Halloween caught me by surprise. I had thought the horses would be fine because they're pretty used to all the things these days, but a nearby friend messaged me that it was crazy up there. It's a semi residential neighborhood, and I suddenly remembered it was the place to be on Halloween night when I was a teenager. But surely that had changed? So, off we went for a late night check and she was right, absolute mayhem with people running around and fireworks going off everywhere. I'm not even sure I can describe how intense it was. As you drove into the neighborhood there was a dense fog of gunpowder smoke. There looked to be a party in the vacant lot behind our place and the fireworks were insane, not the 'off in the distance' booms and bangs they're used to. These were the serious ones you'd normally see professionally done at a big event. They were going off in multiples for an hour, maybe 300' away from the horses.
As a non horse/pet owner, I'd be totally into that. As a Sophie owner, it was hard. As a Bridget owner, it didn't even register. Seriously, Bridget stood there eating her hay totally ignoring the fireworks raining down. I'm not even sure I can describe how intense it was. She was standing there in a gunpowder fog with the debris falling around, totally chill. Can we legit say she's bombproof now?
I'm proud of Sophie for handling it as well as she did. And grateful for Bridget quietly standing there eating and offering moral support to her. But also...she didn't handle it well enough for me to want to repeat the experience, or feel like I didn't get a bit lucky she didn't colic or hurt herself. I showed up just as she was trying to scale the stall door, but she luckily calmed down quite a bit with us there.
For futures, the internet tells me:
- Keep horses inside
- Leave lights on to lessen the flashes
- Music on to drown out the sounds
- Chat with neighbors (this one I am a bit reluctant to do, they've been really good to me and I'd like for them to be able to have a party once a year without feeling like they need to coordinate it with me/ feel guilty about my horses)
-Consider sedatives.
I could also just move them elsewhere for the days around Halloween.
The amusing end to the story (at least to me, and I can't put into words why I find this hilarious) is the last city bus of the night went by around 10:30, piled full of kids in costumes on their way home. And, almost instantly, there was quiet.
Blog readers, any advice?
I hate fireworks. A lot. I have a lot of neighbors who set them off. Including a neighbor who backs right up to me (they were renters and they moved and thankfully independence day was a quiet event this year, but in the past I worried my woods would catch fire...). Any day that ends with a Y is a good excuse for fireworks around here.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, my boys are VERY good about it. Even Nay. Nay generally doesn't care too much, Subi doesn't care at all. You know who cares? Jiminy. Jiminy hates them. He gets so worked up, but I just make sure he has food. My only fear if the Phillies win the world series is that there will be fireworks.. LOL.
I don't have much advice. For me, I stress a lot, more than the horses. I find that things work better if I just leave them alone. My tension actually makes things worse. My boys don't tear around and try self harm. They're not much different in or out so they're generally inside with dinner but have their windows open so they can see what's going on. Seeing helps. Jiminy is short and can't see which probably bothers him, but calm brothers help. You can drug, but I find that if you don't drug early, they'll blow through the drugs and what's the point?
Anyway, we get a lot of fireworks around here. They get better with time. Anyway, completely unhelpful post from me but you have my sympathy.
Totally appreciate your response. Poor Sophie was scared of her stall last night, I think she associates it with the noises and lights now :( I think we we live there and I can check on them by looking out the window it will be easier, as you say I'll be able to just leave them be and keep my worry at a distance :)
DeleteI am sorry you and your horses had to experience that. I have not had close up fireworks frighten my horses, but I have had folks target shooting nearby scare them. I usually try to keep a few bales of some kind of "high-value" hay around (like a really rich alfalfa) that will be more likely to catch their attention than their regular hay. If I hear the guns firing and see that any horse(s) is getting worked up, I will put some of the richer hay out for them. It usually helps to distract them enough that they stop running around, although they still might startle in place some. I don't have stalls, just a run-in shed, so I can't comment on the stalling versus letting them loose debate. On a different note, that is exciting that you will all be living on the same property again soon. All your hard work is really paying off on the property improvements!
ReplyDeleteThe high value food thing is a great idea! Sophie didn't touch her regular (local) hay that night but she is a pony and can be a bit food motivated - alfalfa might work.
DeleteI despise fireworks (and gunfire which we have even more of around here) Remus hates both. another reason he lives in a boarding facility now. My minis don't really care but I do exactly what you are talking about, lights on, music always playing, and lock them up if it gets nuts. UGH I am glad you went out there and checked on them and it will be much better once you live there. Also why does HALLOWEEN mean fireworks? Even in bumf*ck county where I live they don't do that (ALSO my neighbor knows now to text me when he is doing a target practice with zombie rounds, dont ask but I did train him to let me know)! UGH
ReplyDeleteI was reading an article this morning about regulating Halloween fireworks in BC - I didn't even realize it's just a regional thing. Supposedly it came with the British immigrants celebrating Guy Fawkes day and now it's been a 'thing' forever?There's a big push right now to control it better - it's I think the only day of the year here where you're allowed to get a permit to set off fireworks in most cities/towns, so people go nuts and it's chaos.
DeleteFireworks in small residential areas, unsupervised by public safety are more than just a little nuisance. Im assuming you didnt have rugs on, but if you do/did … be very very careful. That falling debris can trap the horse in flames. New Years is on the horizon, and Im guessing the fireworks festival will be on repeat.
ReplyDeleteIf that's not the stuff of nightmares, I don't know what is. I saw in the news a bunch of people were hurt in different areas of the city and there were house fires and damage so there's even more of a spotlight on regulating it better.
DeleteI feel you on this one. For the 30 days around the 4th of July it seems like every close neighbor we have sets off loud, frequent, and copious amounts of fireworks. Why? Where do they get the money? What is the point? 'Murica?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I always make sure the horses are in with high value food(alfalfa) the first few nights. Good to know about the lights and music. Because it goes on for an extended period of days my guys seem to get habituated by the actual 4th when it is the worst. I think if I were in your situation of it being a one night thing, I would be there that night, do all the mitigation mentioned, and keep a sedative on hand.
I saw a poster originating in the UK that since 2005(?) under the Animal Welfare Act it's been illegal to set off fireworks near livestock or adjacent to any property where livestock could conceivably live. We've got some catching up to do over here!
DeleteYay for Bridget for being a rock. There's work here in NS to put a ban on consumer fireworks- the risk of injury and fire is so high. Last new years eve a horse panicked and broke a leg. If fireworks are pretty endemic there then I wouldn't talk to the neighbours because you can't talk to all of them. If I did, it would be to ask them to just let me know. My bias is to assume it will happen and bring my horses in earlier then I normally would.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping it's banned here too...I saw in the news some police officers were injured/burned near Vancouver trying to break up one of the parties and that there was quite a bit of property damage due to fire. Fingers crossed the spotlight on how bad it was this year will lead to getting the ball rolling as far as regulating better.
DeleteWow, they really do Halloween there. I've never seen fireworks for Halloween - maybe because it's usually so cold here everyone just wants to get their candy and get home to warm up.
ReplyDelete