While it’s not lethal, it can make your horse unwell. The toxin in the plant gets processed in the bloodstream and travels
F E AT U R E
Weed awareness
to the skin. When exposed through unpigmented skin, the toxin interacts with UV light to cause sunburn, making the horse prone to skin infections. It also causes gastro-intestinal irritation.
Paterson’s Curse Paterson’s curse is easy identifiable due to its distinctive purple flower. It
Weeds can be a hazard. To find out just how hazardous, RACHEL ROAN spoke to equine specialist Dr Cristina Rosales.
W
hen it comes to weeds that could harm your horse, the list is long, and it can
occurs in all Australia states, but is most common in areas of high winter rainfall. If left unchecked, it quickly becomes a problem when conditions are favourable as it can produce seeds from autumn through to spring. If ingested, it may
in addition, may become a ‘roarer’.
cause fatal liver failure. “It’s tricky to
Dandelion poisoning isn’t fatal, but
diagnose unless we’ve seen the weeds,
treatment takes time. With six to twelve
or the owner tells us that the horse has
be confusing for horse owners to
months of rest, good pasture, and
eaten them,” Cristina comments. “It can
know what they should be wary of. Dr
medication to relax muscles and nerves,
take six months before any signs of
Cristina Rosales is an equine specialist
there is a chance that the horse can
poisoning begin to show, by which time
at Barwon Equine Hospital in Victoria.
return to work. However, depending
it’s too late to help the horse.”
She has a fascination with weeds and
on the level of toxicity, they may never
Fireweed: A weed commonly found
an interest in toxicity, so I asked her for
return to high level performance work.
on the NSW’s Central Coast, Fireweed
St John’s Wort: Hard to eradicate, the
is also fatal to horses. Other than UV
some advice. Here’s her list of the ten most common offenders:
The terrible ten
seeds of St John’s Wort can remain dormant in soil for up to 20 years, and
sensitivity, this plant predominantly causes irreversible liver and brain damage.
Flatweed Dandelion: This weed causes
their tubular roots and runners add to the
Oleander: This weed results in heart
stringhalt, where the horse loses the
removal problem. Even when poisoned,
disease and ultimately death. Not only
ability to walk in both hind legs, and
the roots often survive and regrow.
is oleander a danger to horses, it is
28 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B I S S U E 8 • 2 0 2 2
