Tag: toxins

Toxins in your Horse’s Environment 

4 September, 2025

Toxins in Your Horse’s Environment: What You Need to Know. As horse owners, we do everything we can to keep our equine friends healthy from quality feed to regular vet checks. But one area that often gets overlooked is the environment they live in. Subtle toxins in paddocks, stables, and even hay can have a real impact on your horse’s health over time.  Weed Control Chemicals: A Hidden Risk  Many horse owners use chemical sprays to control weeds in paddocks and on hay crops. While these products can be effective at keeping pastures looking tidy, they contain chemicals that may…

Mycotoxins – What are they?

8 September, 2015

Myco is the Greek term for fungus and toxins mean poison and are produced in various types of fungi. Some of these fungi live inside the plant and are called endophytes. Perennial rye-grass contains endophytes which produce two very harmful myco-toxins, namely lolitrem B and ergovaline. Annual rye-grass where as it doesn’t contain the dangerous endophytes can have a highly poisonous bacteria form on the seed heads. A toxic bacterial gall is formed and some may exude a yellow slime. Both the endophyte and bacterial gall will still be present in hay even if it has been stored for years,…