Fireworks and Bonfire Night can be worrying for horse and pet owners. Horses are flight animals and, to minimise the risk of harm coming to you or your horse, it is best to prepare in advance for all eventualities.
The Blue Cross have compiled some handy top tips to help you prepare
- Know the dates, times and locations of local firework events. Keep a check on plans for local displays, and tell neighbours and local display organisers that there are horses nearby so they can plan to set off fireworks away from them.
- Keep a familiar environment. Keeping a horses normal routine can help reduce their stress. If they are normally ouside in the dield, keep them there as long as the field is safe, secure and away from firework displays. If they are usually stabled, keep them stabled. Do a cfull check and ensure there is nothing in there that could cause them an injury.
- Observe their behaviour or get someone experienced to watch over the, This way you can make sure they stay safe and as calm as possible. This also means you can react quickly if your horse becomes upset.
- Consider a calmer if you know your horse can get particularly
- Keep calm and positive throughout any displays. As horses can sense unease in people and if you are worried your horse’s fear may get worse.
- Speak with your vet if your horse doesn’t like loud or sudden noises or has been frightened by fireworks in the past. They may be able to provide something to help.
- Be careful yourself. Try not to get in the way. Frightened horses can be dangerous to handle.
- Don’t ride.
- Leave clear instuctions and ocntact details if you have to leave your horse in another persons care.
- Check fields and yards for bits of used firwork and put anything that could be danerous to your horse in the bin.
This list has been compiled with the help of of World Horse Welfare and the Blue Cross
