Piper And Storms Journey to Appleby 24

Piper And Storms Journey to Appleby 24 The Journey of the girl pictured on her hobby horse at Appleby Horse Fair 2023

08/07/2026

Cute cat x

So proud of you Piper!! Love Dad ❤️
06/07/2026

So proud of you Piper!! Love Dad ❤️

03/07/2026

Not the most confident on camera but Piper reassured me to post this. We will announce a time over the weekend when we will be able to go live and hopefully answer any questions as well as show appreciation for all your support. Thank you so much 🙏

PART 8: The Real Story Behind The SmileA few nights ago, Piper woke me at 1am and asked if she could talk.When I walked ...
03/07/2026

PART 8: The Real Story Behind The Smile

A few nights ago, Piper woke me at 1am and asked if she could talk.

When I walked into her room, tears were rolling down her face.

"What's wrong, Piper?"

Her answer broke me.

"Dad, I have no friends."

"Nobody likes me."

"I can't go out because the bullies live around here."

"Billy and Pandora have friends. I don't."

As a father, I don't think I've ever felt more helpless.

How do you solve that?

How do you replace years of confidence that have been chipped away piece by piece?

I sat beside her and told her how proud I am of her.

I reminded her that she is loved.

I told her we would get through it together.

She hugged me and eventually settled.

But that conversation has stayed with me.

Many people know Piper as "The Hobby Horse Girl."

Many remember the smile from the viral photo.

What most people don't know is the price that smile has cost.

This isn't a post asking for sympathy.

It's a post asking people to think.

Because behind every viral photo, every headline and every social media story, there is a real person living with the consequences.

And in Piper's case, she's one of the bravest people I know.

PART 7: The Cost Nobody SeesIn January 2026, after many discussions, we chose Elective Home Education for Piper.Almost i...
02/07/2026

PART 7: The Cost Nobody Sees

In January 2026, after many discussions, we chose Elective Home Education for Piper.

Almost immediately, her mental health improved.

The daily pressure was gone.

The bullying wasn't in front of her every day.

Pandora eventually returned to a different school and has been working hard to rebuild her confidence.

Life finally seemed to be moving forward.

From the outside, it probably looked like we had found the answer.

But bullying doesn't always leave visible scars.

And sometimes the damage remains long after the bullies have gone home.

Then, just a few nights ago, Piper woke me at 1am.

She was crying.

What she said next broke my heart.

Final part tomorrow.

PART 6: Two Daughters, One NightmareIn September 2025, my other daughter Pandora started at the same school.Pandora has ...
01/07/2026

PART 6: Two Daughters, One Nightmare

In September 2025, my other daughter Pandora started at the same school.

Pandora has autism.

She sees the world differently.

Fairness matters to her.

Kindness matters to her.

Very quickly she found herself caught up in the same nightmare.

The girls spent much of their time trying to avoid trouble.

Names were written on toilet walls.

"Piper England KYS."

"Pandora England is a sket."

Pandora couldn't understand why children could be so cruel.

She couldn't understand why the adults couldn't stop it.

Neither could I.

After countless meetings, a solution was finally suggested.

Not stopping the bullies.

Not removing the problem.

Removing my daughters.

We were advised to consider Elective Home Education.

And eventually, that's exactly what happened.

Part 7 tomorrow: Did home education finally solve the problem?

PART 5: The Phone CallThere are moments as a parent that stay with you forever.One of mine happened while I was 50 miles...
30/06/2026

PART 5: The Phone Call

There are moments as a parent that stay with you forever.

One of mine happened while I was 50 miles away at work.

Piper was on the phone to me.

She was upset.

Then I heard her say:

"Dad, I can't do this anymore."

Moments later she was attacked.

I could hear my daughter's screams down the phone.

And there was absolutely nothing I could do.

I wasn't there.

I couldn't protect her.

Later I received the video.

What I saw was heartbreaking.

But I also saw something else.

I saw my daughter stand her ground.

She didn't run.

She defended herself.

I have never watched that video again.

I don't think I ever will.

Because every time I see the phone in her hand, I remember I was on the other end of that call.

Listening.

Powerless.

And despite everything being reported, there seemed to be very few consequences.

The bullying didn't stop.

In fact, it started affecting more than just Piper.

Part 6 tomorrow: When the bullying reached her sister.

PART 4: A Fresh Start That Wasn'tWhen Piper moved schools, I genuinely believed things would improve.The new school was ...
29/06/2026

PART 4: A Fresh Start That Wasn't

When Piper moved schools, I genuinely believed things would improve.

The new school was closer to home.

She could walk there.

She could make friends in the village where we lived.

For a while, it seemed to work.

She made friends quickly.

They came to our house.

Everything appeared positive.

But eventually that friendship group turned against her.

Like many teenagers trying to fit in and leave painful memories behind, Piper tried to reinvent herself.

When that fell apart, the bullying returned.

And this time it was worse.

Messages telling her to "KYS."

Abusive Snapchat calls.

Constant name-calling.

Everything was recorded.

Everything was reported.

Nothing seemed to change.

The same label followed her everywhere.

"Horse Sh***er."

It didn't matter that she had changed schools.

The cruelty followed her.

Then things became physical.

Part 5 tomorrow: The phone call no parent should ever receive.

PART 3: The Dark Side of Going ViralPiper started secondary school in September 2023.Almost immediately, things felt dif...
28/06/2026

PART 3: The Dark Side of Going Viral

Piper started secondary school in September 2023.

Almost immediately, things felt different.

Friends she had known in primary school seemed unsure whether they should still be associated with her.

At first the comments were small.

"Why are you still playing with toys?"

But it didn't stop there.

Soon the rumours and insults became cruel.

"Horse Sh***er."

"Piper shagged a horse."

Day after day.

Week after week.

No matter where she went, it followed her.

The viral photo that had brought so much happiness to people around the world was now being used as ammunition by bullies.

By Christmas, my daughter was exhausted.

Mentally drained.

She felt trapped.

We reported concerns and asked for help, but the bullying continued.

Eventually I realised something had to change.

I thought a fresh start at a different school would solve the problem.

I was wrong.

Part 4 tomorrow: Why changing schools didn't save her.

PART 2: The Kindness Nobody SawAfter Piper's photo went viral, people from all walks of life wanted to help.Journalist M...
27/06/2026

PART 2: The Kindness Nobody Saw

After Piper's photo went viral, people from all walks of life wanted to help.

Journalist Mike Glove worked tirelessly to make sure the positive story reached the national media.

Piper wanted people to see the side of the Traveller community that she had experienced—kind, welcoming and generous.

She wasn't a Traveller herself, but she was welcomed with open arms.

As plans for Appleby 2024 began, more people stepped forward to help.

Paul King from Appleby Horse Fair Keep It Alive encouraged us to start a page and helped manage gifts that were being sent to Piper.

Others gave their time and expertise.

A gentleman trained our young cob, Storm, to pull a cart.

A transport company even took Storm down south and brought him home again free of charge.

Every act of kindness came from people who simply wanted to support a young girl whose smile had touched them.

We shared gift openings online to show our appreciation.

Everything looked positive.

Everything looked perfect.

But while everyone was watching the happy story unfold, Piper was beginning secondary school—and things were about to change dramatically.

Part 3 tomorrow: The dark side of going viral.

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