05/11/2026
🎆🐴 FIREWORKS & HORSES — A LITTLE PREPARATION CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE 🐴🎆
✨ For us, fireworks can be exciting and beautiful.
💙 For horses, the experience can be very different.
Horses are prey animals with highly developed senses, and sudden loud noises, flashes of light and unexpected changes in their environment can trigger a strong flight response. So, as fireworks season approaches, take a moment to think about the world from your horse’s perspective. 🐴
❌ Instead of:
“He’s being silly, he needs to get used to it.”
💭 Try asking:
“What is my horse experiencing, and how can I help them feel safer?”
💙 A little preparation can go a long way:
📍🎆 Find out what's happening locally
Keep an eye out for organised firework displays in your area. Knowing when and where they are taking place can help you plan ahead and prepare your horse.
🏡💬 Talk to your local community
If you keep horses near houses, consider putting a friendly post on your local Facebook/community group letting people know that horses are nearby.
Something as simple as:
🐴 Horses in the area
Just a friendly reminder that there are horses kept locally who can be frightened by fireworks. If you're planning a private display, we'd really appreciate a little advance notice so we can make sure they're safely prepared. Thank you for helping us keep our horses safe. ❤️
If someone lets you know they're planning a display, you can then make sensible arrangements for your horses rather than being caught completely unaware.
🔒 Prepare their environment
Check fencing, gates, stable doors and anything that could become dangerous if your horse panics.
🐴🐴 Consider companionship
If your horse is happier with familiar horses nearby, plan accordingly where it is safe and practical.
🌾🥕 Think about feeding and enrichment
Forage can provide a familiar activity and help occupy the horse during periods of uncertainty.
🎶📻 Consider background noise
Some horses benefit from familiar music, radio or other consistent background sound to help reduce the contrast of sudden bangs.
👀💙 Observe rather than label
Pacing, sweating, calling, increased vigilance, running, freezing or attempting to escape are all information.
Instead of saying “He’s being naughty”, ask:
💭 “What is his behaviour telling me?”
❤️ And remember a frightened horse isn't being difficult.
They are responding to something they perceive as a threat.
We can't always prevent fireworks from happening, but we can prepare, communicate with our community and make the environment as safe and supportive as possible. 🐴💙 A few minutes of consideration from the community can make a huge difference to the horses living among us.
