The majority of horse owners are aware of what ragwort looks like, along with the dangers it presents for our horses. So much so we spend a good amount of time and effort digging it up from our paddocks before it sets to seed. But what about plants that look a bit like ragwort?
Here are two similar plants...
Fleabane has similar flowers, but different leaves to those of ragwort. Most horses will avoid eating fleabane, and whilst this plant does not have the same devastating effects as ragwort, it can sometimes cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal discomfort in horses.
St John's Wort is a plant that we come across in herbal medicine for humans. It has yellow flowers and is similar in size to ragwort but is easy to identify as 'not ragwort' as the flowers are rather different in shape. St John's Wort is believed to have various health benefits for horses, but has also been linked to photosensitivity.
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In the wild, with unrestricted access to pasture, horses would spend the summer “stocking up†by eating nutritious grass - and plenty of it - to aid them in building a thick coat and laying down excess weight...
Horses’ teeth change throughout their lives - they are continually growing and continually wearing, as they chew and grind their grazing and forage.
Grass has the potential to grow all year, which is different from many other plants. Certain things are necessary for this growth, but if they are not met, the grass will be dormant, waiting for conditions to improve.Â