Horses & Fireworks - To leave out or bring in???

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welshiecob

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I'm looking for other horsey peoples views/opinions on whether I should leave my boys out on New Years Eve, I know there will be about a million fireworks that night.

Normally I would bring them in but a week ago due to weight of the snow on the roof, the roof of their stables fell in, covering them in timber & roofing materials. They have been out in the field ever since due to them being extremely jumpy and not wanting to be caught (I assume for fear of going back into those stables). They are just coming round to me and today I have brought them both in to a big airy barn, which they seemed to settle in after 10 minutes or so.

I just don't know about bringing them in and leaving them on New Years Eve, I'm worried that all the noise and banging will have them thinking that the roof is coming in again!!

I've thought of sedation, but last time we tried it wound one of them up so much that the sedative had no effect. I really can't decide what to do for the best
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A real dilemma! I would try maybe a different sedative, or at least a calmer in the feed. Is the barn safe? Is your fencing good? Depends on if they could get out if they panicked. It's a tough one, but maybe if the field is safe I would leave them - have just changed my mind from the vote, btw!
 
The stables are in a different barn to where I put them today, in an empty and very secure/well built hay barn. Fencing is post & rail & the field they would be in is right behind the house so they would be under observation.
 
Could you bring in and put some ear muffs on - the show jumper variety?

And thanks for this post - it has reminded me to be careful tomorrow myself as we always have a ton of fireworks going off. Mine will be in because they are usually in at night anyway but I will leave the radio on and check them regularly.
 
Is the big barn internal - I mean do the horses have the chance to see the fireworks or just hear them? If they cannot see them, then I would go for bringing in, and putting a radio on with loud music on until all fireworks are over. The risks are, if they are turned out, that you cannot control their 'intake' by ear or eye. If they get crazy, and several gallop about in the field, they all get spooked, could crash through fences, could skid about (non stop rain today, frost tomorrow) and pull tendons or worse, break a leg. If you decide to bring them in, then tomorrow (if you have time,) bring in in the moring, feed whilst the radio and all are going , then let out.. that way they have already seen their new surroundings with radio, before you have to get them in again tomorrow night. Can you also stay with them since you are so worried - what? and miss all those celebrations?!
Very best of luck.
 
The barn is external, mostly brick built but they would be able to see the fireworks. It's the bangs I am really worried about. You can feel some of the bigger ones can't you.

There will only be my two in the field. One is usually sensible and one quite flighty, having said that it's the sensible one I am more bothered about.

Either way, I will be out at least every hour to check on them...... if I don't end up camping out with them til daylight tomorrow.
 
How did it go?? Hope all's well. I spent hours putting Rescue Remedy down the throats of my terrified dogs. Yes, it is the loud ones and the whizzing ones that frighten so. Why can't they ban fireworks except for the displays run by councils ?
 
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