Horses left terrified after firework shot into field
A renewed call for the sale of fireworks to be restricted has been made by an owner after a firework was thrown into her horses’ field.
Leeds-based owner Kirsty Cottrell keeps her two horses in Carlton in a three-acre paddock.
Her husband was at the yard on Saturday at midday (27 February) when he heard a very loud bang.
He then found a firework lying in the field where the horses had been grazing.
“The horses were flying down the field,” Kirsty told H&H.
Kirsty two geldings, Alfie, a five-year-old warmblood cross thoroughbred, and Fayo, a 14-year-old Welsh mountain pony, were very stirred up following the incident.
“They were both massively agitated, particularly Alfie,” said Kirsty.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“He had his rug on — if the firework had landed on him he could have been set on fire.”
Kirsty now believes the purchase fireworks should be restricted.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed the incident had been reported to them.
A police spokesman told H&H they received a call about fireworks being thrown at horses in Rothwell that afternoon.
He added none of the horses were injured, but enquiries are ongoing.
Call police on 101 with information.
Campaign for restriction
This is not the first time H&H has reported on horse owners calling for the sale of fireworks to be restricted.
In 2014, a petition to the Government was set up by Julie Doorne calling for the restriction of the use of fireworks to reduce stress and fear in animals and pets.
Related articles:
- 14 top tips to help horses cope with fireworks
- Horse owners call for a restriction on fireworks
- Ban private firework displays, say horse owners
This has so far received 84,738 signatures, but needs to reach 100,000 for it to be debated in Parliament. The deadline is 2 April.
To sign the petition visit: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/109702
Report any incidents of horses being adversely affected by fireworks to the British Horse Society at www.horseaccidents.org.uk
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
