Our sheep nibble the overhanging yew branches at the Roman fort (the trees are in the walled gardens next to where the sheep graze), but as far as I know none have ever died of it. I do suspect there may have been the odd upset tummy in imported sheep, who have then learned
(the homebreds presumeably being taught by mum how much is enough
)
I was bemused when I was, long ago, looking to buy a smallholding in Wales, to find that a lot of fields were hedged with laburnum
. Highly toxic to livestock, surely!? But also very very good firewood
. I assumed that the hedges were kept trimmed and maybe therefore didn't seed? But never followed it up as my path then took me north instead of into Wales.
It seems to me that a lot of plants are toxic in sufficient quantity, and do good in the
right quantity and situation. But how many animals have to have a toxic reaction, or worse, before they learn, I don't know.
Maybe your horrid neighbour has laurel elsewhere on their property, so the Arabs are used to it? Otherwise yes their owners are either stupid or stupid.
Edited to make it clear that it is the neighbours who are stupid, not the Arab ponies.