Watch out for these poisonous plants in the pasture - download a smart app!
Horses are good at sorting out things they shouldn't eat, but when bait is scarce their caution may wane. On lean pastures or in late summer, horses may even eat poisonous plants if other options are limited. Plants that have dried or frozen lose their deterrent character for the horse, increasing the risk that they will be consumed along with the forage.
Yew
Yew is an extremely poisonous plant to horses, especially its needles, which are the most poisonous parts. A horse can die within minutes of consuming yew.
ACORN
Acorns pose a danger to horses, especially in the spring when the foliage is out and in the fall when animals eat large amounts of acorns. Oak can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver, which can lead to death.
BUTTERFLY
Buttercups are usually avoided by horses, but eating them can cause colic, emaciation and in some cases death. However, dried buttercups, such as in hay, are harmless. In silage, the toxicity decreases after approximately two months of storage.
Blown up
St. John's wort is a very poisonous plant, especially its root and the lower part of the stem, where the poison is concentrated in the plant sap. Horses can die after consuming about 500 grams of dry plant parts. St. John's wort can be confused with other plants such as dog's kibble and wort.
Standing
Standing ( "love herbs" or "thistles") are usually avoided by horses, but they can still be poisoned if found in hay or hay silage.
10 poisonous plants for horses on pasture
- Alsike clover
- Oak/acorn
- Yew
- St. John's wort
- Groundsel
- Lupine
- Buttercup
- Blown up
- Standing
- German maple
plants to watch out for, TOXIC EVEN IN SMALL QUANTITIES:
- Belladonna
- Björnloka
- Henbane
- Gold rain
- Storm hat
Toxic only in larger in larger quantity
- Acacia
- Boxwood
- Horse farm
- Horse chestnut
- Holly
- Stock sheet
- Privets
- Lily of the valley
- Ivy
- Odorless
- Oleander
- Money herb
- Potato blast
- Daffodils
- Knight's spur
- Rhododendrons
- Tibast
- Tomato plant
- Wild horseradish
- White and blue sippa
- Horseradish
- Ornbräken
To avoid poisoning, it is recommended to download an app such as PlantSnap or Artsorakel so that you can quickly identify the plants you come across with your mobile phone.