Look into their eyes. The lovely Vanners. Bread by gypsies, strong horses, often with a blue eye and a brown one. I never get enough from looking in their eyes and trying to see what lies behind. It is a know phrase that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. The vanners have gentle souls. I go to Appleby for the people and the horses. Both are my main interest field.
It is a wonderful thing to see the animals patiently waiting. If they would want to, they could run and take the iron gate with them. But they don’t.
A group came in, two handlers. One stays with the horses on the street while the other ones washes them in the river. One by one. It’s not allowed to take a group of horses in the water without enough handlers.
It’s a blessing to see the elegant animals trot through the river, and splash their way back to the river bank. It’s such a nice play between animals and humans.
By the time they have gotten half of the wash up liquid on their fur they smell like new china dishes, and they shine in pure white. Having said that, I am not sure that washing up liquid is the right soap for the beasts, but that is how gypsies have done it for decades, and that is probably what they will keep doing for the longest time to come.
A couple of great stories. It has always been a special relationship between human and horse. The above girl was in total unity with her horse. She did not have to shout or whip him, as we now and then spot. She guides it through the water in an elegant way, being calm and enjoying it.
Too bad the weather is sabotaging us, normally, the banks should be crowded with people, and the river should be filled with riders and animals. Not so on this day.
I am hoping that the weather will clear up a bit, if so, soon enough we will see more gypsies coming down from Fair Hill into town, and go down the ramp in the river.
All ages grow up around horses. Little boys have their pet horse, and know how to take care of it, span it and take some friends into town. A small spotted pony, he too will get the washing up liquid treatment. Lots of traditions when we are talking or watching gypsies. Horses are an essential part of gypsie life.
The same thing for the fashion shown off by the girls. Hard to tell how old they are, this one might be 13 or 14... They blossom young and get old young. If you get my drift.
At the age of 13-14 and a couple of years more they are oozing sexuality. Appleby is the context of many marriages to come, it’s where they gypsie girls lure the boys, neatly dressed up in very avant garde clothes, if I may call it that way. Girls dress up, boys show off... It’s how gypsies do it.
Besides the mountains and the green and yellow fields I also find a tiny tiny horse on my way home. A shetland pony, a baby. With two moms next to her. Well, one mom and one aunt I suppose...
A toy horse. Beautiful eyes, and it nibbles on my fingers. Precious. It’s skiddish in the beginning, but soon enough his baby curiosity wins and it wants to explore what is going on.
Mom keeps an eye on me, while I have a little chat with baby. Totally adorable. The wonders of living in a rural area... You drive on a small unknown road, and all of a sudden, a little piece of heaven in front of you.
Neat. Now it’s time to pack camera gear and go on another road. It’s the Masham Run this afternoon, and I am one of the photographers.
Let’s hope that the predicted downpours will hold out, as we were completely rained out last year!
Will be back with hopefully some nice photographs of marathon runners...
Talk later!
I remember last year at the Masham Run you lost your brollie - wind turned it inside out. Hope the weather is better this year. :^)
Posted by: Pam P. | 05 July 2009 at 01:48 PM
BEAUTIFUL HORSES... Oh how I wish I could see this just once.
Posted by: Sarah | 06 July 2009 at 01:32 AM