Healthy Pastures, Healthy Horses

18/12/2024

We promised more toxicity info on milkw**ds (Asclepias spp.).

Most equine stewards won't likely recognize milkw**d as a toxic plant, because it's so highly touted as a beneficial plant for monarch butterflies.

The very compounds that make it attractive to those butterflies, however, are precisely what make it a potential danger. Monarchs derive their toxic defenses by eating plant compounds, including the galitoxin and cardiac glycosides found in milkw**d plants.
Gardeners often work hard to encourage milkw**ds, which is one reason it's so common in pastures. The tufted seeds in Asclepias species become airborne and can travel for miles.

While some sources may claim that milkw**ds are only slightly toxic, that isn't true. Some species present a true danger. As little as a pound of plant material has the potential for causing death in a 1000 lb equine.

Clinical signs of toxicity may include hypersalivation, lack of coordination, staggers, cardiac irregularities, colic, diarrhea, tremors, weakness, unsteadiness, nervousness, respiratory difficulties, low blood pressure, paralysis, collapse, coma, and death.

Treatment needs to be swift, as death can occur in as little as 24 hours after ingestion. There is not one specific antidote; treatment is mostly supportive based on signs.

Ingestion does not have to be in one dose; repeated amounts over time may eventually be toxic. Fortunately, milkw**ds are not highly palatable, though it's also those factors that create toxicity.

Local w**d boards and SWCDs will know the control methods best for local species.

We all want monarch butterflies, but not at a cost to our equines, so let's confine milkw**d to gardens.

16/12/2024

Welcome back to Mythinformation Monday!

This is the sixth in our series about myths and misinformation on equines and plant toxicity.

Myth #6: I've had that in my horse's pasture for years and he's never gotten sick, so it's not a danger.

There are some toxins that don't immediately cause clinical signs, but over time, ingested amounts add up. There is a toxic threshold before which there are no signs, but when that threshold is reached, toxicity occurs. Toxins that affect the liver also have a cumulative effect. Clinical signs may not be present until the liver is 75% compromised, after which there is no recovery.

There are also numerous plants that aren't significantly toxic until the right set of circumstances arises. That may be a drought, a freeze, heavy rains after drought, poor forage growth one year, or a weather event that causes plant damage. Our animals may eat them once or twice with no effect, but the next time they do, toxicity may occur.

It also has *everything* to do with pasture condition. We can't repeat or stress that enough. If forage is depleted and good grasses are hard to find, they *will* eat plants that aren't good for them. Yes, they've left it alone for years, but this year has had little rainfall and there's little forage left (and we've left the horses on the pasture well past the 3" minimum grass height). Equines do not like having empty bellies, and that hunger drive takes the place of what we would consider common sense.

We as equine stewards know that training methods that work well with one horse may not with another, and every diet is not right for every horse. Each is different mentally as well as physically. In the same way, all equines don't respond identically to toxins. Toxicity can be influenced by body condition, age, preexisting conditions, water intake, fitness level and past ingestion of toxins...even stress levels.

We've heard this time and time again: 'My horse eats that, and he's fine.' Awhile back we were involved in a case with Kleingrass (Panicum coloratum) toxicity and one comment from an equine steward was that her horse eats it regularly and isn't sick, so it can't be toxic. The recommendation was to advise her strongly to ask her vet for a liver panel, and to do it sooner rather than later.

It really isn't a bad idea to get a blood panel done every few years if financially feasible, even if there are no outward signs of toxicity. It's always easier (and far less expensive) to treat disorders early and make dietary changes rather than wait until the damage is severe.

Remember that animals are always ok...until they're not. Sometimes they - and we - get darn lucky, but the outcome may not be as good the next time around.

We can't assume simply because we don't see outward clinical signs that there are no toxic agents at work, nor can we assume that because they ate a plant previously and seemed fine that this will always be true. We also can't know exactly what they're eating unless we sit beside them every moment they're on pasture.

Let's remember too that picas exist, which are akin to addictions. Animals will seek out odd or unpalatable plants even when there are healthy grasses available, and sometimes those plants are toxic.

