To ask people having fireworks this weekend to employ some common sense?

[Frillyhorseyknickers]

If you're having fireworks, and you live near horses or any sort of livestock, please have the forthought to go round and tell them your plans, so they can take steps to protect their animals, horses in particular are flight animals.

My friend's horse was badly injured this week as no one thought to let them know theneighbours were having fireworks.

www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/horse-left-badly-injured-leaps-702824

Please also think about how mindlessly stupid it is to send burning flames up into the sky (fireworks, Chinese lanterns) as they end up setting fire to straw stacks, livestock buildings etc etc.

Well said OP, people lose their minds a little I think when having the power of playing with their own explosives! We’ll be staying in with films, warm PJs and hot chocolate

At the end of the day a lot more people are able to enjoy fireworks than are able to enjoy horses

At the end of the day a lot more people are able to enjoy fireworks than are able to enjoy horses.

That doesn't even make sense but I suppose it's human nature to be an ignorant arsehole until something affects you.

I can't leave them in the paddock - they are eventers and I hazard a guess if they are spooked they wouldn't have an issue jumping the gate. They are fairly bomb proof - we shoot at home and they are fine with the noise but fireworks provoke a different reaction, my youngster is drenched with sweat and his eyes are on stalks. I wouldn't mind for one night but this is the fifth night in a row we've had them.

Can't ban everything that some dick will misuse.

No, but you can ban stuff that is potentially incredibly dangerous and has no practical purpose. Handguns, which were generally used in this country at the time for recreational and sporting purposes, were banned for this reason after Dunblane, for example.
I'm another one who has long been mystified that people can just turn up at shops at this time of year and buy quite powerful explosives just for fun.

If you own a horse then take precautions on bonfire weekend. Love this idea that a few wealthy horse owners can dictate that no one has fireworks 0

What about people who can't cope with it, certain individuals with autism, suffering PTSD, very young children?

They stay in their houses, I assume. Although I don't enjoy it, and never go watch, it's one display on the seafront, you can hear it, but no louder than your television unless you live very very close. It's from about 8pm-9pm and on the same night every week so those who need to avoid it can.

It's no more disruptive than cars driving past, dogs barking or drunk people singing, which happen pretty much every night throughout the summer.

I don't think anyone objects to taking precautions for 3 nights (so Fri, Sat, Sun this year), but the trouble is that its spread over 2 weeks and you can't sedate/ keep dogs in from 5.30 every night and so on for that long.

My mum has dementia, and she is terrified of fireworks. She'll be crying, huddled in the corner, completely inconsolable for hours. They've tried giving her something to calm her, but it then is a big falls risk. Ok for one night, not for 14 or more.

I love fireworks

I don't mean that to be insensitive, I'm just trying to explain that everyone here is pretty used to it. I've never heard anyone complain.

I'm confused it's bonfire night, why would I need to go around telling people? Surely you know there will be fireworks?

For the first time this year I wont be worrying about my dogs as they have both become exceedingly deaf in the last year and wont hear the bangs! For the last couple of years ( since moving from an isolated village with no fireworks at all into a suburban housing estate) theyve been crawling on my lap for 5 hours cos they were so terrified.

New Years Eve was the worst - whole house was fast asleep by 10pm then the whole world exploded at midnight - poor dog was throwing herself at the door til I got downstairs. it was her worst reaction ever and yes maybe I should have stayed up all night so everyone else could enjoy their NYE but I was exhausted and ill so fell asleep.

Not everyone waits until Nov 5th to let their fireworks off though Bubble. There have been nightly fireworks around here for the past two weeks (and teenagers throwing rockets at people in the local shopping centre throughout halfterm, but that’s a separate issue).

I’ve also seen the effects of people being hit by fireworks when I worked in A&E, and it isn’t pretty.

Limiting them to organised events would be fine by me. Nobody needs explosives in their back garden.

At the end of the day a lot more people are able to enjoy fireworks than are able to enjoy horses

And that makes a difference how? The OP is asking that people who live near livestock and horses are not shooting fireworks over fields and barns, and that if you plan on having a bit of a display then let the owners know they can expect a lot of fireworks close by and roughly the time, if you can so they can be prepared - it's not a case of oh well, fireworks are more popular so nothing else should matter!

