Fireworks notice plea after horse 'put down'

Residents of a West Sussex village said recent fireworks left their horses sweating with nerves

Horse owners have pleaded for advanced notice of fireworks events after a display at a private party.

Residents living in a West Sussex village said fireworks on 8 November - including the Pets Corner retail chain owner Dean Richmond's display - left their horses sweating with nerves.

Mr Richmond said he was "devastated" after a local horse was reportedly injured that night and later put down, and that he had informed some neighbours in advance.

"It's only an allegation that my display was the cause", he said, adding that "there were other displays in the area that evening".

In a statement, Mr Richmond said: "I had notified several nearby neighbours about the planned display, but with hindsight, I appreciate that I should have shared that information more widely.

"I am genuinely sorry for any upset this may have caused."

Kitty, who did not give her surname, told the BBC she was working at an equestrian centre about three miles away from Mr Richmond's address that night and initially thought fireworks were a "gunshot".

She said there were "a lot of horses escaping fields" at her centre that evening but they were "okay now".

"I think it's making sure everyone knows when they're going off so we can plan it better," she said. "I guess it does happen this time of year."

Her colleague Paige, who also did not give her surname, said: "One of my horses was drenched in sweat, really scared, nervous and pacing.

"Now he's jumping at loud noises and very jumpy."

She said it was "not hard to let us know" about displays in advance.

The fireworks display started at 18:15 GMT and lasted about six minutes, according to Pets Corner, which purports to be the "the UK's leading ethical pet retailer".

The firm said Mr Richmond had written to neighbours since the display to say the event happened "earlier in the evening to minimise disruption" and "was conducted by a professional fireworks company".

He said the horse that died was kept in a field more than 800m (0.5mi) away, which he had "understood to be outside the area likely to be affected".

Mr Richmond said he was in "direct contact" with the deceased horse's owner.

Lucinda Langhorn said there were multiple firework displays that night

Lucinda Langhorn, who runs a separate riding school about three miles away from Mr Richmond's property, said she knows the owner of the put-down horse and "it's always a tragedy".

"It only takes one firework and one spooked horse, then suddenly you have mayhem," she said.

"If you want a party, just think about how far reaching the noise and effect may go."

She also said there were other displays heard in the area that night.

In his letter, Mr Richmond said: "Please be assured that I will not be holding any further fireworks displays in the future."