Fireworks! Nine tips for a stress-free New Year's Eve for your horse

The end of the year is approaching and in many places in the country that means: fireworks! This can cause stress, for horses and their owners. Can a horse get used to fireworks? And how can you make the New Year's Eve and the days leading up to it as stress-free as possible for your horse?

Horses are flight animals, who naturally prefer to run first before they look to see what is going on. It is therefore to be expected that horses are afraid of fireworks. Also carbide shooting will not be very funny for most horses, if they hear it for the first time. But... police horses can handle all those bangs. And some other horses don't seem to care much. They are apparently used to it.

Start on time

Below are some tips to help your horse get through New Year's Eve more easily. It is useful if you introduce some of these things well before New Year's Eve. Otherwise, you may only create more stress. Also, some supplements should be built up well in advance. So start with preparations well before December 31st!

Tip 1 - Routine

Horses function best when they are accustomed to their daily routine. Therefore, do not suddenly put a horse that is always in the pasture at night in the stable on New Year's Eve. If you want to do that, start doing it two weeks in advance. It is also not a good idea to suddenly treat your horse differently on the evening of December 31st. This will only create more tension.

Tip 2 - Distraction

Make sure your horse has some distractions on New Year's Eve. A full hay bag, toys, willow branches, a filled hay ball... But here too: make sure your horse has already been introduced to these objects earlier and do not introduce strange things when the fireworks start. Many people also give their horse a nice treat just before midnight. For example, a bucket of mash. Then they are happily eating when the fireworks start and it is a lot less scary.

Tip 3 - Reduce sound and light

To keep light flashes and bangs out, you can close the shutters and possibly cover the windows. Additionally, you can turn on the radio in the stable to a calm talk channel and leave the light on. Introduce these measures a few days before December 31st. Then your horse will already be accustomed to it.

Tip 4 - Smart stable layout

If possible, make sure that the fearful horses are not standing next to each other. Put a fearful horse next to a more 'bombproof' horse. Of course, you should also do this a week before New Year's Eve.

Tip 5 - Check the pasture

Is your horse outside in the herd 24 hours a day? Make sure there are no objects in the pasture that the horses could injure themselves on. So remove the wheelbarrow from the field and put away the pitchfork. Also check the fencing and make sure there are no strange protrusions that the animals could injure themselves on. Also make sure there is enough power on the fence.

Tip 6 - Get used to it

In some locations, fireworks are lit several weeks before. This way, horses are already getting somewhat used to it. You can also choose to play a video with flashes of light and fireworks sound on your phone. You can train a positive association with fireworks sound by playing such a video when the horses are being fed. Start at a low volume the first time and gradually increase it in the following days.

Tip 7 - Talk to your neighbors

In the days before New Year's Eve, visit your neighbors, possibly with a small gift. Explain to them that horses can experience a lot of stress from fireworks and ask if they would take this into account, for example by setting off fireworks on the other side of their house.

Tip 8 - Remain calm yourself

Are you one of those dedicated horse owners who stays with your horses in the stable during New Year's Eve? Or do you have horses at home and go check on them when the fireworks start? Make sure you also remain calm. Do what you would normally do. Horses love routine and if the owner suddenly behaves strangely, they will also become stressed.

Tip 9 - Calming supplements

A sedative from the vet is not advisable for most horses with New Year's Eve. Because your horse can hear and see the fireworks but cannot physically react due to the sedation, this can actually intensify the fear. A supplement that suppresses the stress response is therefore more effective. An herbal extract with chamomile and passionflower is very suitable for this. You should start with this at least two days earlier. Preferably even a week in advance (possibly in lower doses). The mineral magnesium also helps your horse deal with tensions, but it takes a few weeks to build up. You can also combine the herbal extract and magnesium.

Due to legislation, we unfortunately cannot specify exactly which products are suitable. Nor is it allowed to include a link to the product. We can only do this in a personal conversation. Are you curious? Contact us via info@heltieanimal.com or 0522-470017.