Horse slips in river and drowns at fair

APPLEBY, England, June 11 (UPI) -- A horse drowned when it slipped into a deep hole in a river while being washed during a fair in northern England.

The animal's death is being investigated by police in Cumbria and the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, the Daily Mail reported.

"We particularly wish to trace the young man who led the horse into the water," said a police spokesman.

The drowning took place during the Appleby Horse Fair. The owner led the horse into the River Eden for washing, an established custom during the fair.

Some witnesses said the horse appeared to be under stress when it was led into the river.

After onlookers tried and failed to rescue the animal, the owner vanished.