Dandelions

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Amo

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Hi,

I took my boy for a walk yesterday and today for some in hand grazing down the hedgerow, we do this every now and again just so he can have a nibble on things he doesn't normally get chance too. To be honest up until yesterday he always just went for the grass, yesterday and today along with the grass he attacked every dandelion he could find. I have no issue with this as I know they will self medicate but wanted to know if there is a easy way of me providing these for him as long as he wants them without having to take him walking every day.

For example can I pick them myself and feed him but how long can I keep them before they go 'bad'
or should I look at drying them and if so how?

cheers
 
Dandelions full of vit c and and other important vits and mins good for horses, yes you can pick them and nettles too dry them and horses will eat them. Bittercups you want to avoid but generally horses wont touch them.
 
Once I pick them any idea how long I can keep them without drying them?

Also, any idea how I actually dry them?

Thanks
 
You shouldn't need to pick and dry dandelions as they are available pretty much all year round. As well as being packed with vitamins they act as a diuretic too (that's how they get the name 'wet the beds' ).
One of mine always picks out 'goose grass' to eat whilst my other often comes in with a filthy face after rooting up the wild garlic, it does them good to forage.

I think it's really good that you allow him to graze like this, as grazing paddocks do restrict the types of plants/herbs that horses eat.
 
You do not need to dry dandelions, only nettles then the horses will eat the nettles which act as a diuretic as wll, but if you did dry out the dandelions then you would have them to mix in your horses feed as they are perennial so die back in autumn and winter and return in spring.
 
They obviously taste better at certain times, my old horse would also do the same, OP, ignore dandies for ages then all of a sudden devour every one he found completely!

I also like to hand graze mine along the lane when I have the time as there are lots of goodies available there, stuff that you can pay money for dried in a tub as a supplement. Today, as they are in fat paddocks they had armfuls of cow parsley and goose grass picked for them and some nettles cut down in their paddock to dry and eat later.
 
Interesting our boys are in a half paddock as they need to lose weight and I either hand graze the lane or pick nettles ouch,cow parsley and cleavers with the odd dandelion and some shoots off their favourite tree. My boy goes bonkers for cow parsley it is the most successful carrot stretching solution without carrots I have ever known.
 
Mine love dandelions - they had never had them before but our new place is ride with them and the field went from yellow to green in no time. Mine also love baby nettles, those dreadful stickybud things and thistle flowers.
 
I do try and take him out as often as I can but with all of us, fitting in the jobs around the yard, full time job and riding sometimes the luxuries of hand grazing fall by the wayside, hence me thinking if I could pick a bunch in advance say at the weekend he could have them a few times a week when time is short. Just worried about how long I can keep once picked before they become a problem and whether drying them is the best way forward.
 
My boy had his 'fix' on dandelions over the Easter period and now he's moved onto cow parsley, with a munch at the cleavers too at the moment. He also like munch on the blackthorn now and again.

When the thistles flower which is usually around July/beginning of August time round our way, he'll delicately pick off the purple flower from the middle and devour all he can find! It's like watch a kid in a candy store!!
 
Yes Striker,.. :) i've loved watching him pick and choose what he wants/needs to eat through the seasons over the years,.... they're not daft are they?!!...and all from Gods own kitchen too....and FREE!! ;).
 
Please please can someone point me at a guide to farm plants. I was informed this morning that a plant near our paddock was Giant Hogweed! It is NOT I panicked and did research on the leaf shape I think it's maybe Hedge Parsley bigger bolder than cow parsley and slightly brighter green. But I would like to have a definitive guide on what I can cut and feed and what I can't I know dandelions cow parsley cleavers etc and I think everyone know what the dastardly ragwort looks like but would love to know more.
 
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