Ragwort & Molehills..
Keeping Summer Paddocks Safe
Ragwort is poisonous to horses because it contains toxins that damage the liver, even when dried in hay. Signs of ragwort poisoning include lethargy, neurological issues, and liver failure. Avoid all issues with regular paddock inspections and removal. If left to grow, ragwort can spread quickly and easily which means keeping on top of its growth is vital. While most horses won't immediately choose to eat ragwort due to it's bitter taste, some will develop a taste for it if nothing else is available. It also loses its unpalatable taste when cut and dried, but doesn't lose its toxicity!
Mole Hills in horse paddocks and fields pose much more serious risks than most may realise.
Mole Hills pose health risks to horses as they run and play, they can damage the field's surface and can damage maintenance equipment.
Uneven Ground and extensive tunneling can make the ground uneven and unstable, creating potential trip hazards for both horses and people.
Health Risks to Horses don't just refer to the trip hazards... Mole Hills can also contribute to:
Colic: Ingested soil from molehills may cause colic.
Grass Sickness: Bare soil brought to the surface can increase the risk of grass sickness (equine dysautonomia).
Botulism: Soil from molehills can contaminate hay or haylage (silage) during harvesting and soil-contaminated feed can lead to botulism, a potentially fatal illness for horses and other livestock.
Summer paddock maintenance is essential to keep paddocls safe for both horses and people:
Bowman and Son offer the following maintenance services to keep your paddocks safe and healthy:
Flailing to tidy and rejuvenate any long seeded grass and to stop weeds from going to seed.
Cut and collection of Ragwort to stop the spread of seed, allowing continuous safe grazing.
Ant and Mole Hill levelling to reduce injury risk and allow future maintenance
We are happy to answer any questions and offer advice
about the health of your paddocks / grounds.
Our Advice Pages offers some great information on how to get the most from your paddocks.
Please call us now on 07887 694928
