Plants For A Horse Friendly Garden?

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Katypops

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We are all experts on what we musn't plant in our gardens and paddocks; the species that are poisonous or harmful to horses. It seems to be incredibly tricky to find out which UK growing plants (and flowers, particularly) are deemed safe or reasonably safe for horses.
I know horses thrive on pastures with a good mix of herbs in, but that is about as far as I can get.
Obviously, the ideal is make sure the horses are secure in their stables or fields in the first place. But it would be nice to have piece of mind that if they were to escape one night or take a mouthful out the hanging baskets, that I wouldn't have to panic. Many thanks.
 
Interesting question!
I've no special knowledge, but I think you may need to select some likely ones then try to verify them individually.
I would expect nasturtiums to be ok as humans can eat them raw.
Not strictly flowers but am sure roses safe.
Would be really interesting to hear from an expert!
 
Well you can never have too much fruit, orange flowers are lovely and roses, rosehips and of course apple, cherry, other blossoming trees! We had a horse next door that used to lean over and eat our dahlias. Don't know if they're recommended though!
 
My horse is partial to pampas grass but you probably don't want too much of that according to a thread earlier this week!
 
Alfalfa has many varieties and some of them look pretty good as decorative flowers! Dandelions are extremely palatable and great for sorting out the digestive system so nice to have around as well.

Be careful with fruit trees as that might actually tempt the horses to make that extra effort and jump the fence, specially when they're filled with tasty apples or pears or whatever! I had a horse who was super well behaved, except during fig season when he would break out of his stall and fill his tummy.
 
Thank you for all your comments and advice. Figs, dahlias and pampas grass - who would have thought? Alfalfa is a very good idea.
The more I look into it, the more it seems there is no such thing as a 'safe' plant, flower or shrub. Researching it on the web, I've read that apples and garlic are toxic to horses! I suppose an excess of anything can cause harm.
Perhaps the best tactic is to avoid the deadly species and have a strategically placed carrot patch near the stables for damage control? Or I may then end up with extremely athletic, door and fence-jumping carrot fiends! You never can win...
 
I have too large flexi tubs at the yard that I grow mint in for my pony. I just break a bit off and sprinkle in the field for him, but I've had to hide the tubs or he'd break out for it!
 
Mine love wild garlic, mint, cow parsley, sticky willy (Cleavers), willow, hawthorn, dandelion and cut, wilted nettles.
There are loads of herbs which are good for them and if you offer plenty of choice, it will prevent them from over dosing on one particular plant.
 
Oh I wish I had seen this when I was at home!! I have a book called the Herbal Horse and it contains info on herbs and plants that are horse friendly as well as herbal remedies that you can grow yourself to compliment traditional medicine. Its really interesting.
 
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