Ahead of the 2021 Fourth of July, Stacie wrote a short piece for the Hardaway Veterinary Hospital blog on horses and fireworks – framed around fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS), the same concepts at the heart of her Fear Free equine work. The post is still live on Hardaway’s site.
Your Horse and Fireworks
By Stacie G. Boswell, DVM, DACVS — Hardaway Veterinary Hospital blog, June 24, 2021
From the opening:
Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) is experienced by all species – and horse owners know this instinctively. The loud, sudden noises of fireworks can make your horse feel afraid. One study showed up to 80% of horses are afraid of fireworks. A horse’s primary response to fear is to run – and during 4th of July celebrations, that running response can lead to real problems.
The piece offers six practical tips – plan ahead for local fireworks schedules, secure fences and remove pasture hazards, provide a calm companion, talk to your veterinarian about sedation for severely anxious horses, mask the booms with background noise, and stay calm yourself, because horses pick up on our anxiety. It closes with a reminder that prompt treatment of lacerations and impact injuries leads to the best outcomes.
Read the full post at Hardaway Veterinary Hospital.