Redwings is sharing more insights into some of the challenges horse owners face when trying to keep their horse(s) safe from fireworks, in a new report of further analysis from their 5,000-strong respondent survey, published here (on Tuesday 2nd September).
The Fireworks and Horses survey, which ran for five weeks between December 2024 and January 2025, attracted 5,128 complete responses from across the UK. It was developed to gather evidence of firsthand experiences and owner attitudes regarding the impact of fireworks on horses in their care.*
A preliminary report was published in February.
The charity says there is now compelling evidence that the ability of owners to keep their horses safe is limited when fireworks are set off nearby, even with advance notice.
And the data shows that stabled horses are still vulnerable when fireworks are set off and at risk of injury, illness or even death. A third (33%) of those horses sustaining long-term injury or illness due to fireworks were stabled at the time.
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 (48%). More than half (54%) said they also stayed with their horse, while 57% carried out extra checks to monitor their well-being.
However, the data suggests that there are no simple solutions to managing horses during fireworks. Even when measures included the use of prescription sedation, they were judged to be only ‘moderately’ or ‘slightly’ effective by the majority of those who took this step (78%). There were similar results from those who had used over-the-counter calmers; almost half of the respondents who had used calmers rated their protective actions as only ‘slightly effective’ (49%).
Helen Whitelegg, Redwings’ Campaigns and Policy Manager, said: “Horse owners have limited ability to proactively protect their animals from the negative effects of fireworks being set off nearby, if indeed they are forewarned about them at all. More than 70% (71%) of Redwings’ Fireworks and Horses survey respondents whose horse had been affected by fireworks had not been aware that a display was planned.
“Nowadays, fireworks are set off all year round, which can pose a huge problem for horse owners as horses are highly sensitive flight animals that use their ability to run away from danger as their main protection from it.
“The idea that bringing horses inside, stabling them, is the answer to protecting them from fireworks is one that comes up time and time again, and it’s one of the decisions many owners wrestle with when planning.
“Half of survey respondents (50%) whose horse had been affected by fireworks said their horse was in a stable at the time, with the other half being turned out, providing us 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 while in a stable, 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, which was around 4% lower.
“There was also a slight increase in people injured in incidents involving stabled horses (11%), over those that were turned out (9%).”
As a horse owner with several hundred equines in its care, Redwings knows firsthand the impact that fireworks can have on horses and the challenges around keeping them safe and spends hundreds of pounds each year on measures to help protect their rescued residents around Bonfire Night. The charity has sadly lost three of its resident ponies in the past because of fireworks. A special episode of Redwings’ podcast ‘Sounds of the Sanctuary’, told the story of Cinders, Sprite and Percy, which is available to listen to here.
Last year, Redwings launched their ‘Keep Horses In Mind’ campaign to encourage people to consider if, and how, they use and enjoy fireworks. To find out more about the charity’s work on fireworks, please visit: redwings.org.uk/fireworks