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Profile: FLOWTECH
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StableTalk - The UK's brightest on-line equestrian magazine, written by
riders for riders
BELOVED HORSE KILLED BY RAGWORT
The British Horse Society has learnt that yet another horse
has died of ragwort poisoning. Scirocco, a 16.1hh dark bay
gelding belonging to Mrs Wendy Harrow of Llanelli, died
a slow and painful death earlier this month.
Vets treating the horse for liver damage did not initially
suspect ragwort poisoning, and by the time the staggering
symptoms appeared, it was too late.
Mrs Harrow said: "It was devastating to watch Scirocco
die. I would never want anyone to go through that. I could
not believe it was ragwort poisoning as I have always kept
our fields completely free of it. But this year I bought
in hay from a different source, and the ragwort was in that.
Blood tests show that my two other horses were also affected,
but I am treating them with NAFF detox and pink powder and
they are okay".
Nichola Gregory, British Horse Society Ragwort Campaign
co-ordinator, said: "We have been warning horse owners of
the dangers of ragwort getting in to hay, and unfortunately
we have been proved right. In this case the supplier said
he was "70% sure" there was no ragwort in his hay. Horse
owners need to be 100% sure that the forage they feed their
animals is not going to poison them. If ragwort is found
in hay, it should be reported to the Trading Standards Officer."
Ragwort is poisonous to horses, cattle, donkeys and sheep.
It is also poisonous to humans, so gloves should always
be worn when pulling it. Ragwort should be dug up and destroyed
as soon as it appears in the spring (called 'the rosette'
stage). It can also be treated by spot spraying with Barrier
H (an effective and environmentally friendly herbicide),
burnt off with a paraffin weed burner, or dug out and salt
put in the hole to kill any roots left behind. Horses and
ponies should not be put back in the field until the ragwort
has been removed.
BHS Root Out Ragwort Week - 21-29 July Root Out Ragwort
Week is aimed at preventing flowering ragwort from going
to seed by raising awareness in the public of the dangers
to livestock of ragwort poisoning.
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