Is ragwort a welfare issue?

[ycbm]

I keep driving past two small ponies on a paddock who are clearly very well cared for day to day. But their paddock has so little grass in it that they are being fed some hay, and it's an absolute sea of yellow ragwort in bloom. The temptation for them to pick at it when their small haynet is empty must be enormous. I can't decide whether it warrants a call to WHW or not.
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[meleeka]

I very much doubt they'll be forced to clear it, but WHW might visit if it's a slow day or they are in the area and advise them.

 

[Andie02]

I would say it does.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

I would, I know the Bluecross have been out to a similar situation locally and the owners were prompted to take action afterwards.

If they didn't I'd be more than cheeky enough to ask the owners if they'd let me clear it for a fiver.

 

[SilverLinings]

I would call, although I don't know whether any action would be taken; IMO it should be, as the owner is in effect poisoning their horse, even if it's through ignorance.

If they have so little food that they are likely to eat the ragwort then the lack of forage may be seen as more of a welfare problem, so it may be worth pushing that angle if you report it.

 

[ycbm]

I would call, although I don't know whether any action would be taken; IMO it should be, as the owner is in effect poisoning their horse, even if it's through ignorance.

If they have so little food that they are likely to eat the ragwort then the lack of forage may be seen as more of a welfare problem, so it may be worth pushing that angle if you report it.

They look like EMS risk ponies in perfect condition and I think they are being trickle fed. I can't square how so they seem looked after with the amount of ragwort in their paddock. There's isn't a spot of poo in it, it's obviously cleared daily.
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[SilverLinings]

They look like EMS risk ponies in perfect condition and I think they are being trickle fed. I can't square how so they seem looked after with the amount of ragwort in their paddock. There's isn't a spot of poo in it, it's obviously cleared daily.
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I completely support food restriction and trickle feeding to maintain good health (I own natives who are ALWAYS restricted), but I can see why you are concerned about the ragwort as we all know that horses in starvation paddocks will usually eat anything they can get their hooves on. It is unfortunately the only situation where sensibly restricting their diet is likely to cause more harm. I would hope that the RSPCA/WHW/BHS/etc would see that it is very likely that these horses will end up eating the ragwort, and are therefore not safe until the owner has been educated about ragwort risk.

 

[Jenko109]

It's been so dry recently (up until the last 48 hours anyway ) that it's been impossible to pull up my ragwort without doing myself an injury.

We do have masses of grass though so I am not concerned about pulling it up in a hurry.

From my experience reporting similar, I just got sent leaflets highlighting the risk of ragwort to pin on the gate.

 

[honetpot]

I thought you had to control it by law, but like a lot of things not enforced.

Ragwort Control Act 2003

An Act to amend the Weeds Act 1959 in relation to ragwort; and for connected purposes.

www.legislation.gov.uk

I have a field opposite me that seeds across the road, so every year I have to pull it. I know who owns it but they have no interest in topping or spraying, 30 acres cost £300k going to scrub.

 

[SilverLinings]

It's been so dry recently (up until the last 48 hours anyway ) that it's been impossible to pull up my ragwort without doing myself an injury.

We do have masses of grass though so I am not concerned about pulling it up in a hurry.

From my experience reporting similar, I just got sent leaflets highlighting the risk of ragwort to pin on the gate.

@ycbm could you try printing something sensible (e.g. from the BHS or Pony Club websites) and anonymously leave it on the gate for the owner?

 

[AmyMay]

The council may be interested.

 

[meleeka]

Someone near me has had a visit from WHW and AFAIK nothing was said about the ragwort, as it's still there. The circumstances sound similar, albeit these owners don't clear dung or even visit daily. Ponies aren't thin and must have had water that day, because WHW phoned the person who reported it and said "no concerns"

 

[Andie02]

The council may be interested.

The council are some of the worst offenders round here.

 

[SEL]

Couldn't get the RSPCA interested a few years back in a similar situation

 

[SpotsandBays]

I emailed WHW about a similar incident a few years ago and they “didn’t have anyone local to investigate”…
Though at the time they did have a bit on their website in regards to reporting it. Haven’t checked since

 

[scats]

A friend reported some ponies last year in a bald field that was literally covered in flowering ragwort. The owners did seem to clear it a month or so later.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Could it be that the owners aren’t aware of the issue? I’m thinking ‘accidentally’ bump into them and start a conversation.

 

[Snowfilly]

At the moment, it doesn’t seem like there’s one equine charity in the country worth reporting to. The whole lot of them are useless and there won’t be any action taken until the horse drops dead.

 

[Mustard]

I've been to cases where ragwort was the issue, but if you can't persuade the owner to deal with it there is very little legal back up to help. Some people don't want to be educated.

 

[SEL]

My vet friend said try the BHS - sometimes they'll send a welfare officer round in an educational capacity

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The council may be interested.

I very much doubt it! The council is the worst offender round here. I have more ragwort plants on our land this year than we have for a long time, I can only assume that the weather conditions are encouraging its growth.

 

[Goldenstar]

WHW or the BHS, both certainly used to do ragwort calls I know I used to do them .

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I have active blisters on my hands right now from ragwort pulling yesterday, I do a couple days at the beginning of the season, and then couple hours every weekend to keep on top of what's about to flower. We are surrounded by farmers who allow it on the edges of their land so whilst the yard stays on top of the horses fields' there isn't a whole lot we can do about regrowth and spreading. They have sprayed a couple of fields this year that were really bad.

 

[PurpleSpots]

I would say the best bet would be reporting the field to Natural England - they have a form to do it with, but you will need to know who the landowner is so they can contact them. In my experience they do take action and can affect a change.

ETA: This should be a link to the appropriate form. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/weeds-act-1959-complaint-form-and-leaflet

 

[PeterNatt]

The owners of the horses need to be made aware of the dangers of Ragwort to their horses and need to deal with it immediately.

Read this link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/stop-ragwort-and-other-harmful-weeds-from-spreading

If you have any concerns contact the British Horse Society Welfare Team on:
Tel: 0247 6840 517 24/7

https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse.../report-a-welfare-concern/

 

[HopOnTrot]

We had some pop up this week (luckily the other side of the electric fence) but I swear it went from clear to 2ft high overnight!

 

[MuddyMonster]

We had some pop up this week (luckily the other side of the electric fence) but I swear it went from clear to 2ft high overnight!

Me too!

My native is on a set up not dissimilar to the one YCBM posted & I do daily ragwort checks whilst poo picking each day. Honestly, I suddenly pulled ragwort from amongst the nettles that I swear wasn't there the day before ..

Back to the question, I'd definitely try to leave a note for the owner or failing that, contact the BHS/WHW about it.

 

[Abacus]

The council are some of the worst offenders round here.

Totally agree. 5 minutes out of my yard gate is a long stretch of road (probably 2 miles) with thick ragwort , about 2m deep, on either side. The path was cut by the council but not the whole verge. And that wind blows in my direction.

 

[Fieldlife]

They look like EMS risk ponies in perfect condition and I think they are being trickle fed. I can't square how so they seem looked after with the amount of ragwort in their paddock. There's isn't a spot of poo in it, it's obviously cleared daily.
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Is it definitely ragwort? My neighbor has a sea of yellow that looks very like ragwort. Up very close can see it’s a different plant.

 

[jofwigby]

It's always worth giving it a go with WHW / BHS - I've never been able to get past switchboard with WHW but will still try if situation warrants. Soon as it's trampled it will be palatable so for the ponies give them a call.
Managed to get the Council to stop someone from baling their ragwort crop a few years ago, think that was a fluke tho