As November 5th approaches many horse owners become anxious and worried.
Below are some helpful hints to try and make this an uneventful time, and keep our horses safe. The owner is the best person to know their horses needs, but do not be afraid to ask for help from professionals. Of course some horses take fireworks in their stride, and many are kept far from events, but not everyone is so lucky. We hope the suggestions below are of some help.
- Check where firework displays are locally, newspapers, social media, radio and ask around, particularly if you have close neighbours to your paddocks and stables.
- If you know of an event close by contact the organisers and ask them to keep to an agreed time and if possible aim fireworks in the opposite direction and as far away from your horses as possible.
- If a display is due to take place in a field adjacent to where your horse is kept, consider moving them for the evening if this is possible. If you do not have transport then click here to get a quote from our Transporters . It may be just a trip around a block would be sufficient for the duration of the fireworks. If you need somewhere away from the event for your horse to stay then click here for an overnight stabling quote.
- However, unless there’s a need to move your horse, keeping to a normal routine is usually better for confidence.
- If leaving your horse out, make sure all fencing and gates are secure, that electricity is working and there are no protruding nails etc. on which the horse could harm himself.
- If your horse is stabled make sure you have a good deep bed with sides and check for anything the horse could injure himself on such as nails or sharp objects, buckets with handles etc.
- Give your horse plenty of hay to keep him occupied, may be worth avoiding haynets, and put the hay on the stable floor.
- Leave a radio on if you have one.
- Ear covers and/or cotton wool can help to reduce the noise.
- Stay with your horse or ask someone to stay with him – not all horses worry about fireworks but those that do need reassuring. Make sure you check on your horse even if he is normally calm.
- If your horse has had a bad reaction in the past, and moving is not possible, then ask your vet to prescribe a suitable sedative.
- Make sure you have water, sand and fire extinguishers available on site. An essential precaution in the event of stray fireworks.
- If you are not on site, leave your details on a sign in an easily visible place so you can be contacted if there’s a problem .
- After a fireworks event has taken place check your fields for used fireworks and carefully remove.
- Check your third party liability insurance, as the law states that you will be liable should your horse escape and cause injury or damage to a third party or their property .
