It’s the noisiest time of the year, with firework parties happening across the country not just on Bonfire night itself, but throughout the week and on into the festive season.
Fireworks are part of our winter calendar, from gunpowder, treason and plot through to New Year! For us humans it’s a chance to celebrate a terrorist plot against Parliament (we’re a weird lot, us Brits!) or add an exciting extra to a holiday party, but for our animals it’s a terrifying ordeal that can traumatise them for weeks afterwards.
We often talk about how fireworks upset our household pets, but horses are just as frightened by loud bangs and flashing lights as cats and dogs. Horses are what is known as a prey animal (meaning in the wild they’re ‘dinner’ for anything that’s faster and has more teeth!), which is why horses are naturally highly strung and ‘spook’ at anything their instinct perceives as a threat. Loud bangs and flashes fall firmly into that category, so for horses this time of year can be deeply unsettling.
Respected online resources like Horse and Hound and World Horse Welfare have plenty of great advice on how to cope with Bonfire night, and here’s our own contribution to that with some top tips on how to keep your horse safe.
Injury through reaction
The main risk to horses during Bonfire night isn’t a stray firework (although straw and wooden stabling are extremely vulnerable to accidental fire damage), but an injury through a reaction to a loud bang.
As a prey animal, a horse’s instinct when it feels threatened is to flee, so even if an animal is stabled it may attempt to get away from what it thinks is the source of a threat. The result is that it can easily injure itself by running into things, rearing up and kicking out.
So make sure you check that:
- The animal is in an environment where if this does happen
- There is nothing within its radius that can cause injury
- If you cannot stable the horse overnight then ensure that the field they’re in is secure
- Fences are in good condition
- There’s no wire or sharp stakes in the area
- There are no large potholes that could cause a bolting horse to stumble and injure its legs
Plan ahead
- Find out when displays are being held in your area so that you can plan ahead.
- If you don’t have stabling yourself then see if a local livery will take the animal on a short-term basis during what is now effectively Fireworks Week!
- Leave the light on in your stable so that flashes are not so visible.
- Make sure again that there are no nails, loose buckets or even hay forks lying around that could cause serious injury to a frightened horse.
- If neighbours are planning a firework party then let them know in advance that there are horses nearby and ask them if they can ensure that the fireworks are pointing in the opposite direction to minimise any potential drifting.
Distract your horse
Distraction works wonders in keeping an animal calm. For horses this means food! A full hay sack will keep a horse focused on something other than what’s going on outside. Toys work too, keeping the horse occupied and interested in something that’s familiar.
Soothe your animal
Fireworks Night might mean a late one for you too, but be very careful about getting into an enclosed loose box or stable with a frightened animal. Horses are herd animals, which means they will be calmer when they’re with other horses. So familiar sights, sounds and smells as well as the companionship of other horses will soothe your animal and keep them calm.
Sedation
In extreme cases, you can also ask your vet for sedation, but this should only be used as a very last resort and then only under strict veterinary supervision.
Don’t forget your buildings and horseboxes
We mentioned it briefly earlier, but there is also a risk to your stables and even your horsebox from stray fireworks that can easily start a fire. Ensure you have a clear escape route to move yourself and your animals clear of any danger should the worst happen. And don’t forget to check that your horsebox insurance is up to date too!