Fireworks, a trailer journey or a busy competition day: for a horse, these are moments full of unfamiliar sounds. Most of what you can do comes down to preparation, familiar surroundings and a fixed routine. On this page you can read how to get your stable and field ready for New Year's Eve, and you will find complementary feeds and herbs for horses.
New Year's Eve: how to prepare stable and field
- Stable or field: keep your horse where he is used to being. A horse that always lives out does not know an unfamiliar stable.
- Check the field: check gates and fencing, remove loose items and look for leftover fireworks from last year.
- Stable: close windows and top doors, leave a light on and switch on a radio if you like, so the bangs sound less loud inside.
- Something to do: plenty of hay, a haynet or a lick stone keeps your horse occupied. Keep feeding times the same.
- Surroundings: ask neighbours where and when fireworks will be set off, do not ride that evening and make sure someone is nearby.
Preparing in the weeks before
In the weeks before the turn of the year, let your horse get used to a radio in the stable or to a light that stays on in the evening, so that neither is anything new on New Year's Eve. If you want to use a complementary feed, try it well in advance too, so you know how your horse eats it.
Complementary feeds in this collection
Excellent Horse No Stress Paste is a paste with L-tryptophan and magnesium that you give by mouth; the No Stress Mix has the same base and is mixed into the feed. Excellent Horse Magnesium Citrate is a powder with magnesium citrate and carob seed meal. Excellent Horse Herbs Chamomile and Monk's Pepper are dried herbs that you mix into the daily feed. For all products: follow the directions for use on the label.
Points to note
Fidello is not a vet and these products are feed, not medicines. If your horse is very anxious, panics or injures himself, consult your vet. If you compete, check the rules beforehand to see whether an ingredient is permitted.
More in vitamins and minerals, haynets, stable toys against boredom and in the overview horse supplements.
Frequently asked questions
Is my horse better off inside or outside on New Year's Eve?
Choose what he is used to. A horse that lives out day and night is better off staying in a secure, familiar field than in a strange stable.
When do I give No Stress Paste?
The timing and the amount are stated on the packaging. Try the paste once beforehand, so you know how your horse reacts.
My horse is very afraid of fireworks every year. What now?
Consult your vet well before the turn of the year. Together you can decide what is sensible for your horse.