What plants are poisonous to horses?

There is a whole slew of plants that are toxic or poisonous to horses. Some will simply make your horse sick and some can be fatal.

Thankfully, most poisonous plants have a foul or bitter taste and horses will avoid them. (I'm personally convinced that most horses are smart enough to know which plants are "bad").

However, if your horse is on a dry lot or where grazing is scarce, they may be tempted to try some of those plants and it's a good idea to identify the plants and get rid of them.

I'm a very visual person and I like pictures, not just descriptions! So, here is a link to a good, illustrated guide to plants that are known to be toxic or poisonous to horses:

http://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/poisonous.pdf

How can you tell if your horse has eaten a poisonous plant?

Signs of poisoning include:

1. Colic
2. Muscle spasms
3. Tremors (shaking)
4. Staggering
5. Difficulty swallowing
6. Drooling
7. Irregular heart beat (slower or faster than normal)
8. Confusion
9. Unusual spookiness or panicking for no apparent reason
10. Urinating more than usual or the urine is an abnormal color
    

A horse may exhibit just one or many of these symptoms. They don't have to show all signs in order to have been poisoned.

If you suspect your horse has been poisoned, do not delay! Call your vet immediately.