REDWINGS has produced a template letter for horse owners asking neighbours to ‘Keep Horses in Mind’ if they’re considering using fireworks this autumn.

It’s part of the charity’s new campaign – launched last week – to better protect horses, ponies, donkeys and mules from the fear, injury, illness and worse that fireworks can cause.

The horse welfare charity, which is one of the biggest in the UK, is urging people to use low-noise fireworks if they do intend to put on a display, which are now more available than ever before.

You can find, download, customise and print the letter here. 

Every year, Redwings sends letters out to its own neighbours highlighting the dangers of fireworks to horses and asking for information on any displays happening nearby so that staff can be as well prepared as possible.

 Norfolk Operations Manager Talita Arantes said: “At this time of year we deliver letters to our neighbours asking about fireworks displays they may be having or know of in the area. 

“Redwings is home to hundreds of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and we do everything we can to try to ensure they experience as little stress as possible because of fireworks. 

“Our staff work around 50 extra hours during this time to make additional checks on the horses. Devastatingly, we have lost three ponies to the effects of fireworks in recent years, our beloved Cinders, Percy and Sprite, despite our best efforts. It is a very anxious time for us, and horse owners everywhere.”

The charity has been campaigning to help people better understand the dangers posed to horses by fireworks for over 10 years.

They are co-hosting an MP drop-in event at Westminster next Wednesday (30th October), alongside other members of the Fireworks Working Group, and are urging people to contact their MP to ask them to attend. You can find your MP’s contact details here.

Redwings Campaigns and Policy Manager Helen Whitelegg said: “As flight animals with highly attuned senses, horses can be very reactive to loud noises, in particular. Their reaction to fear is to run from the source of perceived danger which can put both their own lives and the lives of anyone nearby at risk. People often ask us why they can’t just ‘be put in a stable’ but confining them and/or a change of routine can actually add to the stress of a fireworks display and, in fact, make the experience more distressing for them. 

“Many people might not know that horses die or are injured every year because of fireworks. A staggering 366 horses were recorded to have been killed or injured due to fireworks-related incidents between November 2010 and March 2024 and many more such incidents go unrecorded (British Horse Society).”  

Helen added: “While it is helpful for neighbours to let horse owners know if they’re planning a fireworks display in the local area, there are often limited options an owner can take to protect their horses. Unlike dogs and cats, who can be kept indoors and shielded to an extent from the noise and lights of nearby fireworks, this isn’t an option for the owners of horses and other large animals. We ask anyone planning a fireworks display to listen to concerns raised politely by any horse-owning neighbours in order to work together to find ways of making any event enjoyable for everyone exposed to it.”

For more information, please visit Redwings fireworks webpage here and follow Redwings’ social media pages.