With New Year’s Eve fast approaching, the nightmare of dealing with fireworks and terrified pets and horses arises once again. As horses are prey animals, sudden loud noises will automatically trigger their ‘fight or flight’ response.
Here’s a few tips to minimise their fear….
• Be proactive…check your neighbourhood noticeboards, local papers and radio stations for fireworks notices. Ask the police if they know of any happening in your area.
• Keep in mind that even though it’s illegal to sell fireworks, people still manage to buy them and will be letting them off before and after midnight. Ask your neighbours or do a letter box drop in your area asking residents to contact you if they plan to use fireworks.
• If there are major fireworks near you, consider moving your horse for the evening.
• Keep to your horse’s normal routine with his usual paddock mates as much as possible.
• If you know your horse might react, ask your vet what he can offer by way of sedation.
Secure your horse in a stable if possible.• Keep your horse in an secure and strong enclosed area free from any protruding objects–a stable is ideal if you have access to one. Also, remain with your horse until well after midnight but keep yourself safe…a panicked horse is a dangerous one!
• If your horse is in his paddock, make sure the fencing is secure and all gates on your property are closed.
• Have some hay, feed or treats such as carrots and apples ready to distract your horse.
• Gently scratch and rub his wither area, which most horses find relaxing.
• Remain calm and relaxed around your horse…don’t overly fuss as horses are sensitive to our moods and fear. If you’re a fairly novice horse owner, ask a more experienced person for help.
• Play some soothing music to disguise the noise.
• Have another horse nearby for company, one you know doesn’t worry too much about excessive noise.
• If your horse starts getting nervous, distract him by moving him around, but only if safe to do so…remember, your safety comes first! Back him up, turn him, anything to direct his focus on you.
• It’s a good idea to invest in third party insurance in case your horse escapes and damages people or property.
• Be ready to put out any spot fires caused by wayward fireworks by having water and sand on hand.
• Purchase some ear plugs or cotton wool to use in your horse’s ears and keep them in place using an ear bonnet, similar to those worn by showjumping horses. Accustom your horse to wearing them for a few weeks beforehand.
• Visit the Fear of Fireworks website which offers some ways you can help desensitise your horse for future fireworks. They also sell a Fireworks Sounds CD and offer downloads with ways you can work towards desensitising horse or pet.
• Make sure your horse has some form of identification…if he’s not microchipped, then wearing a headstall that has a tag with your contact details attached.
Hopefully your horse will endure fireworks with a minimum of fuss. Some horses remain surprisingly calm…curious even…but for others, it’s a terrifying ordeal!