If you own horses, you might have noticed clusters of yellow flowers blooming in your field or paddock. Whilst these plants may look like another bright wildflower, they can pose a great danger to horses. Ragwort is a toxic weed that can cause devastating harm to horses and other wildlife.
Every horse owner wants to do whatever they can to ensure their horse is safe, and in this blog, we’ll explain the dangers of ragwort on horses, how to spot the plant and ensure correct removal. By the end of this blog, you’ll be equipped with all the information to know how to spot and eradicate these weeds.
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Is ragwort poisonous to horses?
The reason that ragwort is so dangerous for horses is that it contains toxins that can cause serious harm when ingested. The plant causes liver damage, which is not immediately obvious, and symptoms are often only visible when irreversible damage has already been done. Whether your horse eats a large amount of ragwort or has prolonged exposure to small doses, the effects are still deadly.
What are the symptoms of ragwort poisoning?
Ragwort poisoning symptoms are not usually immediate, so it’s important to look out for the following symptoms in your horse:
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Jaundice
- Changes in behaviour – aggression or isolation
- Diarrhoea
- Neurological issues – loss of coordination, seizures, head pressing, continuous walking
- Loss of appetite
- Poor coat condition
- Abdominal pain
- Photosensitisation- sensitivity to the sun, manifesting as sunburn on unpigmented skin
If your horse eats wild plants, it’s especially important to continuously monitor for these symptoms and seek immediate veterinary care should any concerns arise.
How to recognise ragwort
The best way to protect your horse is to identify ragwort and remove it from your horse’s feeding area. This isn’t as easy as it seems, however, as this plant looks different as it continues to grow through the seasons..
Seedlings – Autumn to spring
These young plants are small, at around 10-15mm high, and can be easy to miss amongst other vegetation. These leaves are forest green in colour, shaped like spades with notches on the outside.
Ragwort rosettes – Appears from Spring onwards
At this stage, the leaves become a rosette and deepen in colour, with deep lobes and more jagged edges around the leaves. These plants sit close to the ground and occasionally have a purple tinge.
Mature flowering Ragwort – Blooms from May to October
When this plant is fully mature, it sprouts flowers and grows significantly in size. Flowering ragwort has long stems that can be up to a metre tall and small petaled flowers that look like yellow daisies. The plant is distinct and easy to spot at this stage of its life, but this is also when the plant spreads its seeds, which can lead to more ragwort growing in the area.
Thousands of seeds can be produced from a single plant, and these seeds stay in the soil undetected. For this reason, it’s essential to monitor your paddock even after removing live ragwort plants.
How to get rid of ragwort in horse fields
Ragwort can easily come back if it’s not removed correctly, so here are the best ways to get rid of ragwort and stop it from returning in your horse fields.
Manual pulling
The most reliable way to remove ragwort is by pulling up the whole plant, including the roots. After it’s rained is the best time to do this as the soil is moist and so the plants will be easier to remove. You can use a rake or shovel to dig into the ground to help remove sturdy roots. It’s important to remove the whole plant and not just the top, as the ragwort will simply grow back otherwise.
Not only is ragwort toxic to horses, but it can also be deadly to humans, so it’s crucial to wear protective gear. Long trousers and sleeves that cover any exposed skin should be worn, as well as sturdy gardening gloves that are sharp and tear-proof. If you’re dealing with a large-scale removal, a mask should also be worn to reduce the risk of inhaling pollen.
Herbicides
If you’ve got a large enclosure and manual pulling may be too time-consuming, you can also use herbicides as an alternative. These will help to kill the plants and their seeds, but caution should always be taken when using these chemicals. Seek professional advice before treating your pastures with herbicides and ensure that your horses are kept off the land until the process is complete and all ragwort and traces of herbicides have been removed.
How to dispose of ragwort
Once you’ve removed all the ragwort from your horse’s field, it needs to be safely disposed of. Even when dried, this plant can still pose serious risks. Carefully gathering all the ragwort and burning it is the most effective method of disposing of the plant, but this should be done safely and legally.
You can also bag the ragwort and ask a specialist waste disposal service to collect and safely dispose of the plants.
Never add these plants to compost or muck heaps, as they still remain toxic after dying and can pollute the soil during decomposition.
Long-term management of ragwort
Due to the fact that ragwort seeds can remain dormant in the soil for years, one batch of removal isn’t enough to completely eradicate the problem. Pastures should be inspected each year in the spring and summer to ensure no ragwort begins to re-sprout.
It’s also important to keep your grasslands well-maintained and healthy, as this is the best way to ensure ragwort doesn’t come back. Dry and bare areas of land are the perfect place for ragwort to grow, so keeping fields fresh and green can help reduce the chance of growth.
Stables and paddocks are also places where stray ragwort can easily hide amongst hay and straw. Keep floors tidy and clean with regular sweeping and the right animal hygiene and sterilisation products. This will not only prevent any harmful bacteria from building up, but can remove any hidden weeds.
Not only does it help your horse stay safe, but managing ragwort is a landowner’s responsibility as set out by government guidelines. The Ragwort Control Act 2003 outlines a code of practice for controlling the spread of ragwort. Whilst it’s not illegal to grow the plant, failing to control ragwort when it poses a risk to wildlife and livestock can result in formal notices and even fines.
Keep your horse protected with the right care
Ragwort is one of the most dangerous weeds to wildlife and your beloved horses, but with the right management, you can help keep your fields safe. In creating a safe environment, you can ensure your horses get the best care.
If you’re in need of further advice on caring for your horses or you’re looking for the right care products. Our experts at VetUK are here to help. Get in touch today and our helpful team can help point you in the right direction.
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