Poisonous Plants

Poisonous PlantsMs. Gottfried

+Most likely you have them in your pastureHUNDREDS of plants that are common in North America are poisonous to horses.Very few green pastures have no poisonous plants in them.Luckily, there are a few good reasons why horses dont eat most of them!

+Why do most horses not eat them?Thankfully, most are not palatable.What horse wants to eat a small bitter plant when there is so much sweet green grass around? Horses are HUGEBecause of a horses large size, it takes a lot more than one bite to reach toxic levels.

+On the other sideSome plants can be toxic even with a nibble.It is important to recognize these plants visually.To help prevent them in your own pastureTo recognize them when visiting other places

+Bracken Fern(aka: brake fern, eagle fern) A perennial fern that has triangular leaves that can reach 2-3 feet high.Grows in clumps in woodlands and moist, open areas.Grows all over North American except the desert climates.

+Bracken FernContains thiaminase, which inhibits absorbtion of thiamin (vitamin B1)Necessary for nerve function Causes neurological impairment.Some horses actually develop a taste for Bracken Fern!

+Bracken FernSymptoms: Neurological dysfunctions due to Vitamin B deficiency.Depression, in coordination and blindnessTreatment:Large doses of thiamin over a few weeks if caught early.

+Now you!Hemlock aka: poison hemlock, spotted hemlockTansy RagwortJohnson Grass/Sudan GrassLocoweedYellow star thistle/Russian knapweed

Yew

Red Maple Trees

Water Hemlock

Oleander

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