Ulcers and gastric issues in horses

Gastric issues in horses are extremely serious and can cause great pain. There are essentially two kinds of ulceration. One of these occurs in the upper or squamous part of the stomach. The other, in the lower or glandular region. Ulcers are unfortunately all too common in racing and competition horses. We will consider here …

Ragwort, rewilding and diversity

In a recent post, I described the Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), as one of the plants most toxic to horses. In this post, I look at a related issue, concerning Ragwort and Rewilding. Description: Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a biennial plant, abundant in Britain. It can grow from 30cm to a meter in height. Ragwort has …

Plants toxic to horses: Hemlock

Which plants are most toxic to horses? In this series of posts, I continue to describe the most common plants that are toxic to horses. Here we look at the Hemlock. Description: Hemlock (Conium Maculatum) is an erect, branched biennial plant. It can reach 2m in height. It is common in waste ground, in ditches, …

Plants toxic for Horses: Oak

Which plants are most toxic to horses? In this series of posts, I continue to describe the most common plants that are toxic to horses. Here we look at the mighty Oak. Description: Oak (Quercus spp.) is a tree, native to Britain, and commonly found in woodland, parkland, and near pastures. Oak is also widespread …

Plants toxic for horses: Foxglove

Which plants are most toxic to horses? In this series of posts, I continue to describe the most common plants that are toxic to horses. Description: Foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea) is a biennial plant that reaches about 1.5m in height. Its flowers are bell or helmet-shaped and they may be either purple or white. What the …

Equine digestive Anatomy, Feeding & Nutrition.

Understanding the anatomy of the digestive system is an important step in maintaining a balanced and healthy diet for your horse.  Gillian Higgins and Clare MacLeod present a one-day seminar on Digestive Anatomy, Feeding, and Nutrition. This took place on Saturday 12th February 2022. It was part of Gillian’s series of seminars on equine anatomy …