When the nights get darker, flashes of colour light up the sky, accompanied by pops and bangs that make everyone say “ooh, ahh”. Whilst many will gather around to enjoy the festivities that often take place on occasions such as Bonfire Night and New Year, it can be a stressful time for horses and their owners.
For our horses, fireworks can be rather frightening and as they are flight animals, most will try to run away from the situation which can result in injuries. As equestrians, it’s important to know how to keep a horse calm during fireworks to minimise stress and keep them safe.
How to prepare for firework displays
If your horse is scared of fireworks there are a number of things you can do in the lead-up to the event to ensure both you and your horse are as prepared as possible:
Make a note of local firework events
As a horse owner, it’s important to stay in the loop of when local firework displays are taking place. Remember that fireworks aren’t exclusive to Bonfire Night, and many will also set them off at Diwali, Christmas, New Year, and other occasions in between. It’s a good idea to talk to neighbours and residents in the area to see if they’re planning on setting off any fireworks and let them know you have horses and need time to prepare. Explain the dangers of horses and fireworks and ask them to set off any fireworks well away from where the horses are kept.
Stick to your horse’s routine
On the day the fireworks are due to take place, stick to your horse’s usual routine as closely as possible. Horses thrive off consistency and a sudden change to their routine can be a very stressful event. If you’re planning on bringing them in and they’re currently living out, start preparing for this by bringing them in for at least a week before to help them get used to it. When you bring them in, replicate how you’ll have the stable set up on the night of the fireworks, if you’re going to use a radio, put this on for a bit and close windows and doors. Preparing your horse in advance will minimise additional stress on the night.
Check the stables or field
Depending on where you’re going to be keeping your horse, it’s always important to check the area to ensure it’s safe and secure. Firework night is no different and the build up is a good point to have a look around stables for protruding nails, string, loose bricks, etc and repair these to minimise the risk of injury. If you’re planning on keeping your horse in the field, take a walk around and make sure the fencing is secure and that there are no foreign objects that they may hurt themselves on when running around.
Be aware of your yard’s fire safety procedure
The lead-up to the fireworks display or bonfire is a good time to brush up on your livery yard’s fire procedure. Check that there are fire extinguishers that are working and in good order in case of a rogue firework and ensure you know where to go and what to do should a fire break out.
Think about insurance
Whilst horses are always unpredictable, a looming firework display close by to the yard might get you thinking about how you would pay for a vet bill if your horse was to injure themselves. Having horse insurance with vets fee cover can help to give you peace of mind.
If your horse is not already insured, or you are looking to increase the level of cover they have, it’s important to bear in mind that usually, there is a period of time at the start of a policy or at the increase of cover, where only accidental, external injuries that involve an open wound are covered. Similarly, insurance policies for horses are 12-month policies, there is no short-term option just to cover high-risk dates like firework night. For more on getting your horse insurance, read our article on ‘When is best to insure my horse?’.
If your horse is not already insured, or you are looking to increase the level of cover they have, it’s important to bear in mind that usually, there is a period of time at the start of a policy or at the increase of cover, where only accidental, external injuries that involve an open wound are covered. Similarly, insurance policies for horses are 12-month policies, there is no short-term option just to cover high-risk dates like firework night. For more on getting your horse insurance, read our article on ‘When is best to insure my horse?’.
Try calmers and supplements
To help take the edge off a little you could try giving your horse a calmer. These come in easy syringe pastes that you can give as a one-off on the night or as supplements you add to their food. Alternatively, if your horse is very anxious about fireworks, talk to your vet about sedation or if possible, consider temporarily moving them for the night to a place without any local displays.
Arrange to stay with your horse
Where you may be hoping to head off and enjoy watching a display yourself, one way to help a horse that’s scared of fireworks is to stay with them for the duration of the display. Your horse will likely find you a calming presence and you’ll also be on hand if anything does go wrong. If you can’t stay with them, see whether another experienced individual can and leave clear instructions on what to do and the contact details of both you and your vet.
If you decide to stay with your horse or ask someone else to, it’s vital that you put your safety first and that you do not attempt to get too close to your horse if they are in a panicked state. Staying outside of their stable is the safest place for you to be. From here, you can talk to them calmly so they know you are there but you are not in a vulnerable position to get injured yourself if something does spook them.
What to do on the night of the fireworks
When it comes to how to help a horse during fireworks night, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the stress caused by the loud pops and bangs:
Stay calm
This tip on how to keep a horse calm during fireworks is actually for you, the owner. Horses can sense when you’re stressed which may make any feelings of anxiety worse for them. Remember to take lots of deep breaths and try and stay as calm as possible for your four-legged friend.
Stay safe
When horses are frightened, they can be incredibly dangerous and unpredictable. Stay outside of your horse’s stable and try to keep handling them to an absolute minimum to reduce the risk of injury to yourself.
Provide plenty of distractions
Whether your horse is in or out, provide plenty of forage to ensure they’re as preoccupied as possible. If they’re stabled, you can also try treat balls, toys, and licks to give them something else to occupy their brain with. If you do plan on providing distractions, ensure they won’t be a hazard if they get scared, or better yet, stay with them and supervise.
Dull the noise
For horses that are coming in it’s a good idea to try and dull as much of the noise as possible. If you can, close doors and windows as this will not only reduce the sound of the pops and bangs but will also make flashing lights less visible.
Skip the ride
This may go without saying, but if you have an arena with floodlights, avoid riding at night during occasions when fireworks are likely to go off. Ride earlier during the day before they’re due to begin or just skip the ride that day, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
What to do the morning after the fireworks
Once you’ve got through the night of the fireworks, there are a couple of things you should do the next day to ensure your horse is safe and healthy.
Check the stable and field again
If your horse came in for the evening, check around their stable to ensure they’ve not caused any damage which they may have hurt themselves on or could pose a hazard in the future. Before putting horses out in paddocks, go and have another walk around and check for any used fireworks, debris, broken fences, or dangerous bits. Be thorough with your checks and look in water troughs, field edges, etc.
Examine your horse for cuts or injuries
While it’s a good idea to continue to keep to your horse’s routine as closely as possible, you should still make time for giving your horse a good once over. Check them carefully for any cuts or inflammation and if you can, ask someone to walk and trot them up for you to examine for signs of lameness or stiffness.
That’s our guide on how to keep a horse calm during fireworks. Looking for more advice on caring for your equine? Read our article on the top 7 ways to keep your horse entertained this winter.