A hungry horse will eat just about anything. You may be surprised at the list of poisonous plants that could make your horse very sick if consumed. It may be time to inspect your pastures, especially with spring here. Undesirable plants or weeds can be controlled through proper pasture management. Look through the list of the five most common toxic plants to see if you have any.

Cowgirl - Plants

Horse nettle and the nightshade family are toxic to horses. If one to ten pounds is consumed the plant can even be considered fatal. Most horses will stay away from it unless there is no other food source. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, diarrhea, and the dilation of pupils.

Cowgirl - Plants

Commonly found in overgrazed fields, buttercups are unsafe to your horse. They are not favorable to eat and are typically avoided. They can result in colic, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

Cowgirl - Plants

Growing up to 10ft in height, pokeweed can be found in your horse’s field and around the fence line. Horses that have consumed this toxic plant may show signs that include colic and diarrhea. Pokeweed causes a burning sensation in the mouth.

Cowgirl - Plants

Water hemlock is extremely poisonous to horses, as much as 8oz can be fatal. The roots remain toxic year-round. It will affect the nervous system and cause tremors and muscle convulsions.

Cowgirl - Plants

Thorn apple or jimsonweed has a foul odor and taste, which makes it less desirable to horses if hay or grass is available. Horses experience weak pulses, dry mouths, convulsions, diarrhea, and even comas.

Many of these toxic plants can be very dangerous to your horse. There are also many more plants and trees that can cause adverse reactions if consumed. Practice excellent field management to ensure your horse doesn’t eat something he shouldn’t.