Ragwort all over field - disgusted by HHO member!

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**Dandelion**

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I had to start this account to say I'm completely disgusted by a member of this forum whose field where her horses are kept is full of ragwort! I'm not talking about a few here, it's covered in it and there plants are quite mature so have been growing a long while. This person/poster must be such a lazy slob it's unbelievable, and to think I used to quite like her... Although she's one of these posters who claims to know everything (lol could be 1000+ posters on here) and that no one takes care of horses better than her - evidently not!

Well thats my rant over. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. She needs reporting - do I go to the RSPCA? What can they do?
 
It's probably me. I got told off a couple of weeks ago for mine by someone one here. I didn't think it was that bad!

No idea. Report to council as it is legally meant to be taken care of?
 
It would be much better if you kept your petty arguments with another individual off this forum I think.

For what its worth, report away, I doubt anyone will actually do anything, but if it makes you feel better, then go ahead...
 
Sigh, why didn't you keep your name???? if you're gonna rant just do it.. but to be honest what other ppl do is their business .... photos don't always tell the true story! Too many ppl on this forum sticking their sticky beaks in!..... Theres more than one way to skin a horse
 
perhaps it would have been better to have a word via pm with the person concerned under your usual forum name, if they tell you to go forth then by all means contact defra or the bhs welfare officer. sometimes the quiet approach gets a better response than blasting someone on a public forum.
 
OK I will give a constructive reply after my initial response of annoyance, here are some ragwort facts for everyone to read:-

Although Ragworts can be a significant nuisance to horse keepers, these species are a very important source of nectar and pollen. About 150 species of insects, such as bees, flies and butterflies, visit the plant. Therefore, even it were possible, eradicating the plant is not a desirable option. We will have to find other ways to protect our livestock. There are no easy solutions to the Ragwort problem, but that doesn’t mean that there is nothing we can do.
The aim of this website is to distinguish facts from myths by using a scientific approach based on research and advice from biologists, toxicologists, and other experts. In this way, we want to determine the nature and scale of the problem that Ragwort presents to our horses and other livestock. In this way, I would like to contribute to a solution of the Ragwort problem; as a horse lover AND as a Ragwort enthusiast.

Q: Is it true that horses usually do not eat fresh Ragwort?
A: Yes, that is right. Only in exceptional circumstances or when there is a food shortage, horses will eat fresh Ragwort. Horses, however, don't recognize dried Ragwort plants as poisonous and contaminated hay may cause Ragwort poisoning. More info

Q: Will my horse get ill when it occasionally eats a mouthful of ragwort?
A; No, incidentally ingesting small amounts of Ragwort will not result in illness. If, however, horses eat several kilograms of Ragwort a day or small amounts for extended periods, this may lead to irreparable liver damage. More info

Q: Do the toxins in Ragworts accumulate in a horse’s body?
A: No. The toxins (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) are excreted within 24-48 hours. If an animal consumes pyrrolidizine alkaloids regularly though, liver damage will accumulate and the animal will show signs of illness. More info

Q: Is it true there are several hundreds of victims each year?
A: The exact number of victims of Ragwort poisoning is unknown. The symptoms of Ragwort poisoning cannot be distinguished from other liver disorders and poisoning can only be confirmed by means of a post-mortem liver exam. These exams are, however, not common practice, and reliable data on the number of victims are therefore not available. There could be more than hundreds of victims, but there could also be much fewer. More info

Q: Will touching a Ragwort plant result in alkaloid poisoning?
A: No. Ragwort poisoning takes place in the digestive system. In the plant, pyrrolidizine alkaloids are stored in their non-toxic form. Only if these substances end up in the digestive system, they will be converted into their toxic form. There is no scientific evidence that skin contact leads to the conversion of non-toxic alkaloids into their toxic form. Some people experience an allergic reaction after skin contact (compositae dermatitis), but this response is cause by sesquiterpene lactones rather than pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These sesquiterpene lactones are common chemical compounds of members of the Sunflower family. More info

Q: Are all Ragwort species poisonous?
A: Yes, all Dutch Ragworts contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These are also found in Comfrey and Butterbur.

