REMEMBER, remember the fifth of November - let's hope for all the right reasons and not the nightmare that happened to one horse owner last year.

The woman kept her three animals in a field some way from her home and was unaware a private bonfire party was being planned on land next door.

It's easy to say now the party organisers should have taken more care, but people, especially if they don't own animals, don't always appreciate the impact fireworks can have. Livestock that will calmly ignore the noise of low flying jet planes and even helicopters can take flight at sudden loud bangs and the night sky lit up by cascading lights.

When this particular display began, the horses panicked and started racing around their paddock in the darkness.

Two of them collapsed and died due to stress and exhaustion. The third ran into a telegraph pole and suffered horrendous injuries.

By the time their owner had been contacted and reached the field, it was too late to save any of them.

Every year, animals are frightened by fireworks and many of the incidents are preventable with a bit of common sense.

This year, the British Horse Society has issued specific warnings about the dangers of letting off fireworks when there are horses around.

"Anyone holding a firework display should make sure that it is not being held anywhere near fields where there are horses or ponies," said BHS head of welfare Kerstin Alford.

Her words were echoed by Dave Smith, who runs Smithy's Livery Yard at Norton, near Worcester.

"We are having a bonfire party for all the clients," said Dave. "But there definitely won't be any fireworks. People just don't appreciate how much these things can scare animals.

"They go up into the sky and they can be heard half a mile away. The problem doesn't always stay close to home.

"Once a horse gets frightened and starts galloping around anything can happen. You can't catch them, especially in the dark, and if you try, you're in danger yourself of getting trampled on.

"I know the sensible thing is to bring horses into a stable if there's going to be a firework display in the area, but some horse owners who keep them out don't have access to a stable and a lot of the time they don't know if fireworks are going to go off anyway.

"Very few people warn you."

The scenario was underlined by the BHS, which advises that if horses have to be left out, they should be given plenty of hay to keep them occupied and checked on regularly.

"It is essential that anyone holding a firework display should inform their neighbours and behave in a considerate and responsible way," Kerstin Alford added.

"They have a duty of care to the public and this should include their animals. Firework displays should take place well away from any livestock, particularly horses, which can be more nervous than most. Many are easily alarmed and could be terrified by the noise and explosions of light.

"There is a real danger that if frightened they will escape from their field and perhaps cause an accident on the roads."

Then came some advice that party organisers should seriously heed.

"Anyone holding a firework party should also check their insurance as a claim for damages could prove very costly," said Kerstin.

The best bet might be to enjoy one of the specially organised bonfire parties and firework displays.

Like the one on the Three Counties Showground at Malvern tonight.

The gates open at 5.30pm and the fireworks begin at 8pm.