SCROLL for our video on desensitising your horse. Find it at the end of this blog!
If your horse has a nervous nature or is prone to stress at this time of year, now is a great time to think about how your management and feeding could help ease any challenges.
Plan ahead
Stay informed about local events. Check local press, social media, and noticeboards to know when events are scheduled. If you’re concerned about nearby private displays, a friendly chat with neighbours can help, letting you prepare in advance and ensuring they understand your concerns.
Keep calm and consistent
Routine is comforting to horses. Try to maintain their normal yard visits, feeding, and turnout timings, as these small consistencies can make a significant difference. Also, staying calm yourself can have a positive effect on your horse’s anxiety.
Feed for calming support, starting with forage
Forage keeps horses occupied and helps settle their stomachs. Did you know? Chewing produces saliva, which can buffer stomach acid and have a settling effect. Whether your horse is stabled or turned out, having access to forage can help reduce stress.
If you plan to use a calming feed, start introducing it well in advance for the best effect. Blue Chip Calming Feed Balancer, for example, contains a targeted supplement to help settle horses over a longer period of time. This can be especially helpful if your horse may become more on edge from additional stabling or a reduced winter workload.
Play the radio and keep lights on
Playing a radio in the evening or overnight can help distract. Introduce the radio before the season begins so your horse becomes accustomed to it.
Keeping stable lights on during this time of year can help calm reactive behaviour.
- Stick to routine - If your horse is especially stressed by being left out, bring them into the stable but keep their routine as normal as possible
- Stable friends - Horses tend to feel more secure if they can see another horse nearby
- Check for safety - Ensure the stable is safe, with no protruding objects, and that the door is secure
Tips for horses turned out
- Consider their temperament - If your horse prefers to remain outdoors, then keep that routine the same
- Field safety - For nervous horses left out, ensure the field is secure and free from anything that could cause injury
- Extra forage - Provide piles of forage well spaced apart (with one extra pile than the total number of horses)
Plan a late night check
A later check can help keep your mind at ease and ensure your horse is settled. Make sure any checks align with your yard owner’s rules/expectations.
For more guidance, we also have a video below on desensitising your horse. By taking these steps and keeping yourself calm, you’ll help create a safer, more settled environment for your horse.
@bluechipfeed 🎆How are you preparing your horses for bonfire night? 🎇We’d love to hear in the comments your top tips. Also see our blog post (link in bio) on how to help desensitise your horse on fireworks night. 🐴#horsesoftiktok #horseswithfireworks #toptips #horsetips #horsetip #bluechipfeed #horses #bonfirenight #fireworks #fyp #ponies #poniesoftiktok #calmhorse #howtocalmahorse ♬ original sound - bluechipfeed
