Toxic plants growing in your pasture or nearby, where your horses might reach them, are hazardous. Here’s what to look for and how to keep your horse safe from possible poisoning.
Some common ones: bracken fern, dogbane, foxglove, jimsonweed, johnson grass/sudan grass, oleander, poison hemlock, red maple trees, tansy ragwort/groundsel, water hemlock, yellow star thistle, yew.
What to do: Become familiar with the hazards native to your geographic area, then scout your property to make sure none of them are posing a risk to your animals.
Here’s help: For a comprehensive listing of plants toxic to horses and other animals—ansci.cornell.edu/plants.