It’s no secret that fireworks tend to frighten and upset companion animals. Any time a holiday like New Year’s Eve rolls around, it’s inevitable that some furry family members will run for cover as soon as the first firecracker boldly announces itself. However, the impact of these noisy displays on other commonly kept animals like horses and donkeys remains underexplored. Evidence of harm to these animals could support advocates’ calls to strengthen fireworks legislation.

Researchers from the University of Lincoln aimed to understand the effects that fireworks have on equids in the United Kingdom. Using social media, they recruited horse and donkey guardians over the age of 18 to complete a five-part survey. The first section collected participants’ demographic information, as well as their opinions on fireworks and fireworks regulations. Next, participants provided demographic and care information about their equid. They then rated their animal’s fear level and reported on any behaviors and injuries they’ve observed in response to fireworks. In the last section, participants described the steps they’ve taken to mitigate the risks and how effective they feel these efforts have been.

In total, 1,466 equid guardians participated in the survey, most of whom were horse guardians (84%). Therefore, it should be noted that the following results reflect their experiences more heavily than donkey guardians, who made up just 16% of the sample.

Adverse Reactions

Close to two-thirds (63%) of horse guardians reported an adverse reaction to fireworks, compared to just 21% of donkey guardians. When asked what aspects of fireworks caused the most distress, 35% of horse guardians reported “loud bangs” and 22% reported “flashing lights.” However, 28% said “none.”

“None” was by far the most common response among donkey guardians (78%), followed by loud bangs (11%) and flashing lights (6.5%).

Behavioral Differences

Behavioral responses to fireworks differed meaningfully between horses and donkeys. Running and kicking were the most commonly reported responses for both, while horses were more likely to buck and rear and donkeys were more likely to vocalize.

Similarly, there were significant differences in guardian-assigned fear scores, with horses receiving higher scores than donkeys (a median of six versus three on a 10-point scale). This difference may reflect divergent fear responses: horses may be more likely to flee, while donkeys may freeze, remaining motionless in an attempt to avoid detection. Thus, a donkey who appears calm during fireworks may still be experiencing significant fear or stress.

Donkeys were also perceived as being less fearful when surrounded by other equids. It’s possible that their tendency to form particularly strong social bonds may act as a buffer against the stress caused by fireworks.

Physical Risks

When polled about physical harm, 8% of horse guardians reported injuries related to fireworks. Among the most common injuries were cuts and lacerations (79%), broken bones (11%), damage to hooves or feet (5%), and car accidents following an escape (3%). Just over half (51%) of these injuries required veterinary intervention, while 12% resulted in loss of life.

In contrast, only one donkey guardian reported a fireworks-related injury. The injury involved some minor cuts that didn’t require veterinary attention.

Mitigation Efforts

Three-quarters (75%) of horse guardians attempted to lessen the impact of fireworks on their animal, while just 21% of donkey guardians did the same. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most common strategy was ensuring their animal is stabled. The most effective reported strategy, however, was removing the horse or donkey from the environment entirely.

Participants also reported staying with their horse or donkey as a form of mitigation. While staying with their animal may help calm them, it does expose guardians to physical risk from spontaneous reactions such as bucking.

Support For Regulations

The majority of respondents — 77% of horse guardians and 81% of donkey guardians — agreed that tighter regulations are needed. The change most commonly supported was restricting fireworks to specific occasions only, followed by noise limits and bans on private displays.

Besides the sample being heavily weighted toward horse guardians, the study had several other notable limitations. Because horses and donkeys often live outdoors and not in the home, observing their reactions isn’t as easy as observing a dog’s or cat’s, so some details may have been missed. Further, fear scores relied on guardian perceptions rather than direct measurement, which may have introduced variability.

Ultimately, the study raises awareness about equids who are often overlooked when it comes to discussions about fireworks. While the findings are most directly applicable to the U.K., they may extend to other regions with similar equid management practices and fireworks calendars. For advocates, this research provides empirical weight for fireworks policy reforms, including restrictions to specific occasions, advance notice requirements for displays, and noise limits, that could help bring peace of mind to equids and their guardians alike.