Thu 9th Jul 2015 Ragwort rears its ugly head Now is the time to tackle this silent killer before the flowers seed Ragwort is the bane of every horse owner’s life at this time of year as the plant has grown, flowered and made its presence known in fields and corrals. Ragwort is generally considered by horticulturists as a biennial, but it can exhibit perennial tendencies. Damage to the plant near the roots, such as mowing or the breaking off of the stems, can cause the plant to behave like a perennial. This only adds to the frustration when you come to remove the plant from your fields, as topping paddocks or simply snapping the stems off will only make the situation worse. The whole plant, including the roots, needs to be pulled from the ground. When you do come to clear your fields, be careful to wear gloves as the toxins which effect your horses can also cause you damage in the long run. The plant can flower from June through to November and one plant alone can produce up to 120,000 seeds. The alkaloids in the plant are what causes the damage to horses, cattle and even sheep and pigs. Horses don’t tend to eat it fresh as they find the taste is bitter, but when ragwort is dry and cut in hay the taste is less obvious and more palatable and therefore a greater danger. Horses may resort to eating ragwort when other sources of food are scarce, so if you keep your horses in corrals where you choose to regulate their food intake then ragwort may pose a more significant danger than horses grazed in large fields with plenty of grass. The alkaloids, over time, cause damage to the liver of horses causing cirrhosis. Symptoms include: Yellow mucus membranes (gums and whites of the eyes) Weight loss Abdominal pain or colic Diarrhoea The build up of toxins in the horse’s body due to poor liver function can also cause horses to display a change in behaviour as the brain becomes affected by the toxins left in the blood. These neurological symptoms include: Head pressing (often against a stable wall) Lethargy Loss of coordination Continuous circling Aimless walking Aggressiveness Seizures If you are at all concerned, you should contact your vet for further advice. In the August issue of Polo Times, resident legal eagle Lottie Goldstone will be outlining the legal obligations of land and horse owners for the removal of ragwort. If you aren’t a subscriber and you would like to sign up for a year’s subscription in time to receive the August issue including Lottie’s article click here.   Photograph: Ragwort can flower from June until November

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