community.

Organiser Jack Cunningham was pleased to see it still attracting crowds more than a decade after it was started, originally in Parnwell, Peterborough.

He said: “It is a great chance for people to show their horses and buy a bit of horse tack.
“It’s difficult to know how many people come to this event but it looks like there are healthy numbers. They come from all over the country and Ireland. We have visitors from Newcastle and the south as well as some from closer to Peterborough. The event is for everybody, not just the travelling community, and there were lots of people there.”

The mild weather helped the turnout, which has increased since the first event in 2001 when there were just 20 horses on display

The event is now a New Year tradition in Peterborough, with visitors of all ages attracted to the city to start the year with a celebration of horses which sees about 500 animals on display every year.
Visitors love the chance to pet the well-groomed animals as they pass through the crowds led by their owners as well as admire the handsome animals.

There was a festive atmosphere yesterday, with dozens of families mingling, catching up and enjoying themselves.

And a range of attractions provided entertainment from early on New Year’s Day.

The car park echoed to the sound of whinnying and stamping of hooves as the horses were paraded around the ground.

Although most of the horses at the fair were on display there was also plenty of trading between owners.
Horse experts enjoyed a mixture of trotting horses and driving cob horses on show as well as smaller ponies which the owners proudly displayed.

Meanwhile, traditional Romany caravans were exhibited while horse owners could pick up attractive tack and other equipment for their animals.

Mr Cunningham said: “It has gone well for the last 11 years and I am sure it will keep going for many more to come.”