The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: Eeyore on September 28, 2016, 10:33:51 pm
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Hello, I have 2 lovely cobs, we've been together 17 years and are my life. Since moving to our new house 2 years ago, we have had problems with neighbours having fireworks. 2 Christmas's ago my next door neighbour had fireworks for 3 hours each night and 2 nights running. The stress made my gelding get colic (for the fist time in his life). Since then, any fireworks or anything that makes him stressed or anxious and even depressed he gets poorly and stops eating. He has now been diagnosed with Kidney failure and Cushings. We have stables and are stabled at nigh in the winter but the stables don't protect them from the noise or seeing the fireworks.
I am sorry for the long story and I know this is a very long shot, but I wondered if there is anyone who would be able to rent us a field and inside stables for the duration of November through to January - till the fireworks season is over? They are lovely horses, mare and gelding. I am very happy to pay and can provide references. The only other person I know on this site is my friend Claire from Brucklay Pygmy Goats.
I live near Cornhill Ideally I don't want to have to travel the horses very far (due to stressing / exciting them with the journey).
If you know of someone that could help or recommend someone, I'd be soo greatful if you could provide me with details. If you would like more info etc, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Thanks for reading my post. x
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Good luck with your search. Surely that amount of fireworks going off each night constitutes a noise nuisance! Get your own back by getting a few cockerels for summer mornings!!
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I get this too. Last year I had to stay with Dolly until 2am. They started their firework party just after 9pm when I thought it was safe to leave the ponies and turn off the radio. Dolly was bouncing off the walls. What about a calmer.
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Thank you both for taking the time to read my post and reply. We did get a calmer from our vet, but we don't know when the fireworks are going to be or who will have them, especially around bonfire night as people seem to have them on different days (not just the 5th Nov). My neighbour that had them for 3 hours 2 nights in a row was family visiting my neighbour - so a cockerel wouldn't make me feel better. I pleaded with my neighbour to ask her family not to have them but she wasn't bothered.
The horses have never been ok with fireworks, but up until we moved here they have never been ill because of them. Now my gelding is poorly, we can't a ford for him to get stressed. I am so worried we will loose him. x
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Feeling for you. :hug:
The horses which live in the fields around my mum's place were terrified by unexpected fireworks nearby, broke out of their paddock, got on the road. One ended up dead. :'(
We need legislation. Loud and big fireworks should require a license, part of which would be a requirement to give proper notice. Perhaps even needing permission to be specifically granted apart from certain days in the year, and certain venues.
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Apart from November the 5th and New Years Eve I don't think you can let fireworks off after 10pm at night. I don't know about Scotland.
We get them here and actually none of my horses are bothered luckily but if they are really loud or go on too long IMO I go round and give them a b*ll*cking. I once rang the police as one cottage were letting them off on a right of way and the police told me about the time limit.
I would go round and ask them to come and help you with your frightened horse and maybe if they can see the effect they might take heed.
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https://www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law (https://www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law)
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Bloody Hell! Find a local livery or retirement yard?
I suggest you ring the police every time you get fireworks outside the specified periods. It sounds completely unacceptable for everyone in the vicinity and clearly dangerous for nearby animals. My horses wouldn't be very bothered but my dogs would be utterly traumatised!
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Thanks everyone for replying and telling me your experiences. Scarlet.Dragon, you've gone through a horrendous time - your poor horse. Animals being traumatised and, much worse, ending up dead as a result is heartbreaking.
I am aware of the legislation as I used work for Trading Standards, who are the department that license the sale of fireworks. I wish they would only be sold to licensed displays only. After all, on the 5th Nov people that let off fireworks are celebrating an act of terrorism! A house in my village last year had fireworks at new year and the sound they made was like a sonic boom or a bomb going off - they had loads of them. So even if I could get them inside and they couldn't see the fireworks and with a loud radio, the noise these made was unbelievable - my house shook!
My neighbour's family that let off the fireworks did let me know, but there isn't much I can do with 10 mins notice and just on the other side of my house.
I have just ordered Zylkene as I know it works really well on my dog and it's natural so fingers crossed this will help. I am going to ask my local farmer if he has a barn or somewhere quite that I can keep them for a few months. My field could do with a rest too.
Have you all tried asking a local farmer if they have somewhere quieter for you horses? It breaks my heart all these lovely animals are being traumatised and injured due to fireworks.
Something has to be done. I don't suppose writing to our local councillor telling them about what fireworks have done to our pets would help. Maybe the more people that did complain and put pen to paper would help?
Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to my post, it means a lot to know I'm not alone, although I wish in some ways I was, as I don't want anyone else or their horses to go through this every year. x
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I have been thinking about your poor horse and into my mind came ear muffs You can get them for racehorses that get upset at the noise of horses (hopefully!) behind them. A bit of extra muffling may be needed but that, combined with a close shut loose box may do the trick!
