Is bindweed an issue for horses?

[Marigold4]

I've got a worsening problem with bindweed. Not sure which type - some of it has white flowers, some pink. Is it harmful if horses eat it? I am finding mixed info online with some saying it's harmless, some saying its poisonous, some saying horses don't eat it. Anyone got any experience with this plant or knows how to get rid of it? It's coming in from the wildlife strip next door.

 

[Esmae]

We have it round and about. Never caused a problem. they seem to ignore it.

 

[SEL]

Hard to get rid of even with round-up. My big two horses have nibbled on it before without harm

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

We've got some in our paddocks, my boys don't bother with it so no problem. We keep on top of any ragwort we find in the paddock as well. Sometimes when the grass has grown really high we don't see the rag until the horses have eaten the long grass off. We find that they don't eat the ragwort, it's left standing & they've eaten around it. So it's shown that when it's green & growing it's not to their taste but any that's found dead & brown in hay must be removed as it is tasty to them when it's dried & dead.

 

[Marigold4]

Hard to get rid of even with round-up. My big two horses have nibbled on it before without harm

Thanks for replying. I'm hoping to get a contractor in this week to spray it. Do you think that's worthwhile? Or won't have much effect?

 

[sbloom]

Most plants that are mildly poisonous to horses are actually in some ways beneficial, I'd recommend finding Equi-biome on Facebook and following them, they post really interesting stuff about grazing and the hind gut. You could post and ask about bind weed. I would avoid spraying if I possibly could, so would want to do the reading first to ensure it's not harmful. Many broadleaved plants that will be killed by spraying are not only edible but actually the variety of them, as opposed to just grass, benefits the hind gut massively.

 

[Marigold4]

Most plants that are mildly poisonous to horses are actually in some ways beneficial, I'd recommend finding Equi-biome on Facebook and following them, they post really interesting stuff about grazing and the hind gut. You could post and ask about bind weed. I would avoid spraying if I possibly could, so would want to do the reading first to ensure it's not harmful. Many broadleaved plants that will be killed by spraying are not only edible but actually the variety of them, as opposed to just grass, benefits the hind gut massively.

Thanks for that link. I had a quick look and will post a question about bindweed once I've joined. Just on a brief scroll through, goodness me, what a lot there is to worry about! It seems eveything we feed our horses is wrong! Difficult for the average horse owner to make radical change, particularly if at livery where field management is out of their hands.

 

[Mrs Jingle]

We have some bindweed growing in hedges. My horses have never attempted to eat in over 20 years. I think it is actually very pretty winding through the hedgerows.

 

[sbloom]

Thanks for that link. I had a quick look and will post a question about bindweed once I've joined. Just on a brief scroll through, goodness me, what a lot there is to worry about! It seems eveything we feed our horses is wrong! Difficult for the average horse owner to make radical change, particularly if at livery where field management is out of their hands.

Agreed, it can be difficult, but at least if we know what we should be aiming for we can start to make the right changes, where possible. Just allowing a couple of snack stops in hedgerows on hacks can be a start, a herb garden for hand grazing etc...small changes.

 

[Goldenstar]

Unless they have nothing else they won’t eat it .

 

[SEL]

Thanks for replying. I'm hoping to get a contractor in this week to spray it. Do you think that's worthwhile? Or won't have much effect?

I doubt it will help tbh - deep rooted thug of a plant!

Unless your horses are gorging on it I'd ignore it.

I worry about ragwort, mares tail, foxgloves, sycamore, yew and acorns. One of mine gets buttercup burn so I think I'll have to top those next year but otherwise they'll only really eat the nasties if there's nothing else

 

[Andie02]

Thanks for replying. I'm hoping to get a contractor in this week to spray it. Do you think that's worthwhile? Or won't have much effect?

A contractor using a professional product specifically for bindweed should be able to get rid of it, though it may need doing again in the future to deal with any seeding. Like any other weeds, the longer it is left to seed the worse it will get.