Although I love the 4th and everything it stands for, like most horse owners our goal is to get through the night! We've never had any problems with the horses going crazy over fireworks. We aren't surrounded by subdivisions but there are a number of houses along our street. Every year around the 4th of July it becomes apparent to me that one of our neighbors to the east spends a small (or maybe a large!) fortune on fireworks every year. They buy the really big, loud and very colorful fireworks - and they buy a LOT of them.
They've already put on a pretty good show for the last two nights so I think the horses are pretty de-sensitized at this point. On Friday night there was a bit of trotting around but nothing crazy, I never saw or heard any running. A few of them would trot around after an especially loud and bright display. By the second night (Saturday) no one was even bothering to lift their heads from grazing as the fireworks were going off. Actually a few of the horses were watching the fireworks, but by their relaxed stance and their body language it looked like they were just enjoying watching the show and not bothered by it.
I used to put some of the really nervous horses in the barn. However I've learned they actually handle it better out in the pasture with their friends. They get over it very quickly when they realize none of the other horses seem to care. Plus I think if they can see where the noise is coming from it helps them to cope. They would get very worked up in the barn when they could hear all of the noise but had no idea what was causing it. In the pasture they just ignore it after a few minutes and go back to grazing.
Jason and I plan to spend one last evening tonight on one of the hills as we can see all of the pastures from there. We'll watch the neighbors semi-professional fireworks display and keep en eye on the horses. Hopefully all will go as smoothly as the last two nights have. Even the fainting goats have been un-fazed by the fireworks the last couple of nights. The only animal on the farm having a hard time is Bush the coon hound. He also has a complete meltdown during thunderstorms as well, and I guess the fireworks sound like his worst nightmare coming true! Poor guy, he only has one more night to go!
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8 comments:
We've still got some fireworks around here, but the biggest ones were last night - I'm always glad when the Fourth is over!
PS - would you e-mail the Norm's picture?
I am very surprised and impressed to hear how the horses handle the fireworks. They can spook at the littlest changes but fireworks are ok?? Figures! I can just picture them watching the light show :) It does make sense they'd be better left out, nothing worse than being separated from the herd AND horrendous noise.
I can certainly relate to the stressed-out hound. Poor Hazel (Plott Hound) was still sensitive to loud noise after the earthquake we had on the 23rd which made the fireworks that much worse.
I hope this comment works, it seems at least 2 of my recent ones haven't shown up :( They weren't controversial, so I doubt you moderated me ;)
Kate - I'll e-mail you Norm's picture shortly!
RB - I only moderate the spam comments! (of which we now get quite a few for some reason)
RB;
I didn't moderate you either. I'm sorry you're having trouble ! Both Melissa and I enjoy your comments so please keep trying !
I didn't think so...I probably just messed up. Or my laptop is about to die!
I've never seen Norman before. Pretty boy...what's his story?
Do you think (in all your spare time-ha!) you could do a weekly bio on a horse..if the owner is okay with that? I think it would be neat to know more about them.
Hi Sylvia, a lot of the residents have already had in-depth posts written about them, including Norman. If you click on "meet the residents" in the labels list you will find them all there!
Thanks, Melissa. I'll have to check that out!
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