Hevxxx99, my dogs love fireworks and will ask to go outside to watch and listen. I've only ever had one that was mildly bothered and he would go under the kitchen table and shiver gently!
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Hi Devonlady, thanks for replying.
I have tried the earmuffs before. I put one of those ear muff /fringes that show jumpers wear, on them both and I made little bags of cotton wool in tights and put them in their ears then put the muff/fringe thing on them. It didn't help much because I think it made them anxious (probably felt it from me). I don't think it would work here as the fireworks my neighbours had last new year were so loud I could feel the bang in my old cottage which has 2ft thick stone walls.
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and offer suggestions of help, it is so lovely to be part of a community that cares greatly for the welfare of our pets. x
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Oh Scarlet.Dragon, you're having a horrendous time. Are you able to move? I know we shouldn't let people get to us, but this must be terrifying and so worrying for you and wearing you out physically and mentally! I hope things get better soon for you and your babies. x
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How did your old dears get on last night, Eeyore? It was like the Blitz here though, thankfully, my dogs seem to enjoy the fireworks, paws on the window sill, watching!
Wouldn't it be lovely to live with no neighbours within sound or sight!!
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I had the same as last year. The B & B did not start their firework party till after 9pm. This year I gave Dolly a calmer . All ponies were inside with the building doors shut. We had the telly turned up a bit for the dogs which helped. the village are having theirs this coming weekend but I am hoping not to hear much of that as we are 2 miles away.
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Thank you devonlady for asking how my oldies got on. Scarlet.Dragon, the weather did not stop them here. One neighbouring property had a few fireworks - enough to get them spooked and run around the field. Then a property that has never had any before had a proper professional display - at 10.30pm, 3 hours after the first ones. So it was a long night.
We did the same as you Sabrina and bought a calmer - I tried to give them it a couple of days before and only a small amount so that they would get used to the taste. But my poorly gelding wouldn't eat it and since then he won't eat much. He is massively sensitive now - really lost trust in most things. Even this horrible weather makes him very depressed (which I completely understand). They have been living out since he was poorly in the summer and they have access to their stables from the field if they want. We put the radio on (volume not too loud) and since then my gelding won't stay in his stable. So we couldn't put them in with the radio on during the fireworks.
I just pray that the sale of fireworks to the public is stopped and only licensed displays can have them. Apparently they have had this law in Northern Ireland for years.
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Hi Scarlet.Dragon, he has stopped eating completely now - just stands in the field sleeping. We have tried everything to get him to eat. His favourite thing is grass and even this isn't helping. I do have problem where I don't have any grass in my field at the moment - I was hoping to move them to livery this weekend so that he has grass, but as he is very poorly again I don't know what to do for the best.
I have asked most local land owners if they could sell me hay or haylage but they don't respond and I have also asked if I could rent a couple of acres but again they never reply.
I'm finding this all quite hard right now. I have rubbish health myself - I am on a lot of morphine for pain and my gp gave me a new drug to try last weekend, it turned out it wasn't strong enough. I had 2 days of horrendous pain and withdrawl. To add to this the winds at the end of last week ripped the roof of my little hay store so it's all wet now.
If it wasn't for my little dog I don't know where I'd be - she's my ray of sunshine :)
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I am very sorry to hear about this. Whereabouts in the country are you based? Here are some ads on preloved I found, I hope they help. http://www.preloved.co.uk/search?keyword=haylage+for+sale+&orderBy=&location=&lat=&lon=&distance=§ionId=&minimumPrice=&maximumPrice=&advertType=&advertiserType=&promotionType= (http://www.preloved.co.uk/search?keyword=haylage+for+sale+&orderBy=&location=&lat=&lon=&distance=§ionId=&minimumPrice=&maximumPrice=&advertType=&advertiserType=&promotionType=)
Some land here too, but I am not sure whether this would help? :/
http://www.preloved.co.uk/search?keyword=fields+for+rent (http://www.preloved.co.uk/search?keyword=fields+for+rent)
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Thank you waterbuffalofarmer. I have never looked on "Preloved" before. I will go and check out your links.
Thank you for taking the time to do this for me.[size=78%] [/size] :)
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Thank you waterbuffalofarmer. I have never looked on "Preloved" before. I will go and check out your links.
Thank you for taking the time to do this for me.[size=78%] [/size] :)
It's ok it's a pleasure to help :) I hope you find something soon! Also try farmingads, they may have something. Another few good websites are gumtree, freecycle (for haylage you never know, only be very careful!) fridayad, ukfreeads, Facebook, farmers weekly, farmers guardian, agri trader, monthy advertiser. That is all I can thing of at this time :)
This may help.... Depending on your location?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/short-term-rent/2-acre-paddock-field-for-rent-good-grazing-land./1193716159 (https://www.gumtree.com/p/short-term-rent/2-acre-paddock-field-for-rent-good-grazing-land./1193716159)
https://www.gumtree.com/flats-houses/aberdeenshire/land (https://www.gumtree.com/flats-houses/aberdeenshire/land)
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Also I forgot to add this link which I found just now :)
http://www.horses4salescotland.co.uk/folder-3556-hay-haylage-suppliers (http://www.horses4salescotland.co.uk/folder-3556-hay-haylage-suppliers)
All the best with it all and do let us know how you get on.
