HEMLOCK - Conium Maculatum - contains several poisonous alkaloid chemicals. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Hemlock resembles many other harmless members of the parsley family; however, its smooth, purple-blotched stems and unpleasant smell can easily identify it.
Hemlock is found by roads, streams and on waste ground throughout Britain. It is less common in the north.
HORSETAIL - Equisetum - poisoning though rare is most likely to occur from contaminated hay or straw. The effects are similar to Bracken poisoning. They are extremely difficult to kill as they have very long taproots.
IVY - Hedra - clambers over trees and in hedgerows often reaching a great size, it produces greenish-yellow flowers in the autumn and is rarely eaten by horses and ponies.
MOULDY HAY/HAYLAGE/ SILAGE/CERIALS - contain toxins and bacteria produced fungi in 'big bale' silage has been associated with the death of several horses.
NIGHTSHADE (DEADLY/WOODY) - Atropa belladonna/Solanum dulcamara - Woody nightshade grows in woods and hedges and on beaches throughout Britain.
Deadly nightshade though rare is found in hedges, woods and thickets on chalky soils and sometimes near old buildings. These plants are members of the potato family; every part of the plant is poisonous, containing alkaloid poisons that attack the nervous system.
OAK TREES - Quercus - Both the leaves and acorns of the tree are poisonous. Some horses/ponies may develop an appetite for acorns with serious consequences, however the comsuption of small amounts is probably harmless; but to be safe fence off any oak trees during the autumn.
RAGWORT - perhaps has the highest profile in plants dangerous to horses. Ragwort is a member of the daisy family and is so called because of their ragged leaves and appears in four varieties.
MARSH - Senecio aquaticus - is found in damp pasture, especially on peaty soil.
HOARY - S.erucifolius - is found on lime rich soils especially clay, in lowland areas of England and Wales. It can be identified by its hairy leaves and stems and grows between 30cm-120cm (1ft-4ft).
OXFORD - S.aqualidus - is becoming common especially around towns. It grows 22cm-37cm (9ins. -15ins.) and its flowers brighten the corner of a building plot. It was introduced to Oxford from southern Italy and was first noticed spreading elsewhere in 1794. This ragwort begins to bloom in May.
COMMON - S. Jacobaea - grows throughout the British Isles, growing on waste ground, roadsides and neglected pasture.
YEW- Taxus baccata - is the most poisonous tree in the British Isles and even small amounts are fatal. Yew trees grow especially well on chalk. They resist pollution well and can flourish in the shade of taller trees, but little will grow in the shade they themselves cast. The bark is poisonous and so is the cut or dropped foliage. The scarlet berries are harmless, but the seeds are poisonous.
Any garden plants and lawn mowings should be considered poisonous and unsafe for horses and ponies to eat. Some poisonous plants become palatable after spraying with weedkiller.
The major causes of poisonings in horses and ponies are:
Ragwort,
Bracken,
Yew,
Oak.
Not all poisonings are fatal; sometimes the result can be serious digestive upsets, stupours or convulsions.
As a general rule poisoning should be suspected when the horse becomes suddenly ill after feeding; especially when put out to pasture for the first time in the season, the grass is scarce, but succulent young growth of poisonous plants is tempting. During dry periods when the grass is parched, or in the autumn/winter when grass is short and extra feed is not provided horses will eat what is available even if it has a bitter taste or is something they would not normally eat.
If you suspect your horse of having eaten parts of poisonous plants or trees, or the horse shows any unusual symptoms call your vet immediately.
Comments
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Sarah14th Aug 01
Don't forget to check your hay or haylage for poisonous plants as well as your fields.
Vicki29th Aug 01
FYI to US residents. Any red leaf trees. ie: maple, burning bush etc.
Jo Woolard20th Sep 01
My horse (although she looked a picture of health) had serious liver damage. The only thing in her paddock that she was addicted to was a horse chestnut tree - no one ever lists this as poisonous but it occured the following year when she was allowed in the same paddock - BEWARE !!
Marcia Urian24th Oct 01
My horse is eating Buckeyes. Does any one know if they are poisonous?
Mary anna Conti17th Dec 01
According to a web page put out by a California county Buckeye is dangerous. That is all. Happy riding.
Sharon Patton14th Mar 02
I need to know if wild cherry trees can be poisionus to horses when whilted or at any other stage?
Holly22nd Jul 02
YES! Wild Cherry Trees ARE poisonous!
My Neighbors horse died from eating the wilted leaves. They seem to be poisonous for only a small period of time; the leaves or branches have to drop or break of the tree -say from a wind storm- and then wilt. That is when their sap turns to Cyanide and this last for about 24 hours. But after they have 'died' they are no longer poisonous.
Since his farms runs along our we all came together and cut all of his trees and all of our trees down. Being careful with the leaves and branches and spreading animal safe root killer on the stump/roots. The stump/root system will re-grow branches (or suckers).
Rhea Stiles23rd Aug 02
Just wondering if nightshade grows in the US?