This doesn't mean that we should live in a constant state of anxiety, but it does mean that we need to remain vigilant and proactive, and act responsibly in protecting our equines. There's no benefit to denial or ignorance.

Remember: a hungry horse is a horse at risk.

15/12/2024

14/12/2024

This week's issue of our E2E Info-letter Healthy Pastures, Healthy Horses is now ready for subscribers to enjoy. :)

A quick recap of this issue:

This week's topic: Cultural w**d control strategies
Toxicity highlight: Meadow pea
Interesting articles: Fodder system concerns
Research and studies: Endophytes in Epichloa
Horsing around: Ventilation in stables
Graze anatomy: Pasture seed mixes
Barn talk: Best pasture grass species
Equine corner: Chasteberry
Horse corral: Chicken feed dangers for equines
This week's info nuggets: Types of pasture grasses

Subscriptions are available monthly ($5.00, 4-5 issues) or yearly ($50.00, 52 issues). You can also order a sample issue for $1.00. The topics we include aren't covered in our FB posts, so you won't see the material repeated here. See the pinned post above for info on how to subscribe (Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo). We work hard and long to ensure that you get your money's worth. :)

The info-letters contain loads of informative, original, easy-to read content for all equine stewards. An entire month of issues costs less than a stop at a coffee stand, so treat yourself or someone you care about, support the work we do, and keep your equines safe and your pastures healthy!

We'd like to thank our loyal subscribers for their support and also for their very kind words of appreciation. Those mean a lot and we're always gratified that folks are enjoying our efforts and knowledge. Paid subscriptions help to keep us posting here!

14/12/2024

~ Planning for a new grazing season Part 2 ~

We posted Part 1 on Thursday. Continuing on...

• Take a look at our compost system. If we don't have one, now is the time to plan it. In the US, soil & water conservation districts very often have grants or matching funds to use in building new systems. They are usually first come - first served, so getting a request in early is important. If we do have a system in place, did it work? Did it meet our expectations? Was it difficult to use or a pain? How can we improve it?
• How did the forage and soils look at the end of the grazing season? If we followed our plan (and of course we did, right?) was production lower than we'd hoped? Are things looking a bit patchy? Is it time to consider seeding and/or fertilization? Do we need to add species (either warm- or cool-season) to fill in when production wanes?
• Soils testing. If our pastures are in rehab, we need to do this every year. If they're in maintenance, every three years is sufficient as long as we don't see issues. This seems like a hassle, but it truly gives us the absolute best information (for cheap!) on how pasture soils are doing in nutrition, biota, and composition. For half an hour's work and the price of a few coffees, we can have great info at hand for driving management plans and achieving our pasture goals.
• Clean and repair equipment. Having sharp, clean, working tools mean the difference between getting a task done quickly and efficiently and being frustrated and giving up because the equipment isn't there or isn't ready for use. This is especially true for those jobs that we really didn't want to do anyway, like w**d control! Long cold winter months are perfect for this.
• Look at our sacrifice areas. How did it work? Did it meet our expectations? Is it accessible and easy to use? If not, how can we alter it or move gates so that it is? If we don't have one, it's time to consider where and how to build one to take pressure off grazing areas. Again, in the US, SWCDs often have funds to help with planning and building sacrifice areas. After soils testing, they may be the single most helpful tool in keeping pastures healthy.

There are more things to think about (with horses, when aren't there more?) but these are some of the basics to consider.

Even though it doesn't feel like it now, winter will be over soon enough, and spring will bring a thousand jobs to be done. In pasture management, being proactive is essential, so making the time now for planning helps tremendously later when we're pulled in a dozen directions at once.

How do you use the winter months to plan and prepare for the grazing season? We'd love to hear your comments and ideas below!

13/12/2024

Emily and Laura have identified it as milkw**d. We’ll post more on its toxicity. Thanks to them for the correct IDs and to the others who commented!

