Fireworks

MrA

MrA

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Feb 8, 2012
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Just back from the yard. There was a huge organised display down the road, Ale was so stressed.

He was already so wound up when I got there, I think from all the people walking past the back of the stables and all the extra traffic. The display itself was 20 minutes of sonic booms that he spent spinning around the stable and trotting back and forth, while shaking.

He ate hay just before the display and was back eating a little when I left, he's just got to put up with everyone walking back past and then hopefully he can properly calm down. He's never really been bothered by fireworks before. I'm so worried he might colic or something he's done loads of really sloppy awful poos. Anyway hopefully by morning he will be right as rain again and I'll give him a big dose of gut balancer for the next few days but horrible to see them so stressed. Moving yard before next November so it shan't be a problem again I hope! He's never even looked at fireworks before and he's been stabled for them and they have happened alot closer.
 
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Aw bless him that’s horrid. Sometimes the same thing ina different place can just upset them like that. I hope he’s feeling better this morning?
 
It is illegal to let off fireworks near livestock - we had a horse die in our village on millenium night - so you might like to advise the organisers of the display
 
diplomaticandtactful said:
It is illegal to let off fireworks near livestock - we had a horse die in our village on millenium night - so you might like to advise the organisers of the display
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It can't be, this is a huge organised event advertised as the best in the south of the country and the horses at the riding for the disabled are stabled metres away. I can't find any laws surrounding them and horses
 
There are rules about fireworks. They must not be let off near livestock or cause unnecessary suffering. They should notify local farmers. So i would have thought your yo should have been told if it was a very close display.

Im dreading my neighbour letting off fireworks. He has the last two years. Ive got cattle and sheep directly in the field below him. Hes never bothered to let us know before. I only found out last year from one of the other neighbours he was having some. Havent heard about any so far this year.
 
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I'm glad Ale is ok today. It's horrible and scary seeing them so upset.

I'm very lucky that neither horses or dogs are bothered by fireworks. We've had quite a hefty display nearby tonight and no-one seems the least bit concerned

Have I missed something though - I didn't know you were moving again?
 
Glad yours are all okay @Bodshi

I'm moving away from London next year, I'm still really close to it even though technically in Surrey and we are looking to buy a place, which we can't afford round here. Ale will be moving again to be near us, hopefully into some sort of nice grass/ retirement herd livery now I know he can happily live with a group of geldings ❤️ it'll be hard to move him from his friends now he has some but it'll be for the best.
 
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Fireworks are covered under the animal cruelty laws, ‘causing unnecessary harm or suffering to an animal’. It simply says fireworks should not be let off in close proximity to livestock but there is no definition of what that distance is, so very difficult to prosecute under and police will rarely take action.

I think to prosecute for it you would have to inform them in writing that it will cause harm and suffering before the event. Then when it does, video the distressed animal and go and speak to the person setting off the fireworks to ask them to cease and desist, then if they fail to do so they could be prosecuted.

It’s also difficult with large organised displays if the have happened every year for 20 years in the same place and you have recently moved your horse close by, does that make you culpable in the cruelty because you knew it would happen? (I am not saying you are but from their perspective they may argue this)
 
chunky monkey said:
There are rules about fireworks. They must not be let off near livestock or cause unnecessary suffering. They should notify local farmers. So i would have thought your yo should have been told if it was a very close display.

Im dreading my neighbour letting off fireworks. He has the last two years. Ive got cattle and sheep directly in the field below him. Hes never bothered to let us know before. I only found out last year from one of the other neighbours he was having some. Havent heard about any so far this year.
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I don't think you can prosecute easily which is why it's such a problem as it's a grey area, it just seems to be government advice they must not be let off near livestock, not an actual law
 
No its not actual law. My use of the word rules was a poor one. I should have said guidance.

The guidance actually sucks and can be taken with a pinch of salt. Its why pet owners want them banned. Most people say they want the noise stopped but for livestock who are out in the fields bright flashes can cause just as much distress.
 
IF your horse was injured as a result of a fireworks display there would be nothing to stop you putting a claim into the small claims court, or if you have legal cover insurance on say your house or in your horse insurance, then it would be possible. As well as reporting to the police. The fact that they are causing distress to livestock may also be covered by nuisance. We had some twats next door letting them off right next to our stables in a previous house,the donkeys and Molly and Rose were going ballistic, as it was right on our boundary. I am afraid i went over and asked them to stop.....farmer next door was pissed off too as he had sheep out in the field as well.
 
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