A horse in Cornwall was injured after fireworks caused panic and a collision with a stable wall. Vet bills are now costly.
Her horse, Sassy, is normally healthy. The loud noise made Sassy panic, and she ran into her stable wall during the fireworks last November. Now Sassy has recurring eye infections and may need an operation to remove her eye. Chloe’s vet bills are already about £300, and she is waiting to learn about Sassy’s pregnancy.
Chloe worries other horses may get hurt, because loud fireworks cause extreme fear. Horses could break legs or have heart attacks; they might die trying to escape. The fireworks event has occurred for 25 years near the village hall, about 400 meters from the stables, according to the committee.
Chloe puts horses in stables during fireworks and gives them sedatives. These actions could not stop the panic, because sedation doesn’t always work, she says. It is also expensive to medicate all 26 horses.
Chloe cares about her animals’ well-being and worries about her staff. Extreme panic can be a safety risk; staff must calm horses, risking injury to people and animals.
Chloe asked the committee to move the fireworks, but she feels unheard. She thinks it is a losing battle, as animals will suffer until fireworks are illegal, she said.
The committee stated fireworks happen at the village hall. The event moved briefly, then returned in 2014. They received a letter from the stables in 2024. The committee will consider the letter and wrote to Barnwell Stables in January 2025, asking for a meeting to discuss the concerns raised.
The committee thinks one display is safer than many private events, as a single display is only 12 minutes long.