The risk to horses of eating ragwort are widely known throughout the equine community. The plant contains poisons that cause progressive liver damage. Even small amounts eaten over time can lead to serious disease.
Despite that, every year the British Horse Society Welfare Department receives numerous reports of horses grazing in fields containing ragwort. “It does seem that the amount of ragwort is on the increase” Lee Hackett, Senior Executive of BHS Welfare, writes in the latest issue of British Horse, the Society‘s magazine. “This suggests that current control measures aren’t working, but to change things we need evidence.”
In an effort to gain hard data on the extent of the problem, the BHS is organising a snapshot survey during its Ragwort Awareness Week.
Anyone who spots ragwort during the week of 12-18 July is asked to spend a couple of minutes filling in a simple survey form, which will be available on the homepage of the BHS website.
It is only necessary to report ragwort that is growing in or near to fields being used for grazing horses, sheep or cattle.
Analysis of the data with mapping software will show the areas where ragwort is most prevalent.
The number of animals grazing in ragwort-infested fields will also be calculated.
The intention is to repeat the survey in coming years so that trends in the distribution of the plant can be identified.
The BHS has 50 RagForks to give away, generously donated by the manufacturers, eazitools Ltd, who are sponsoring the survey. To be included in the draw for a RagFork you need to include your contact details on the survey form.
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