Lots of people love Bonfire Night and fireworks, but for many it can be a stressful couple of weeks, with events running over several days.
Why are fireworks more stressful than they were a few years ago? Is it that fireworks have become louder, or that more people have displays at home rather than attending the public displays, or that with the rise of social media, more people talk about the negatives of fireworks. I’m not sure, but one thing is certain, there are likely to be fireworks lighting up the skies over us all, which is why we thought we would share our top tips for keeping you and your horses safe.
Communication
Speak to your neighbours to find out if they are planning any events. Check your local Facebook pages for organised events, so you can put a plan in place. Remember to be kind – if you approach others with a negative or confronting attitude, you are likely to be met with one in return. At the end of the day – it is unlikely that people are actually breaking any laws –
The law says you must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places. You must not set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except for:
- Bonfire Night, when the cut off is midnight
- New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut off is 1am
The law does also state – It is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any captive or domestic animal. This is very subjective with fireworks so again – communication is key.
Stay calm
All animals feed off your emotions – if you are worrying that your animals are going to be stressed, they may well wonder what they need to be worried about. Staying calm will help to calm them too.
Familiarity
Keep your horse in their familiar surroundings, a stable is often preferable, but if your horse is used to being kept out then don’t change their routine. If possible keep your horse with familiar company. Horses are herd animals and take comfort in each other.
Distractions
If your horse is nervous use cotton wool plugs in their ears to help reduce noise, or keep the radio on to help counteract any background noise. Use food as a distraction.
Giving the horse extra hay, a lick, or a stable toy can help to keep them occupied. Classic FM run a programme specially designed for pets.
Keeping lights on in your yard will help to detract from bright flashes.
Take care
If your horse is genuinely frightened speak to your vet about sedation options such as ACP tablets, Sedalin paste or Domosedan gel.
Safety
Your yard should have a fire policy in place – now is an ideal time to ensure all of your emergency procedures are in place and that your fire extinguishers are serviced. Do not allow anyone to let fireworks off in close proximity to the stables.
Take a moment
Whether you love or hate fireworks there is no denying that they do usually look pretty spectacular, and you will probably have a good view from your yard, so if you can, maybe take a moment to appreciate them too.
Stay safe everyone.
xx