This link in particular might be what you are looking for....
http://www.horses4salescotland.co.uk/item-906-hay-and-haylage-suppliers (http://www.horses4salescotland.co.uk/item-906-hay-and-haylage-suppliers)
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Eeyore I get my hay from a lovely chap near Huntly. He sells small bales and will deliver. If you'd like his number drop me a PM
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Thank you waterbuffalofarmer & Clydesdaleclopper. We have a round bale of hay we haven't opened yet as I've been using up the poor hay with rich haylage (mixed together). Where I used to stay our local farmer was great and he would bring us a bale of haylage when we needed it and we had a big shed to keep it dry.
Clydesdaleclopper, I will drop you a pm if this round bale isn't good. I did buy some small square bales form a man near Huntly. It smelled good and looked ok but when we got it home and opened it up it was all dirty inside. There was another guy who advertised round bales near Huntly but he didn't reply back to me arranging to have a look.
I was hoping to find someone very local with haylage or really good hay - for my poorly horse to keep him eating through the winter. He is really fussy with hay and it has to be really good before he will look at it. Sadly at the moment he won't eat anything. We don't have a tractor and therefore would have to buy small haylage bales which I am going to get a small amount of but they are so much more expensive.
Thanks again for all your help, x
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The stuff I get is very good quality - it has to be as my goats are so fussy ::)
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Thanks Scarlet.Dragon for your suggestions etc. My boy is on medication for his cushings and he has had a few of these episodes where he stops eating - usually brought on my stress. It started after he had 2 episodes of colic caused by stress from nearby fireworks. He got his annual vaccinations a few weeks after this and the very next day he was poorly - stopped eating and it took 2 weeks for his appetite to return. Him loosing his appetite started just under a year ago.
We know that the tiniest little thing can stress him and he looses trust very quickly. Trying to give him Zylkene in his food last Thursday (to help keep him calm during the fireworks weekend) made him loose trust in his bucket. He won't take anything from me - or in a bucket. He is nibbling some grass from time to time. From experience there is nothing the vet can do just now. Getting the vet out would only make him more stressed and less trusting. I can't get his little cushings table in him as he won't eat and If I get it in his mouth he just spits it out. So he is drinking a bit more than normal, but not as bad as he has been in the past.
We went back to my old hay supplier and got one of this year's hay bales which is quite good. Yesterday the local farmer that I wrote to got in touch and said he has hay and haylage I can purchase from him. I'm hoping to go and see what it's like at the weekend. This is great as he is really close by.
Because of my rubbish health etc, I have been looking for hay or haylage close by as I find it hard to have to soak or mix not so good hay. Before this new bale, I was mixing not so good hay with rich haylage and because of the time and effort it took I did most of it on my knees and it took me hours. I'd make a pile and give it to the horses and by the time I had made another pile they had finished the first lot.
Before my boy got poorly I was trying to find a good home for them both. I have had them 18 years and they are the only horses I have ever owned. Life is a struggle, but I love them soo much.
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Could he have developed a growth or something inside of him which is making him lose his appetite more this year?
I am sorry if I have worried you by this comment, truly this was not my intention... It could be old age (although horses can live for 30 years) but it could be something either external on his body or internal, maybe an underlying problem?
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In July this year the vets did lots of tests and they came back with a diagnoses of Kidney Failure and Cushings Syndrome. I am scared to get the vet out as I know this will stress him greatly - even the sight of a vet. He has been fine since the last episode in July - apart from his poos are really runny which I believe is part of having Kidney Failure.
The vets have said there is nothing they can do for kidney failure but the Cushings we are treating with tablets.
I just wish I had a big grassy field I could give him and a large barn to put him in when the weather is wet. Need to win the lottery first! ;)
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Thanks Scarlet.Dragon.
I say "bad hay", it's not actually bad in any way - just my horses turn their noses up at it. It is dirty in places and has big clumps of dirt mixed in. They just waste it and tramp it into the ground. I suppose they are spoilt - but it's only because I am always trying to make sure my gelding is eating well.
I have thought about the horse charities etc. Sadly, once you've signed them over you are not allowed to know what happens to them, and this I don't think I could cope with. I think the term is "being stuck between a rock and a hard place". ;D
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Hi Eeyore,
Did you ever find anywhere for last year?
If you are struggling at all this November then give me a shout we are out beside Huntly and would have spare grazing should you be in need. We do not have stables but looking to build a field shelter before Autumn/Winter this year.
:)