🐴🐴🌿🌿🐴🐴🌿🌿🐴🐴🌿🌿🐴🐴🌿🌿🐴🐴🌿🌿🐴🐴

Time once again for our FrIDay toxic plant and w**d ID quiz!

Today's plant is very common and found in many regions and countries. The toxicity potential exists in the entire genus so just the general name is good enough.

The first person to comment with the correct ID will get a free month's subscription to our weekly info-letter. If you're a current subscriber we'll extend your subscription a month.

If you've already won a free month we kindly ask that you hold off answering until Sunday if it's not identified yet. We'll still give you another month free but this gives the new folks a chance to ID new plants for at least two days (cuz some of you guys are legit ID wizards). 🙂

We'd like this to be about really getting to know the plants so prefer no apps but do your thing.

So have fun with it and we hope to meet some new stewards who we haven't met before. (Not that we don't adore our regulars as well. 😘)

12/12/2024

~ Planning for the next grazing season Part 1 ~

While there is no true 'down time' with horses, winter does provide a bit more time than summer for other tasks, like planning for the next forage growing season.

Here are a few things we can think about in the next couple of months:

• Start seriously thinking about this year's pasture management plan. Last year's plan makes a good template but for beginners starting from scratch it doesn't have to be complicated. Thinking about it now means that it doesn't get pushed aside until the grass is growing and there's no plan.

• Look at last year's notes to see what we planned to do, what was accomplished, and what does and does not still need to be done this year. Those things might include digging or spraying a certain w**d infestation, moving water sources, finishing the compost bins, or any tasks that carry over year to year.

• Take regular walks around pastures and paddocks to see if drainages have changed. If a new system was installed last year, evidence of its success may already be apparent. If we wait until a full thaw, altering drainage patterns in the mud is much more difficult.

• Another benefit of doing our pasture walks is seeing the presence of w**ds and unwanted plants. When grasses are gone, w**ds tend to stand out. This is particularly true if there is snow on the ground. We can make note of these areas on our pasture map so we can revisit them again in the spring for removal or other control methods.

• It's time to get out last year's notes to see how and if pasture rotation worked. If the results aren't what we wanted to see, now is the time to tweak the schedule. This process is never static, because forage production changes, as do equine tastes. It's best to get ahead of it and have a solid plan in place before spring comes and life gets crazy again.

Look for Part 2 tomorrow.

11/12/2024

We had an urgent message from a new equine steward who lives in an area that just had sudden big snows. Her concern was that suddenly her gelding's urine spots appear to be a bright reddish-orange. She was a bit panicked because it's a new property and she doesn't know all of the plants yet, so she was worried that he'd eaten something toxic.

We asked if the urine appears red/orange as it's being voided, or if it's just after it hits the snow. She affirmed that it's only after it's on the ground that it has those colors, and that he's not straining and there are no unusual behaviors.

It was of great comfort to her to hear that this is normal and happens with most horses in the winter, depending on their feed. The cause is pyrocatechines in plant material (hay, pellets, etc. or fresh forage), which are water-soluble phenolic compounds. When they are mixed with oxygen, a chemical reaction occurs which turns the urine pinkish, red or orange, sometimes brown. It happens in stalls too but we usually don't see the contrast in colors as we do in fresh snow.

It is a scary thing to see for new stewards, as it can closely resemble bloody urine. And of course knowing the kinds of trouble they can find, we're always watchful, especially where the potential for toxicity is concerned.

So unless the urine is an unusual color as it's being passed, it's very likely this benign, normal process. And as always, if by chance there are also other clinical signs, odd behaviors, or obvious material in the urine, a call to the vet is a good idea.

She'll get used to it as we all do in the beginning. And truth be told, the first time or two every year after snows we all relearn it too.

10/12/2024

~ Toxo Tuesday - The potential dangers of holiday greens ~

For this Toxo Tuesday we'll share our annual post on holiday greens with the potential for significant toxicity in our equines. We may post it again next week to be safe.

It's that time of year again, and many of us are busy decorating. For equine stewards, of course that especially includes barns, stalls, and fences. We all know that it wouldn't be a good idea to use lights, plastic, ribbons, or glass where equines have access, but there are other dangers as well.

