Ragwort is a weed – the definition of a weed is a ‘plant out of place’.
What everyone should know about Ragwort:
- The entire plant is highly toxic, and if eaten can lead to liver failure in animals. The damage it does is irreversible and can be fatal. Ragwort is therefore ‘a plant out of place’ in any area grazed by horses.
- Ragwort has a very bitter taste and will usually only be eaten by horses when the pasture is very bare. Sheep will happily eat it but we know very little about how poisonous it is to sheep, as they are not long-lived and little research exists.
- Many, many horses can seemingly graze unaffected by the plant and then just one can suddenly face a miserable death. It’s a bit like playing Russian Roulette with your horses’ welfare.
- Clinical signs to look for in affected horses include: lethargy, signs of colic, wobbly gait and in the latter stages, weight-loss and head pressing against a fence or wall.
- It is ESSENTIAL to remove plants early, as the young weed is less bitter and so more palatable for horses.
- The best way to remove the plant is to either, spray early in the year or pull the whole plant including the roots. Please make sure you wear gloves as it is potentially toxic to humans too.
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