02 September 2025

How can we protect horses from fireworks?

Redwings’ new report shares insights into some of the challenges horse owners face when trying to keep their horse(s) safe from fireworks.

There are steps owners can take to help reduce the risk fireworks present to horses, but how effective are they? More than 5,000 owners took part in our Fireworks and Horses survey, and further analysis reveals compelling evidence of the limited ability owners have when it comes to keeping their horses safe when fireworks are set off nearby.

What are owners doing to try and keep their horses safe?

More than three quarters of survey respondents said they put measures in place to help protect their horse(s), from bringing them into a stable and leaving the radio on, to giving calmers or sedation. The most common practical step was to provide extra food or forage to help keep the horse occupied. More than half of respondents said they also stayed with their horse or carried out extra checks to monitor their wellbeing.

However, the data suggests that there are no simple solutions to managing horses during fireworks. Even when measures included use of prescription sedation they were judged to be only ‘moderately’ or ‘slightly’ effective by the majority of those who took this step. There were similar results from those who had used over-the-counter calmers, almost half of respondents who had used calmers rated their protective actions as ‘slightly effective’.

One of the decisions many owners make when planning for fireworks is whether to stable their horse or turn them out. Around half of survey respondents whose horse had been affected by fireworks said the horse was in a stable at the time, with the other half being turned out, providing an opportunity to compare the impact of fireworks on each group. While the data suggests horses may be statistically less likely to injure themselves or escape when stabled, the risk of harm or even fatality is certainly not eliminated.

Survey findings also indicate that stabled horses may potentially be more vulnerable to distress when fireworks are let off. Reports of stress-related behaviours were higher for stabled horses in all categories apart from attempting to escape. More people were also injured in incidents involving stabled horses than those that were turned out.

Keep Horses In Mind

Of course, even limited steps are only possible when they know fireworks are going to be let off near their horse. With displays becoming more popular throughout the year, it can be harder for owners to predict when their horse may be exposed to fireworks. More than 70% of survey respondents whose horse had been affected by fireworks had not been aware that a display was planned.

As a horse owner, Redwings knows first-hand the impact fireworks can have on horses and the challenges around keeping them safe. The charity spends hundreds of pounds each year on measures to help protect our rescued residents from fireworks around Bonfire Night, yet we know that even then, a display that is particularly close, or loud or lengthy, or all three, has the potential to cause distress and possible harm. This is why our Keep Horses In Mind campaign is asking for the focus not to be on what owners should be doing to protect their horses from fireworks, but on the responsibility that those who use, enjoy, make, sell and regulate fireworks also have to ensure enjoyment of displays by some doesn’t come at such a high cost to others.