Help please- helicopter-related issue!

[Cash]

Intriguing title, no?

Have been told by YO today that a helicopter will be landing on the piece of land directly next to the horses' paddocks tomorrow morning (but no idea when in the morning) and leaving again Tues afternoon (again, no idea when ).
My TB has been at the yard 5 weeks, and is still not exactly settled in - he is v chilled most of the time, but if there's a really low flying plane (we are very close to an airfield) he'll understandably get a bit worried and have a run around. He is surrounded by horses (individ turnout) on 3 sides, but his field is directly next to where the helicopter will be landing. So putting him out in his normal field is not an option- he will be terrified (as I expect most horses would be to have a helicopter land fifty feet away from them!). However another livery has kindly offered me the bottom half of her paddock as it's split into two- this would be better as he'll be closer to his best friend (and hopefully therefore less likely to panic as much) and further away from heli.
Some liveries are keeping their horses in for the day (the yard is quite far away from the landing area) as they don't want to risk horses running through fences etc. Unfortunately no one is around to turn out horses around lunchtime once heli has landed as everyone works full time/is at school all day (obviously this would be ideal solution).
Sooo do I keep him in for the day, or turn him out? I'd like him to go out obviously, but really worried that there'll be no one there (DIY yard) to sort it out if he does get really wound up/ at risk of hurting himself/runs through (or jumps!) a fence But equally, could he do himself more damage in a stable if he decides he wants out??

Wish YO had let us know sooner so I could have made proper arrangements

 

[MrsMozart]

Given the circs I'd probably keep him in.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

hmmm, i guess only you know which the safest option will be. how do you think he'd react if he was in his friend's field?
if it was raff, i'd leave him out. because i know he'd be fine. but most other horses would be better off being brought in...

sorry, i'm no help.

is the helicopter landing on your YO's land? if so, i'd say they have a duty of care/ responsibility to be around and keep and eye on the horses. will they be there?

 

[Weezy]

I am sure he will be fine - horses are OK with noise they can *see* and he will be able to see the helicopter. Today for example I was at a show and the Air Ambulance had to land - there must have been at least 50 horses standing no more than 40 metres from it when it landed and took off, and there was no stampede or anything.

Also about 3 weeks ago we had the Air Ambulance come to our yard - a couple of liveries were fretting that the horses would go wild, but I reassured them and I was right - they looked but didn't stop grazing for more than a couple of seconds.

 

[almorton]

for gods sake PLEASE PLEASE keep him in.
the air ambulance landed at mine last summer, with no warning and we couldnt get ours in in time.
one of the horses, (14.2 welsh d, so not sharp!) was very spooked and went over the 5 foot redbrick wall at my gates. he then set off up to the main road on 3 legs, and would have made it onto an A road if not for some very brave people who made every effort to stop him.
He very badly cut into his knee joint and is still recovering now.
he is very lucky he is still here and has a very caring owner who is willing to put the time and effort into his recovery.
so please, dont risk it. its just not worth it for the sake of one day.

 

[Tinypony]

Unfortunately, you can't tell how your horse will react in advance of the event. I have had a helicopter land in the field next to mine and they were fine. They ran about a bit, then stopped halfway across their field and watched it. They did the same when it took off. Anything to do is a risk, but I tend to opt for leaving out over bringing in, because horses normally deal with unexpected and noisy things better if they can see what is going on and have a bit of a run round. You have just as much risk in the stable I think, as the horse needs to see what is happening, and you've got the risk of them hurting themselves inside, or coming over the door.

 

[Archangel]

As you cannot be there to supervise take off and landing I would probably leave him in, just to be on the safe side.

The lady next door but one to my horses has a helicopter and it has never caused any problems (in fact I am quite glad as that is another hazard out of the way!).

For landing the pilot might be aware of the horses and choose a route to come in and land that is not directly over the top of them and therefore it will all be over in an instant. But, if my neighbours helicopter is anything to go by, for take off it has to be warmed up and run for several minutes, which is very loud and exciting and could be the time when your horse goes whoop.

Hope it all goes well.

 

[Bosworth]

I personally would leave my horses out. When we first moved here they cam across chinooks and helicopters whioch they had never seen before and some are extremely low flying as on military exercise. They just ignore them completely.

 

[ester]

I would keep him in, if its a one off I dont think its worth asking for trouble.

I have seen the opposite re the air ambulance at shows, particularly with horses left on boxes.

 

[1966barby]

Try not to worry too much,easily said I know,but a helicopter regularly lands near my yard which is next to another yard,thats over 30 horses and they dont seem to react at all.Hope all is ok for ypu.

 

[skychick]

i would probably keep paddy in....but only because the idiot pony doesnt need any more excuses to go hooning around bucking and snorting in our stoney paddocks!!!! he spends most of his time out charging around and doesnt give any regard to rocks/stones etc....so i think i would keep him in just for that day just for my sanity!!

 

[frazzled]

Helicopters land regularly next to the yard ours are at and to be honest the horses take no notice of them. They maybe just used to them though!

 

[lochpearl]

Molly, I would keep him in, 1. the fencing is wire so if he goes through it then it wont be pretty. 2. YO will most likely call you if your horse is running around to make you come and get it in, never mind if you can't get there. 3. As you are now finding out, your lovely YO wont give you notice and wont care if your horses are effected, I'm sure that he is getting some money out of this!

If some of the others are staying in I would leave him in with them. He will be used to the noise from Duxford so will just think that they are flying past rather than landing in his paddock.

 

[Brandy]

I would probably take the day off but then I have quite flexible employers! If not then leave him in.

We are under the RAF flight paths and they fly very low over our yard, in all manner of planes and helicopers. If they are in the copter and you have hi viz on they do actually avoid you if they can but tbh the horses are all used to it by now. So I wouldn't personally worry about mine but if it was an unknown of a strange yard I'd want to be there.