Ragwort poisoning

A slow and painful death for horses!

Ragwort is an "injurious weed" and is governed by the Control of Weeds Act 1959.

However, the new Ragwort Control Act came into force in February 2004 and amends the Weeds Act, gives added protection to horses, as well as other animals from the serious and sometimes fatal consequences of Ragwort poisoning. The Ragwort Control Act makes it easier to prosecute those who disregard the need to control Ragwort. There is a Code of Practice which offers comprehensive guidance and advice on all matters to do with Ragwort

Ragwort Facts

• Poisoning can occur at ANY time of the year Ragwort poisoning destroys the liver, leading to slow, painful death Poisonous to most animals but horses and cattle are most susceptible
• Once symptoms have appeared in an affected animal little can be done and it will usually die
• Acts in a cumulative fashion - a small amount eaten over a period of time is just as damaging as one large dose
• Animals eating 5 percent or more of their total daily diet of ragwort for periods exceeding 20 consecutive days can be expected to die within a 6-month period
• The plants
  1st year - rosette stage - most poisonous
• 
  2nd year - stem/flower stage - each plant can produce 150,000 seeds, with a 70% germination rate
• 
• A horse can get ragwort poisoning without actually having any plants in their paddock! Seeds/spores from plants in neighboring fields can blow over and contaminate a paddock apparently free from plants. A horse can eat or inhale these - and cumulative poisoning can begin.

Can anything be done for a horse with ragwort poisoning?

Obviously follow veterinary advice and give a supplement that helps maintain liver function

Click Here to View the BHS report on Ragwort