Certain plant material in swags, wreaths, and garlands may be toxic to equines. Some holiday greens contain toxic compounds; the more plant material ingested, the higher the toxicity.

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) has an abortive, isocuppressic acid, that can be a danger to broodmares and fetuses. Arborvitae/juniper (Thuja occidentalis) also contains a compound, thujone, that causes fetal damage. Mistletoe (Phoradendron & Viscum spp.) contain glycoproteins that are quite toxic and may cause gastric issues, multiple organ disorders, affect the central nervous system, or even cause sudden death. Holly (Ilex spp.), particularly its berries at certain times, is also toxic, though it is rarely consumed. Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) is highly toxic; as little as a mouthful can be fatal. (It's also toxic to dogs, so don't let them chew on the sticks.) The jury is still out on snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), so it's best to avoid using it.

A few toxic greens that ordinarily aren't used but might be attractive for their evergreen qualities: oleander (Oleander spp) contain glycosides that can cause sudden death, and should never be in close proximity to equines; boxwoods (Buxus spp) contain toxic alkaloids; laurels (Kalmia spp) contain grayanotoxins, which are fast-acting neurotoxins.

There is also the chance of impaction from consuming unusual materials, so it's best to play it safe and place decorations well out of their reach. Adding fruits, nuts, and berries will increase the attractiveness of decor to equines as well.

If we must put holiday decor where horses could possibly reach them, the best species for foliage are firs (Abies spp.), cedars (Cedrus spp.), salal (Gaultheria shallon), evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) spruce (Picea spp.) and hemlocks (Tsuga spp.). There is very little in the literature about them, and they appear to be safe. However, they aren't ever going to be a great addition to equine diets, so if we see ours eating them, we'll need to move the greens where they can't be accessed. In addition, some animals are sensitive to plant compounds, so contact dermatitis is always something to watch for.

Most equines will not bother greenery if they have a good and plentiful diet. However, as we all know, there are always a few troublemakers, and they all do get bored from time to time. Green stuff can smell and look good if you're on a steady diet of dry hay fed at intervals.

If we absolutely must put up decor where animals may reach them, we could consider something like a kale swag or a dried apple wreath (without seeds).

If we see unusual behaviors or signs of illness or gastric upset this time of year, we might look to holiday decor first. (Just an aside: greens with toxins may cause contact dermatitis in humans too, so be sure to wear gloves if handling them, particularly cut pieces.)

So when we spruce up (hah) our property outside we should always take a minute to think about what we place within reach of our equines.

Let's make sure they're safe and keep all of our holidays happy!

10/12/2024

Diane has identified our FrIDay toxic plant correctly as cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum). Good eye, Diane!

It's one of the several toxic members of the Apiaceae family, and is an important plant to know in pastures or on the trail. Its toxins, furanocoumarins, are intended to combat herbivory from insects, but work just as well on equines, humans, and other animals.

The effects of cow parsnip can be nearly as severe as those of giant hogw**d (Heracleum mantegazzianum), its noxious larger cousin that's in the news often lately.

All parts of the plant are toxic when eaten, and the sap can cause contact dermatitis. It retains its toxicity in hay. The seeds contain the highest amount of the toxins. Clinical signs are typical of photosensitization: blisters, lesions, runny or crusty sores, skin sloughing, redness, weepy eyes, head shaking, and reluctance to eat or drink.

Photo via NPS.

10/12/2024

Ok: One. More. Time.

No, we're not an AI bot. Thanks for the slam. Or compliment as the case may be.

We do not add citations to posts for multiple reasons. We've been clear about them. We share them gladly with other professionals in the field who have the means to access them.

Our sources are research and studies from peer-reviewed professional scientific journals. We do *not* use Google or other search engines and, unlike many writers, do not consider subscription publications as reliable sources. The number of errors we've found in them is staggering.

And we do *not* tolerate snarkiness. We just don't do it. If your desire is to be combative and hostile, your comments *will be* deleted and you'll be blocked.

