Fireworks and long term desensitisation

[scruffyponies]

Ponies survived another gigantic public firework display last night. It takes place every year in the adjoining field. Nothing I can do about it, so they stay where they are.

Of course they ran off to the far side of the field as soon as the first ones went up, but after that they pretty much stood still, and checks afterwards found calm horses who came up to us calmly, or stood as we approached in the dark. None were sweaty. All happy to get a fuss and a treat.

Given that some of those ponies have now been subjected to this for 20+ years, and I know that they have good memories, I am starting to wonder if once per year is enough for them to remember and 'get used' to what is in effect a very pretty artillery bombardment.

P.S. people on social media were complaining about their dogs being terrified >5 miles away!

 

[SafeInSage]

We get lots of fireworks near me. At my old yard, they were in every evening at night and it was impossible to predict fireworks being set off by the general public. They used to put radios in each stable block to help with the sudden noise, but many of the horses were still alert and stressy despite the years they’ve been at the yard.

Personally, I just don’t like fireworks. Displays are fine, but they should be held by professionals and the average person shouldn’t be able to buy them. Saw a Facebook post last year/year before where a firework hit a horse in its face. Poor thing lost it’s eye.

 

[Goldenstar]

My horses are same they just stand together and watch .
My dogs are ok as well we did have one who did not like it and I know why as young dog she was in our house when it was struck by lightning which was a spectacular and scary experience .
We let her go under the bed and ignored her .

 

[Caol Ila]

Hermosa lives next door to a paintball range. Loud banging noises don't bother her or her fieldmates.

 

[Snow Falcon]

We don't have too many selfish idiots letting fireworks off near us fortunately. There is one family who are completely ignorant despite having had ponies themselves. One year they let them off next door to a horse I used to care for. It stressed him out so much and he damaged himself tearing round the field that the owner had to have him PTS.

Ours are used to the frequent sound of gunshot so fairly chilled. We have an abudance of deer that the local keeper deals (does his best!)with. ?

 

[rara007]

I’m very glad I don’t have any that are scared these days.

 

[mavandkaz]

I'm similar.
We have a huge display just across the road from the house, and the minis are always fine. Just stand at the furthest point and watch. I do think that if it was more regular they would be absolutely fine (not that they are that bothered anyway).
The yard where the big horses are, now has a fortnightly shoot nextdoor. The second shoot was yesterday and all the horses are already much more settled around it, compared to two weeks ago.

 

[SpeedyPony]

We have one down the road (couple of miles away) that is twice weekly throughout the summer- between that and the birdscarers ours are all pretty chilled. We did have some last year set off by neighbouring houses- most were fine, about the same volume as a shotgun blast, horses watched but pretty unconcerned. One person seemed to have gone out of their way to get the noisiest fireworks possible though, that had them a bit worried and running about for the five minutes or so they were being let off (they were loud, think bomb rather than gunshot).

 

[scruffyponies]

Ours wouldn't bother if we set off 'normal' fireworks right next to them. At one point we had a shooting school next door, and it's not unusual for us to find ourselves in the middle of pheasant shoots. It's the commercial displays which are just too much - very much like bombs rather than gunshots.