Fear of fireworks in horses

Horses are flight animals, meaning they have developed an extremely strong flight instinct that they rely on to escape potential dangers. When faced with sudden loud noises, such as fireworks, they often react instinctively by trying to flee. This natural behaviour can pose a risk if their movement is restricted.

What can you do to support your horse during fireworks anxiety?

You cannot change a horse’s natural flight response—it is an inherent part of their behaviour as flight animals. However, there are steps you can take to make New Year’s Eve a calmer experience, helping your horse to relax in stressful situations.

• Preparation and training: Help your horse get used to unexpected sounds and stimuli throughout the year. By training calmly and consistently, your horse can learn how to respond to such triggers. This can contribute to greater relaxation during intense stimuli, such as fireworks.
• Safe environment: Ensure your horse has a comfortable stable, preferably one that is well-insulated on the outside to reduce noise and light disturbances.
• Distraction and routine: Providing sufficient distractions can help reduce your horse’s stress levels. Hang a hay net with extra hay or offer a tasty Salt Lick Himalaya. Try to stick to your horse’s usual daily routine as much as possible.
• Calming supplements or herbs: Consider using supplements or herbal remedies to promote relaxation.

Supportive supplements

For horses prone to stress during challenging times, supplements or specialised feeds can aid relaxation without causing drowsiness. These products often contain natural ingredients such as magnesium, L-tryptophan, and B vitamins, which help your horse unwind more easily. Supplements with herbal blends, such as chamomile, valerian, and passionflower, can also have a calming effect. It’s best to start using most supplements 2–4 weeks in advance. Examples of calming supplements include HorseFlex Magnesium Relax Combi, Zylkene Equine, and Puur Tranquil. If you only need extra support on New Year’s Eve, a paste such as Primeval Stressless is ideal.