And...really? One person gets ugly and a half-dozen others jump right in with both feet? Come on, guys. You're better than that.

Closing comments on the last grasses post because there just aren't enough hours in this day to police it.

Thanks to everyone who had sincere questions and behaved like decent human beings. 👏

09/12/2024

We likely should have posted this earlier but we've been chasing time and it's swift!

If you live in the Pacific Northwest and are looking for a few stocking stuffers for horsey folks, it's possible these could arrive in time. It's worth a call or email to the WA State Noxious W**d Board to ask. (noxiousw**[email protected] or (360) 725-5764) To make it even better, it's free!

This is a booklet we wrote for them a few years ago on toxic plants in pastures. It also applies to cattle, alpacas, goats, sheep, and llamas. There's even a page for chickens!

There are sixty pages of great information focused on toxic plants in equine pastures, their effects on other grazing animals, clinical signs of toxicity, methods of control, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), pasture management, w**d-free hay and even a page on chickens.

While we know that many of you don't live in the Pacific Northwest region of the US, these plants are found in many areas, including some in the UK, Australia, and NZ. Pasture and w**d management techniques are equally applicable everywhere. The booklets wouldn't arrive in time for stockings but they'll be a great addition to a winter reading stack.

It's accessible and downloadable here:https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/pdfs/Final-WSNWCB-toxic-booklet_low_res.pdf

For free hard copies, contact the WA NWCB here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LZ688S2

We're proud to have been part of the publishing of this valuable resource. Please bookmark, download, or order it, and pass it on!

09/12/2024

Happy Monday and welcome back to another installment of Mythinformation. This is the fifth in our series on myths and misinformation about equines and plant toxicity.

Myth #5: Horses are big animals so they must have tough guts.

This is a dangerous mindset for our equines' sakes. While it's true that horses are big animals, that doesn't translate into hardy digestive systems.

As we mentioned a few weeks ago, the monogastric (equine) and the ruminant (other grazing animals) digestive systems vary greatly. The multi-chambered stomachs of ruminants allow for much better detoxification of plant materials, while the single stomachs of equines means that toxins are much more likely to enter the gut and from there, the bloodstream.

Equines actually have a much more delicate system than one would think by looking at them. They're highly sensitive to many toxins that don't affect ruminants much. They are also reactive to sudden changes in diet, sugars in forage, fiber content of forage, and molds. Anyone who has dealt with colic knows how quickly it can happen, and how insignificant the cause can seem.

Of course, we as equine stewards have created many of these problems. By feeding a monoculture of just one type of hay, we build guts that aren't able to tolerate a variety of feeds. There are reasons that the numbers of IR, EMS, Cushing's, and related disorders have risen and continue to rise. A diet that consists of varied grasses and forbs creates a much stronger gut than a diet of solely one type of grass. Animals that have steadily eaten just one forage species like timothy or orchard are more likely to feel the effects of even small amounts of toxic plants. As we mentioned, this is one reason wild horses don't experience toxic events like our domesticated ones do.

While in many ways our equines are hardy and tough animals, when it comes to their digestive systems, not so much. It's our job as their stewards to give them the best forage possible, including a variety of grasses and forbs, and the absence of toxic and injurious plants and w**ds.

09/12/2024

Let's clear something up, hopefully once and for all but that's highly doubtful.

The fact that we mention the toxicity of a plant here does not mean that every horse consuming it will experience a toxic event. The fact that most do not is *not* evidence that negates its *potential* toxicity.

A steward's desire to have a plant that's in their pasture not be toxic is understandable, but know that our mention of that plant is not a personal attack. We are the carriers of knowledge and research. Please don't shoot the messenger.

We do not cite our sources on every post because they are often numerous and only accessible through (expensive!) paid subscription to a scientific database. There's no point. That's what we're here for: to wade through all of the thousands of research studies and condense valid information down into a readable format. We also get paid literally nothing for the thousand hours plus a year we donate to keep your animals safe, and adding dozens of citations to every post simply isn't feasible.

