With Bonfire Night almost here, horse owners have spoken out about the impacts fireworks have on their welfare.

November 5 is the night Britain lights fireworks in memory of Guy Fawkes. Communities across the country join together to see the loud bangs and bright lights in the sky, but the impact of this can cause severe distress to the nation’s animals.

Alison Bartle, Yard Manager at the Yorkshire Riding Centre, shared her views on how the fireworks season impacts horses.

She said: “A horse’s natural instinct is to flee. The horses that are out in the field would likely react and, you know, put themselves at much more danger.

“Their natural reaction will be to run. Or in some cases horses would run blind and go through fencing or jump the hedge or end up on the road and then there is the likelihood of a more serious accident.”

She explained how at The Yorkshire Riding Centre, they were lucky to not have experienced any major incidents as of yet, however due to the horses becoming frightened when they hear the bangs, this can actually result in them being more dangerous to be around.

“Obviously they’re big animals and when they’re frightened you’re putting yourself in danger. If you were to go in the stable with them you’d probably get knocked over,” she said.

Campaigns

Recently, there have been talks around banning the use of fireworks outside of Bonfire Night, in an attempt to reduce the stress it causes to animals.

An MP from Bradford has launched a campaign to actually reduce the decibel levels of fireworks following constituents complaints about the noise.

Anna Dixon, who represents Shipley, started a petition which has gained more than 3000 signatures and plans to present it to the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud after 5 November.

Alison Bartle added: “I think people need to be more courteous about that and inform people who do have livestock of any kind if they plan to light fireworks.”

The British Horse Society (BHS), which is the largest equine charity in the UK, also shared their views on the issue.

They champion safety on and off the roads, improve welfare and support education around owning horses.

Des Payne, safety team manager at the BHS, said: “In last year’s data, we had 220 incidents reported to us, 21 of those horses were injured, but also seven people. But the worst outcome was that two horses had to be put to sleep because of it.”

He advised horse owners to keep them in stables if possible and to keep the lights on so that it might mitigate the flashing lights from the fireworks. Also, playing music might reduce the bangs, especially if they’re close by.

Des said: “We really urge the general public to attend a well public display, which is fully licensed and thought about their environment, rather than setting off any domestic fireworks.

“There’s also lots of people out in communities that suffer with PTSD and other mental health issues when fireworks go off.

“So collaboration across the community should be really considered.”

Please can we just have a ban on fireworks completely, my heart cannot cope watching my dog stress and panic pic.twitter.com/UGGrOUszZE

— Laura Gates (@lgatesphoto) October 31, 2025

How are other animals affected?

Horses are just one example of how this time of year takes an impact on animals. Dogs, cats, and other household pets can be just as frightened when they hear the bangs.

It’s important for pet owners to realise that the first step in preparing for Bonfire Night is to spot the signs, David Martin, Group Director of Animal Welfare at IVC Evidensia, explained how this works.

He said: “It is important for owners to be aware of how anxiety can present itself very differently for each pet.

“Dogs often bark more than normal, pace up and down, and heavily pant. Some dogs will behave more destructively than usual, while others may tremble and hide.”

“For cats, it can be difficult to spot anxiety as some will hide their fear. Key signs to look out for include hissing, low grumbling and dilated pupils.”

For most, Bonfire Night is something to look forward to and a time to see friends whilst watching the fireworks, but for others, the reality is much different.

With more campaigns about alternative ways to celebrate the 5 November, there is a growing hope that communities can strike a balance that also cares for the animals in the area, whilst keeping the tradition alive for people to enjoy.