I don't think that my horses enjoy the Fourth of July fireworks display nearly as much as I do. Creative Commons photo.
Happy (almost) Fourth of July! Since I’m somewhat red, white and blue obsessed, I definitely love Independence Day. It is first and foremost a day to be thankful for the freedoms that we are lucky enough to have, while also remembering all of the brave men and women over the years who made sacrifices to make it possible. But I do love the sunny weather, barbecuing by the pool, eating s’mores and ending the day by watching an awesome fireworks display.
Unfortunately, horses and fireworks go about as well together as oil and water. The flashing lights and loud booms that follow can cause anxiety and fearful reactions in horses. In all honestly, I never gave a second thought to fireworks while my horses were boarded. Only after bringing them to my own farm did I wonder how to keep them safe from injuring themselves during any potential “freak outs.”
Here at my farm, my plan for the Fourth of July simply involves keeping my horses in their stalls during the night, which just happens to be their normal every night routine anyway. I put them in their stalls, give them plenty of hay and water, and let them be. No one ever seems bothered when I come out the next morning for feed time. Concerned about how to keep your horse safe during this Fourth of July holiday? Check out some tips on how you can help manage your horses by checking out this article from The Horse.com.
And then peruse some of the other headlines from this Week in Horse Health News, presented by Absorbine:
Lathery Horse Sweat: Did you know that there is actually a reason behind the lathery sweat that your horse develops while working hard? This lathery sweat contains a special kind of protein called latherin. The latherin in the sweat acts as a surfactant, which is said to help control body temperature. [Horsetalk]
Increase Turnout Safety: Do your horses have enough space to live peacefully in their pasture? It might make sense to keep newly introduced horses in a smaller area until they get used to each other, but this can actually cause more problems. Check out some tips to help promote more harmony in your pastures. [Equus Magazine]
Manuka Honey to Control Inflammatory Response: You might have heard about the ability of New Zealand Manuka honey to heal equine wounds. But did you know that its healing abilities extend further than its anti-microbial properties? It can also influence a horse’s inflammatory response, as noted by a review published in the journal Equine Veterinary Education. [Horsetalk]
Horses at Home on July 4th: Do you find yourself making your plans for the Fourth of July based on the fact that you keep your horses at home? While it is likely that many owners are concerned about their horses injuring themselves in a state of anxiety during a night of fireworks, there can be other Fourth of July related concerns depending on where you are located. [The Horse]
