The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: AndynJ on June 01, 2014, 08:36:57 am
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planning for the future
Which weeds/flowers do we need to get rid of ?
Which ones may cause a problem for horses ?
Many thanks in advance :thumbsup:
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ragwort is the major one-its very toxic and when dried, horses will eat it (most will avoid it when green). Docks aren't toxic but most won't eat them even when dry and horse owners begrudge paying for a load of dry dock stalks :)
Dried buttercup isn't toxic but again, I don't like to see it in my hay. Personally I don't like clover-its too rich for my horses and contains various compounds that I wouldn't want equines getting too much of-others may not care so much.
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Generally you want just as much grass and as few weeds/flowers in as you can possibly achieve.
The odd one or two thistles or dockens or nettles are perhaps not a nuisance in themselves but they're wasting space within the weight of the bale you're paying for. But more important, since the guy that sprays my fields knocks out all dockens, nettles etc along with the ragwort I would worry at seeing anything like them in the hay as it suggests it's never been sprayed for ragwort if that makes sense.
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I was intending to barrier h for the ragwort is there something else I can use as a full land spray ? as apposed to a spot srpay