As A Horse Owner, I Hate Fireworks
The two holidays I despise most every year have the same thing in common: fireworks.
New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July celebrations every year cause animal caretakers great headaches every time they roll around. For a second, imagine the fear our furry friends (and those who live naturally around us) face when they hear loud explosions all around them, cackling at random, followed by bright bursts of light in the sky that last all night. It’s terrifying.
But nevertheless, it’s 2026 and we haven’t found a different medium to use for our celebrations. (I was really hoping the drone light shows would take off, but I digress.)
This year is poised to be a big one: America is celebrating its 250th birthday.
The fear effect of fireworks has been attributed to mass die-offs of bird populations, changes in behavior of local wildlife and serious stress responses in domesticated dogs around the world, research shows.
There are some interesting theories to how horses handle the noise and sights of fireworks. Some expert animal behaviorists want to liken the experience to thunder. Horses get used to storms and thus, the booms of thunder, right? …I guess? But the big boom of a close bout of thunder, followed by the flash of lightning is still enough to make me (and my ponies) jump when we’re not prepared for it.
Other experts say some horses may be less bothered by the disruption, and could cause other more sensitive horses to stay calm in a herd-like setting.
A study this year in U.K. found that the majority (77%) of horse owners advocated tighter regulations surrounding the use of fireworks, with 34% of owners in the study saying they support an outright ban of fireworks. About 63% said that their horses responded negatively to fireworks, with 8% reporting injuries.
A 2016 study from New Zealand also found that 39% of horse owners perceived their horses as anxious when it comes to fireworks. About 26% of horse owners reported injuries due to spooks from firework displays.
Injuries do happen: In 2024, two horses were killed in California when three horses in total were spooked by fireworks and were found running down a major interstate. A bill has been proposed in South Carolina this year, which if passed would make it illegal to set off fireworks within 200 feet of an equestrian facility.
So is there any way to prepare your horses for the disruption July 4 with undoubtedly bring?
There are the usual methods: Keeping your horse in the stall rather than turned out overnight. Some folks keep the humming of fans running overnight and even a radio to try to tune out the big booms. Others use calming supplements and sedatives to try to reduce spook and anxiety reactions in our horses.
But what else can we do? Think ahead – ask neighbors if they’re planning to have a big fireworks display. Plan with your barn manager if you intend to adjust your horse’s turnout schedule. Sometimes those disruptions can cause stress in itself. This time of year is as good as any to do a walk through your pastures and stalls to ensure fencing and boards are safe and gates are secure. Does your property have working fire extinguishers on site? It’s also a good idea to secure any loose shavings and hay, for the rare but possible fireworks stray spark or mishap.
There’s no one answer for any one horse or barn. And generally speaking, our animals are likely more resilient than we give them credit for.
Good look and godspeed, horse girls. Can’t wait for this July 4 to come and go.