Poisonous Plants to Horses

Equine Safety Guide - Protecting Horses from Toxic Plants:

This guide aims to ensure the safety and health of horses, particularly when they are grazing or exploring outdoor areas. However, many common plants found in pastures, meadows, and woodlands can be highly toxic to horses.

Ingesting these plants can lead to various symptoms in horses, ranging from mild discomfort to severe illness and even fatalities.

This guide is designed to help you identify and avoid poisonous plants for horses that are commonly found in the UK.

Yew (English) - Taxus baccata - Poisonous to Horses!:

Highly dangerous, even small amounts can cause sudden cardiac failure and death. All parts except the red berry flesh are toxic.

Red Maple - Acer rubrum - Poisonous to Horses!:

Wilted/dried leaves are highly toxic, causing destruction of red blood cells, difficulty breathing, and potential organ failure. This plant is more common in North America but can be found in some UK gardens.

Bracken Fern - Pteridium aquilinum - Poisonous to Horses!:

Common in UK moorlands and woodlands. Cumulative toxin causes thiamine deficiency. Extended consumption leads to weight loss, coordination problems, and possible death.

Rhododendron - Rhododendron spp - Poisonous to Horses!:

Found in UK gardens and estates. Contains grayanotoxins, causing digestive problems, excess drooling, weakness, and potential cardiac failure.

Poison Hemlock - Conium maculatum - Poisonous to Horses!:

Found in UK hedgerows and wasteland. Rapidly fatal - causes nervous system paralysis, tremors, and respiratory failure. All parts of the plant are toxic.

Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea - Poisonous to Horses!:

Native UK wildflower. Contains cardiac glycosides that cause heart problems, digestive issues, and potentially death even in small amounts.

Ragwort - Senecio jacobaea - Poisonous to Horses!:

Common UK pasture weed. Causes irreversible liver damage from cumulative small doses. Remains toxic when dried in hay.

Oak (young leaves/acorns) - Quercus spp. - Poisonous to Horses!:

Common in UK. Young leaves and acorns contain tannins that can cause colic, kidney damage, and death if consumed in large quantities.

Deadly Nightshade - Atropa belladonna - Poisonous to Horses!:

Common in UK woodlands. Contains atropine alkaloids causing dilated pupils, heart rate changes, muscle tremors, and disorientation. Rarely causes death but always requires veterinary attention.

Laburnum - Laburnum anagyroides - Poisonous to Horses!:

Found in UK gardens and parks. All parts, especially seeds, contain cytisine which causes digestive upset, excessive salivation, drowsiness, collapse, and potential cardiac issues.

Buttercup - Ranunculus spp. - Poisonous to Horses!:

Common in UK meadows and pastures. Contains protoanemonin, causing digestive upset, skin blisters, and swelling. Generally, horses avoid it due to its bitter taste.

Ivy - Hedera helix - Poisonous to Horses!:

Common in hedges across the UK. Contains triterpenoid saponins and polyacetylene, causing digestive upset, colic, and skin irritation around the mouth.

Privet - Ligustrum spp. - Poisonous to Horses!:

Found in many UK gardens as hedges. Contains glycosides causing digestive upset, nervous system impairment, and potential respiratory issues.

Sycamore - Acer pseudoplatanus - Poisonous to Horses!:

Common UK tree. Seeds contain hypoglycin A, which can cause severe muscle damage and atypical myopathy in horses.