Why are we so hard on ragwort?

We do bang on about ragwort! It is an excellent plant for pollinators and the main food source for the caterpillars of the cinnebar moth. It has a long flowering period, which means it is supplies nectar for a lot of insects, for a long time. Although it is poisonous, it is not palatable, so why are horse owners so keen to get rid of it from their pastures?

•         Ragwort is a poor competitor against other plants, so thrives best where there is little grass cover.  Horses are close grazers and create ideal conditions for ragwort to establish, especially where, as so often is the case, grazing is in short supply for the number of horses.
•        One ragwort plant can produce thousands of seeds, so it can quickly spread if not controlled.
•         Although unpalatable when growing, if it is damaged, such as by being trampled or cut, it produces sugars, making it palatable but still toxic. Horses graze on the move so there is a great chance that they will indeed tread on plants as they go.
•         Ragwort can produce large and dominant plants, taking up space we would prefer to see growing grass.
•         Management systems may include rotational haymaking on horse paddocks. Cutting of hay may be prior to the plants being in full flower, and less easy to spot and remove, so ongoing control all and every year is vital.
• Ragwort is very far from being a rare plant and there are plenty of places for it to grow, but not in our horse paddocks! It is indeed toxic to all grazing animals, and us. 

Did you know? A well-known researcher who stopped to pull ragwort from an infested field with his bare hands later tested positive for liver enzymes. The toxin had entered through his skin. So don’t knock us for being careful when we handle ragwort.