“Fireworks are a noisy, bright explosion to your horse’s senses and can be at best unsettling and at worst utterly terrifying,” Clare Bevins, Veterinary Supervisor at Blue Cross in Burford. “Try to plan ahead to keep all your animals safe during fireworks season. It’s also important to behave as normally and calmly as possible around them so that they don’t sense any unease.”
The horse team at Blue Cross has put together the following tips for owners and carers of horses and ponies:
- Try to make sure fireworks aren’t set off near your horse’s field or stable. Keep a check on plans for local displays and tell neighbours and local firework display organisers that there are horses nearby so they can make sure fireworks are set off well away from them.
- Anyone planning a display in a rural area should let neighbouring farmers know in advance.
- Your horse will cope best in a familiar environment, keeping to his or her normal routine and with any usual companions during firework season.
- If your horse is usually stabled, then keep them stabled. Do a full check of the stable for anything that could cause an injury, such as nails sticking out, before you leave them.
- If they are normally outside in the field, keep them there as long as the field is safe, secure, and away from firework display areas.
- If you know fireworks will be set off near your horse, make sure you or someone experienced stays with them. This way you can observe your horse’s behaviour and make sure they stay safe and as calm as possible. It also means that you can react quickly if your horse becomes upset.
- Try to keep calm and positive throughout any displays, as horses can sense unease in people and if you are worried your horse’s fear may worsen.
- If your horse doesn’t like loud or sudden noises or has become worried by fireworks in the past, speak with your vet before firework season begins or consider moving them for the night.
- Be careful yourself. Try not to get in the way if your horse becomes startled as you might get hurt.
- Never run the risk of riding when you think fireworks might be set off.
- If you need to leave your horse in another person’s care during a firework show, leave clear instructions and contact details for yourself and your vet in case of any problems.
- If there has been a display near your stable, yard or field, check the area for bits of used firework and put anything that could be dangerous to your horse in the bin.
For further information and animal care advice visit www.bluecross.org.uk
Notes
Blue Cross is a national charity that has been helping sick, injured, abandoned and homeless pets for over 120 years. We help thousands of pets in need every month by providing veterinary care, expert behaviour help, and find them loving homes. We also offer education for current and future pet owners plus pet bereavement support for those who have lost their pet companion. Pets help us in so many ways and they depend entirely on us, with your support we can give back to more pets in need. Pets change lives. We change theirs. www.bluecross.org.uk
