Is ragwort a welfare issue?

SEL said:
My vet friend said try the BHS - sometimes they'll send a welfare officer round in an educational capacity
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When I was a welfare officer (BHS)I went to a few calls about excessive ragwort. Very much hands tied as all I could do was give advice, leaflet and mention the relevant law. All knew about it being toxic if eaten, palatable to some once cut and wilting or dead, a couple did clear it, others didnt.
It really doesn't help that highways etc don't do anything about it whatsoever in this country.
 
It's awful in places around here the roundabout that goes onto the A1 is so bad they never seem to do anything about it, there is a field near Brookmans Park with ponies on that us completely covered in ragwort.

My field got bad last year I just couldn't keep on top if it so I got it sprayed this year and the farmer did all his that surrounds me so hoping it doesn't come back.
 
I think it is an offence to allow ragwort to spread to your neighbours land, but as to any effective legal deterrent....nope, can't think of one. Our pasture has a lot, and we dig or pull quantities every year. We do notice that as soon as an area is cleared, the horses move in and graze there. I read something the other day about the cinnabar moth numbers declining, despite the explosion of ragwort.
 
This is the advice on the WHW website:

Worried about a horse you’ve seen in a field full of ragwort?

If you’ve seen a horse in a field full of ragwort – and are confident that they are being otherwise well cared for – the best course of action is to print off our ragwort leaflet and attach a copy to the gate or fence of the paddock in question. If you do have other concerns about the horse’s welfare in addition to the ragwort, you can report the situation to us here.

See https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/advice/ragwort-how-to-deal-with-it-in-a-horse-paddock
 
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