There are quite a lot of plants that are toxic to horses, so it is important to ensure you know that is growing in your paddocks. The list is too long to include here but I will list a few common foods, herbs and grasses that should be avoided for horses
Many garden plants and fruit trees are toxic to horses so it is a good idea to avoid throwing prunings or garden waste into paddocks to avoid accidentally allowing them access to something toxic
Grass Clippings (from mowing) should never be given to horses as the mall particle size can cause choke or obstruction, and can also cause fermentation and acid production which can lead to colic, toxaemia laminitis (founder) and death
Avocado plants contain a toxin that can cause severe respiratory difficulty and death by exposure to only very small amounts of the plant.
Bracken fern can cause animals to become unaware of their surroundings with uncoordinated or staggering gait. Toxicity can occur after eating bracken for several weeks or months, so it is a good idea to remove bracken from paddocks
Cruciferous vegetables broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts can cause rapid increase of gas in the stomach leading to colic so are best avoided
Peach, cherry, plum and apricot trees (leaves, twig, bark) are toxic to horses. The fruit is not toxic but should not be fed in any quantity which could lead to colic
Onion may cause anemia
Deadly nightshade family which includes potatoes, chilli, capsicum, tomato, eggplant and other plants and herbs should be avoided
Rye Grass (perennial or annual) may harbor tiny fungi called endophytes which can cause ryegrass staggers. Mycotoxins produced by the endophytes may contribute to a range of other symptoms. From erratic and anxious behaviour to trembling, unsteadiness and poor muscle coordination, especially in hind quarters.
Johnson Grass (sorghum halepense). Signs are consistent with cyanide poisoning. The first indication is rapid breathing, which progresses to tremors, frequent urination and defecation, gasping and convulsions. This grass was found to be responsible for the mysterious death of 22 horses on a property in Qld in 2011.
Hemlock (conium maculatum). Signs appear within an hour or two of consumption, starting with nervousness, tremors and in-coordination, progressing to depression and diminished heart and respiratory rates and possibly colic. Death results from respiratory failure.
Ragwort. Often there is no evidence of consumption until signs of liver failure begin to appear: photosensitization, diminished appetite and wight loss, progressing to depression, in-coordination and jaundice.
Some others include:
Foxglove (digitalis purpurea), oak tree, Paterson’s curse, red maple (acer rubrum [Aceraceae]), salvation Jane, capeweed, common heliotrope, cotton bushes, black walnut tree (juglans nigra), St. Johnswort (hypericum perforatum), caster bean plant (ricinus communis), mistletoe (phoradendron flavescens/viscum), milkweed (asclepias syriaca), blue canary grass (phalaris coerul)
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