Horses and Livestock

Horses and livestock are some of the most vulnerable of animals when it comes to firework evenings as they can become agitated easily. If you’re organising a private display at home or at a local institution and are surrounded by farmland please make the effort to contact and inform the farmer or livery yard owner of your firework plans.

In many cases firework displays will be carefully positioned and sensitive to the needs of horses and livestock in the area. But as this is not always the case, especially concerning private displays, here are a number of precautions you can take to ease the anxiety of your animals.

* Keep your animals in the most familiar environment for as long as possible. If they are usually left out in the field, leave them for as long as possible before bringing them in to a secure area.
* Make sure that someone experienced stays with your animals. Animals are very intuitive and they will pick up on nerves or anxiety so remain calm when around them.
* Do not go riding when you suspect that you might encounter fireworks.
* If you need to relocate your animal for the evening then make sure you accompany them. If they have to be left in another’s care make sure that you leave clear instructions and contact details for yourself and your vet, which can be used should problems arise.