How to help your horse handle the noise of fireworks.

How to help your horse handle the noise of fireworks.

Most animals are very stressed out by fireworks, and horses are no different. On Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve, you can be sure that there will be a lot of fireworks going off. Here are a few things you can do to help your horse feel less stressed and get through the parties.

Riding

Don’t ride when you know there will be fireworks going off.

Local displays

Check to see if there are any shows near you. If your horse is grazing, you should move them somewhere else for the night to make them feel less stressed. If you leave your horse out in the field, it might get scared and run into fences or wires, getting hurt in the process. But it’s best to keep your horse as much as possible in its normal routine. If your horse is usually in the field, it’s up to you if you want to keep them there or not, as long as it’s not too close to a show.

Entertainment

A radio is a good way to distract horses from fireworks at night. Some owners will also leave the barn fan on, because white noise has been shown to help keep noise disturbances down. If you’re going to do either of these, it’s best to get your horse used to the sounds and sights before nightfall, so it doesn’t get scared or nervous when it hears them. Leaving the stable lights on can also help because the fireworks lights won’t stand out as much.

Check in

Look in on them. If you can, check on them in the middle of the night. If you can, you might also want to bring food and a flask with you. You could use the time to do things you’ve been putting off, like clean your tack. This can be helpful because you can keep an eye on your horse and get a lot of other things done at the same time. This is also a good option if you can’t be there yourself but know someone who can.

Debris

Check the paddock before letting your horse into it after the show or at night. If there is trash, move it, but make sure to wear thick gloves in case any of the pieces are still hot or have sharp edges. Make sure to check on your horse as well. Even if you were with them all night, they could have hurt themselves by reaching too far or running into something. Remember that it’s important to keep doing what you normally do. This is the best thing you can do for your horse so that it doesn’t get stressed out after the event, too.

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