If you own a horse then take precautions on bonfire weekend. Love this idea that a few wealthy horse owners can dictate that no one has fireworks hmm0

Is it just wealthy owners that can't dictate? I'm a working class owner - can I? This is half the problem IMO, the stereotype of horse owners that the public has. These days it's far from true, the BHS and other organisations have worked hard to make horse riding more accessible to more people. You don't need to be wealthy to love an animal, I love horses because of what they are, I don't ride much anymore but I have two because I love them as an animal. I work hard, budget well and don't do anything else, they are mine and my DD's entire social life and entertainment because that's what we want.

My MIL is petrified of fireworks because kids will put fireworks through letterboxes, drain pipes and in exhaust pipes. She is also the primary carer for my GIL who has very advanced dementia. Horrible time of year for them both.

But it's still not a surprise sashkin is it? OP is asking people to go around telling potential pet owners, despite the fact she doesn't seem to be able to do anything to make dr pony better even if she does know.

It's not just animals is it, though it's awful for many of the poor creatures. What about people who can't cope with it, certain individuals with autism, suffering PTSD, very young children? Perhaps if it truly was only a few nights a year, it could be excusable to have home fireworks. As it goes, people take the piss, even if we take the danger element out of it

^ 100% this. I know most people don't give a shit about the effect fireworks have on animals, but perhaps they could consider the other people^ for whom fireworks, from mid-October to the end of December, are terrifying.

It's no more disruptive than cars driving past, dogs barking or drunk people singing, which happen pretty much every night throughout the summer

That just is plainly not true. You think a car driving past is comparable to the sound of explosives going off in someones back garden?

I think there argument there might someone nearby suffering PTSd is a bit of an odd one. The only logical step on from that is that no one can ever have home fireworks just in case. But why would you curtail your life to that extent if you want fireworks?

Some of my happiest childhood memories are my dads crap fireworks with baked potatoes and cup a soups. I wouldn't have been able to understand my mum stopping it all just in case. It's not a realistic idea, I don't think. Where does the tip toeing around just in case end?

It's no more disruptive than cars driving past, dogs barking or drunk people singing, which happen pretty much every night throughout the summer.

Firstly those things are not remotely comparable. Either you have hearing issues or are lucky to live somewhere where they both are far away from your home and only happen a very few nights a year. In my area they really do sound like explosions, and come from several gardens. Not every so often either - they so far have been every single night for a month, and this will continue until at least January. Not just the fireworks I personally have the joy of listening to every night, it's next door's dog barking and the sound of my own prayers hoping they don't wake up my 2 year old this time. People cannot be trusted to be responsible and considerate with fireworks, even one arsehole can ruin an entire neighbourhood just because 'they like them'.

Oh yes because farmers are going to know which night people decide to let them off
They should only be let off for one wkend, im fed up of all week long listening to it.
Im fed up of teenagers setting them off in people gardens and carparks.( all this week)
Those lanterns are hazardous and should absolutely be banned.

The only logical step on from that is that no one can ever have home fireworks just in case.

Yes please. They really really really shouldn't be available to the public.

Well I wish the farmer would come and tell me when he's going out shooting so I don't think some mad man is doing a drive by but I'm not idiotic enough to expect him to do it

Yes but they are Edmund so its tough.

If you own a horse then take precautions on bonfire weekend. Love this idea that a few wealthy horse owners can dictate that no one has fireworks
except it's not one weekend though is it? It's a week, or 2 weeks of this! Maybe not by you, but certainly by me!

Oh get off your high horse! Sorry, couldn't help it.

But on a different note, wouldn't livestock owners know that there's likely to be a lot of fireworks going off this weekend and take it as red, rather than expecting to be notified?

I think a better call for common sense would be asking people not to set them off really late at night when babies are sleeping.

Also, cats and dogs and other pet shop get scared....those pet owners aren't notified, it's just a tricky time of year, don't think you can do much about it I'm afraid.