Poisonous plants for horses

Poisonous plants for horses

Horses and ponies need a suitable field to graze.

You should always check a new field before turning a horse into it.

Hedges and grazing should be free from all kinds of poisonous plants.

There are many plants that are poisonous to equines.

The species vary depending on location, climate and grazing conditions.

In many cases entire genuses are poisonous to equines and include many species spread over several continents.

Always check a field for poisonous plants. If the field adjoins gardens or parks look out for -

· Rhododendron

· Privet

· Deadly night shade

· Laburnum

Most horses will stay away, but a hungry horse might be tempted.

If the field contains oak trees or crab apples, you need to be aware when the fruit falls in the autumn.

A horse will eat acorns and crab apples, a small amount will not harm them but crab apples in large quantities will result in severe colic and large quantities of acorns will poison the horse.

All horses like foraging on trees. A small amount of any part of the yew tree can be lethal to a horse.

Most evergreen plants are poisonous to horses.

Other poisonous plants to horses.

· Buttercup

· Cowbane

· Braken

· Foxglove

· Meadow saffron

· Horse trails

· Paterson’s curse

· Perennial rye grass

· Water hemlock

· Ragwort the "silent killer"

Safe pasture is a field that is free from poisonous plants.

Poisonous plants for horses >> Home

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