It's regrettable that at times someone's feelings get hurt when we write something they don't want to read. Again: it's not personal. It's science.

We invested years in grad school (and undergrad) and have spent decades studying plant toxicity so that we may bring you the best information possible. We are one of the very few authorities in the country (and elsewhere) who do what we do.

If you choose to question our education and experience, that's your prerogative. However, insults to anyone on this page are not tolerated, and that includes to the authors.

Polite discussion is welcomed. Disrespect is not.

07/12/2024

~ Why equines are a special case in plant toxicity ~

The equine digestive system

The digestive system of all equines differs from other large livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats, because equids are monogastric and not ruminants. Ruminants have the advantage of possessing multiple stomachs: their large forestomach is adapted to degrade and detoxify toxins.

Length of foraging time

Horses have a tendency to forage for longer periods than cattle: 50% longer in one study, sometimes up to 24 hours per day. This may result in higher amounts of possibly toxic material in the digestive system, which could be dangerous to the equine, as the effects of many toxins are cumulative.

Equine grazing habits

The particular grazing habits of equines may influence severity of toxicity or the number of occurrences of toxic events. Horses have two sets of incisors, which makes them unique among herbivores, and are therefore highly efficient grazers, capable of eating forages down to the soil surface, often including root material and discouraging quick re-growth of desirable plant matter.

Chasing green

Equines are notorious for searching for new, green forage in the spring (“chasing green”), which may result in the consumption of toxic w**ds and plants that emerge early in the growing season. Chasing green can result in an early spring diet low in fiber and high in soluble carbohydrates. that can contain high concentrates of potentially toxic plant material.

Herd characteristics

Herd characteristics of equines, such as grouping and the common tendency to defecate in certain areas, may lead to areas that are avoided as well as areas that receive much higher levels of use.

Horses tend to graze areas that were previously grazed, and will choose old patches first, resulting in excessive grazing in those patches. This can result in areas of concentration of toxic plants, including w**ds.

07/12/2024

This week's issue of our E2E Info-letter Healthy Pastures, Healthy Horses is now ready for subscribers to enjoy. :)

A quick recap of this issue:

This week's topic: Choosing the appropriate hay
Toxicity highlight: Tall fescue
Interesting articles: Is glyphosate killing bees?
Research and studies: Crofton w**d toxicity
Horsing around: Vermicomposting horse manure
Graze anatomy: Tall fescue management
Barn talk: Protein levels in hay
Equine corner: Choosing hay 2
Horse corral: How long can we store hay?
This week's info nuggets: Hay treated for molds

Subscriptions are available monthly ($5.00, 4-5 issues) or yearly ($50.00, 52 issues). You can also order a sample issue for $1.00. The topics we include aren't covered in our FB posts, so you won't see the material repeated here. See the pinned post above for info on how to subscribe (Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo). We work hard and long to ensure that you get your money's worth. :)

The info-letters contain loads of informative, original, easy-to read content for all equine stewards. An entire month of issues costs less than a stop at a coffee stand, so treat yourself or someone you care about, support the work we do, and keep your equines safe and your pastures healthy!

We'd like to thank our loyal subscribers for their support and also for their very kind words of appreciation. Those mean a lot and we're always gratified that folks are enjoying our efforts and knowledge. Paid subscriptions help to keep us posting here!

06/12/2024

Time once again for our FrIDay toxic plant and w**d ID quiz!

The first person to comment with the correct ID will get a free month's subscription to our weekly info-letter. If you're a current subscriber we'll extend your subscription a month.

Today's plant is one there's much confusion over as it's often both misidentified and believed to be safe. It is found in many regions and is quite common.

If you've already won a free month we kindly ask that you hold off answering until Sunday if it's not identified yet. We'll still give you another month free but this gives the new folks a chance to ID new plants for at least two days (cuz some of you guys are legit ID wizards). :)

We'd like this to be about really getting to know the plants so prefer no apps but do your thing.

So have fun with it and we hope to meet some new stewards who we haven't met before. (Not that we don't adore our regulars as well. 😘)