
18/08/2025
⚠️🌼 𝙍𝘼𝙂𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙏 𝘼𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙏- 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩! 🌼⚠️
It’s that time of year again - the yellow flowers might be bright and cheery, but ragwort is no friend to horses. We’re seeing it popping up all over Aberdeenshire just now - in paddocks, field margins, and even creeping into hay.
⚠️ 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮:
Ragwort contains toxins that damage the liver and sadly, once the damage is done, there’s no specific cure. Horses don’t usually eat it fresh (it tastes nasty), but once it’s dried in hay, they can’t tell – this can pose a significant risk.
We’ve seen heartbreaking cases over the years, and the worst part is, signs often don’t show until the liver is already badly compromised and it is too late to treat.
🧐 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩:
Right now it’s tall, with clusters of yellow daisy-like flowers and tough, ragged leaves. Have a good walk round your fields, especially along fence lines and rough ground, and any fields used for making hay.
🧤 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙮:
• Always wear gloves – the toxins can be absorbed through skin.
• Pull it up by the roots if you can (a ragwort fork helps!).
• Don’t leave pulled plants lying about – wilted ragwort is actually more palatable to horses.
• Bag it and dispose of it properly.
💬 Not sure if you’ve got ragwort or something else? Snap a photo and give us a shout - we’re happy to help.
Let’s stay ahead of it and keep your horses safe this summer. 🌾🐴
– The Ardene House Equine Team