Thanks
charlotte30th Aug 02
we have just had grass seeds put in and a flower has grown.it is pink flowerd.can any one give pics on what it might be and if it is poisonous.
Emily18th Sep 02
Yes, Nightshade grows commonly all over the US. It is very prominent on the edges of forests, and along fences. Sometimes the leaves are a dark purpley color, sometimes they are green... they get green and red berries on them which are also very poisonous.. Also- many nightshade plants are commonly eaten by bugs. This creates difficulty when distiguishing the plant. They get many small holes in them. If you suspect nightshade, pull it up. Also, many humans are allergic to nightshade (getting hives and such) and if eaten, it is generally fatal to all humans. Good luck!
Also, Cherry trees are very bad for horses even when not wilted, as are cherry pits, and even some cherry fruits. Horses should not be allowed to chew on cherry wood or be near leaves. Cherry trees contain high levels of arsenic. This is toxic to horses as well as humans (and various other animals) I figure most humans wont go chewing on cherry trees, but horses might! :)
Pierette24th Sep 02
I am having my yard hydro-seeded. They use a fertilizer & Bluegrass seed. Does anyone know if I can use this process in my pasture? I was told after approx. a couple of weeks I could then put my horses on the pasture. Also I have oak trees in my pasture. My vet said my horses would be ok because they shouldn't eat the eggcorns. But everything I read says they are poiseneous. Please comment. Thanks...
Jan27th Sep 02
I agree horses don't generally eat acorns but some do develope a taste for them with no apparent ill effects.
Having said that my friends mare died to-day the vet said it was acorn poisoning - so personally I would not take the risk.
karen1st Oct 02
I have just moved to South Wales and found all the field hedges are Laburnum. The locals keep their horses in these fields and are not aware of it being dangerous. The only thing I have been able to do is keep it cut.
Please advise.....
Zoe4th Oct 02
Need advice asap ... are conifers ok for horses? we've been offered some and need to take them this weekend if we want them!
lisa briers-norton9th Oct 02
Please help. Three of my horses showed signs of mild colic within 2 days of each other. All were very sleepy prior to colic. One had a high temperature of 105. Upon blood tests all three showed signs of liver problems,as the liver enzyme levels were high. Two weeks from the original blood tests they have had another blood test done, and the level of enzymes are coming down slowly. The problem is I have no idea what has caused this. They have grazed the same pasture for 2 years with no problems. We have hedge borders with holly being the main shrub, and I have seen them nibbling the fresh shoots. We also have found foxglove but the symptoms seem not to fit with foxglove poisoning. I would like to hear from any one who has had a similar experience or any body who might be able to help.p.s there is no ragwort in the field or in their hay and no way they can have had any as I have owned all horses since they were babys. Please help desperate owner.
Roslyn Utah9th Oct 02
Hi can anyone tell me if the Locust tree is poisonus for horses thank you
Debbie Ramsey4th Nov 02
Hi
I was wondering if Bittersweet was poisonus to horses or could cause laminitis?
Please let me know
thank you
mustang_blue_wy@yahoo.com4th Nov 02
I have a little mustang who seems to have an iron gut, when out riding, whenever we pass by a Russian Olive tree or any sage brush he will try to go over to eat it, and he has succeeded in the past (with out problems), but I worry about the thorns and stickers they contain. He'll eat these over grass or hay if given the opertunity.
Any comments would be welcomed.
Elizabeth6th Nov 02
I have just built a home and have 5 acres that seems to have a large number of cherry trees mixed in with oaks and pines. I have been told by neighbors that this is dangerous to my horse. Please let me know if this is true. They have said that they are only deadly if the horse eates the dead brown leaves. Please let me know if i should just remove them all before anything bad happens. Thanks
charlie17th Dec 02
are gorses bush poisonous for horses because my horses like to eat the yellow flowers on it.
natalie24th Feb 03
Yes. Cherrie trees are very bad for horses. Cherrie leaves have been known to kill horses if they eat to much. Be careful where you turn out your horses.
Desperate Owner
Here are some questions for you.
Have you noticed any Buttercups or a plant growing puple leaves recently growing in your feild? It may also be Tansy Ragwort because here are the symptoms, .weakness .liver failur .high tempature .incoordination .yellow mucous membranes. I would also think that it could result into colic. I hope that you can find out what is wrong.
A loving freind
Jaimee Miceli28th Mar 03
We have a lorel tree at the bottom of our field we have been told by some people that it is poisonus, we have fenced it off, just in case. But could you please give us some information about lorel?
Thanx
Love all at Hill farm Equestrian center (chelmondiston)
Natalie28th Apr 03
I have been told that the flower "Buttercup" is harmful to horses...I live in VA and I talked to a lady and I told her that she has Buttercups in her yard and that is where my horse is. So are they poisionous to horses? And if so how do you get rid of them? Thanks so much
Natalie...
email comments to me at nataliemarie53@hotmail.com
Thank you to all
