There are many plants that are toxic to horses. Fortunately, plants with harmful toxins are designed to prevent animals from browsing and have a bitter taste that animals learn to avoid. Well-fed, healthy horses that have access to adequate forage, through pasture and/or hay, rarely consume toxic plants. Toxic plants can cause problems with the blood, liver, kidneys, and some can cause sudden death.
Trees
Oaks are moderately toxic to horses. New young leaves and acorns, especially when green, are the toxic parts of the tree. The tannic acid in the acorns affects the intestinal lining and can cause portions of the lining to slough off. Symptoms of toxicity include poor appetite, weight loss, constipation followed by diarrhea, kidney failure and edema.
Other trees that you need to be concerned with include:
Cherries of all species (can cause blood problems)
- Red maple
- Horse chestnut
- Black walnut (can cause laminitis if in shavings)
- Black locust
- Peach and Plum
What Makes a Plant Poisonous?
There are several different chemical compounds capable of poisoning that can be found in a variety of plants. The chemicals range from the alkaloids, found in the nightshade family, to the glycosides, present in wild cherry and Sudan grass. The effects of poisoning can include mild irritation, sickness, or possibly death. Plant poisoning can often be difficult to diagnose, as it can resemble other physiological problems. Depending on the degree of plant toxicity, poisoning can occur due to a single contact or long term repeated contact with a plant. The degree of danger a poisonous weed represents is a function of the plant’s prevalence, toxicity, and desirability. Frequently, if good quality forage is plentiful in the pasture, horses will likely avoid poisonous plants. In the absence of good quality forage during periods of drought or when pastures are overgrazed, however, animals may begin to investigate undesirable plants available in the pasture. Fortunately, many poisonous plants are not palatable and horses will not readily eat them unless adequate forage is not available. On the other hand, some poisonous plants are highly palatable and should be identified and removed.
Poisonous Plants of Concern to Horse Owners
The following list contains some of the more common poisonous weeds that may be of concern to horse owners. Note: this list does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that might be found. In our area, some common plants that may be harmful to plants also include Azaleas, Canna Lillies, & Rhododendrons. We recommend you buy a book that might be more comprehensive as well as maintain proper pasture maintenance.
- Algae
- Black (Deadly) Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
- Black Locust (Robinia pseudoaccia)
- Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis)
- Brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum)
- Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.)
- Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)
- European Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara)
- Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
- Horsenettle (Solanum carolinese)
- Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
- Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium)
- Larkspur (Delphinium spp.)
- Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
- Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
- Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron, Azalea (Ericaceae spp.)
- Nightshade (Solanum spp.)
- Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
- Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
- Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
- Sorghum/Sudan Grass (Sorghum spp.)
- St. Johns-wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
- Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) [endophyte containing varieties]
- Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
- White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum)
- Yellow sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)
- Yew (Taxus spp.)