Q: Why is Ragwort fairly common in horse pastures?
A: Ragwort needs a bare spot to germinate. Horses easily churn up the ground when running, and graze the grass very short, thereby easily creating open spots suitable for seed germination. More info

Q: Why is Ragwort nowadays more common in the Netherlands than before?
A: Ragworts are presumably more common in the Netherlands and neighboring countries than 30 years ago, because the number of suitable habitats has increased due to large-scale renewal of infrastructure, building activities, and efforts to give agricultural land back to nature. In addition, Ragwort seeds have been used to enrich roadsides. There is no evidence that Ragworts have a different habitat preference or better dispersal capabilities than in the days when this species was much less common in the Netherlands. More info

Q: How can I recognize Ragwort?
A: Ragwort is a biennial. In the first it only has leaves organized in a rosettes. These can be found throughout most parts of the year. Ragwort usually flowers in the second year (June till October). After the plant has produced seeds, it dies. The leaves of Ragwort are pinnately lobed. Flowerheads often occur in clusters called corymbs. They are yellow with ray and disk flowers. Click here for pictures of Ragwort and other Ragwort species.

Q: I have Ragwort plants growing in my horse's field, what can I do?
A: Ragwort is difficult to eradicate and most methods to remove the plants, such as pulling by hand, mowing, and using herbicides, may have increase rather than decrease the number of Ragwort plants at a given site. The best way is probably to prevent ragwort from establishing in a pasture. Good pasture management is therefore of utmost importance. More info

Q: Is it true that the toxin in Ragworts can poison a whole bale of hay?
A: No. The toxins remain in the plant and don't 'contaminate' the rest of the hay. It is advisable though not to use the rest of the bale for consumption, because undetected parts of the plant may have remained in the hay and can potentially lead to Ragwort poisoning.
 
You have a few choices
1. Speak face to face with said person
2. Butt out & leave them to get on with it
3. Report them to DEFRA/council

Does their land adjoin yours? In which case, 1 & 3 come into play
Does it affect you otherwise?

I really can't see what you get off on by having a new name to try to 'shame' someone on here for the way they keep their land :rolleyes:
 
**Dandelion** said:
I have actually done that. I got little response in the way of actual care.
Click to expand...

then take the next step and report them, unless you're prepared to stick your neck on the line and name them and substantiate your claims then you can't expect people to just take your word and lynch someone.
i could just as easily claim you keep your horses in ragwort infested fields and start a witch hunt, unfair and hopefully untrue but you must be able to understand why people aren't just going to take your word for it:)
 
**Dandelion** said:
Go away.
Click to expand...

Thanks, how rude, you ask for advice & then react in a manner which appears I hit the nail on the head.

Why not eave this lady to her own problems, or if it is a days work - then offer to help out, maybe she is unable to remove it herself.

Please, dont post asking advice under a 'new' name & then behave in a playground manner when suggestions are given :rolleyes:
 
hello - if you feel that strongly about it - why hide your normal username - people would have a lot more respect for you and your argument should you grow a pair!

i understand your wanting to get the situation sorted but there must be a better way than on a public forum.
 
:p
**Dandelion** said:
1. It would take the best part of a whole day (if not longer)
2. It is not my responsibility.
3. It will grow back - and then what? I go and help again? Don't think so.
4. Take your bitter attitude elsewhere.
Click to expand...

pmsl. you come across as the sort of person we all want as a friend, so caring about the horse. well done






























NOT :D:D
 
well you obviously wanted some reaction otherwise you wouldn't have posted, you could easily have just asked under your usual user name who to report a field full of ragwort to without mentioning it was a hho member. as you're not getting the response you want you're resorting to insults, the only thing you'll achieve is making people wonder what your gripe is with the hho member. I'm sure you're enjoying the attention tho so i'll leave you to it.
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
OK I will give a constructive reply after my initial response of annoyance, here are some ragwort facts for everyone to read:-

Although Ragworts can be a significant nuisance to horse keepers, these species are a very important source of nectar and pollen. About 150 species of insects, such as bees, flies and butterflies, visit the plant. Therefore, even it were possible, eradicating the plant is not a desirable option. We will have to find other ways to protect our livestock. There are no easy solutions to the Ragwort problem, but that doesn’t mean that there is nothing we can do.
The aim of this website is to distinguish facts from myths by using a scientific approach based on research and advice from biologists, toxicologists, and other experts. In this way, we want to determine the nature and scale of the problem that Ragwort presents to our horses and other livestock. In this way, I would like to contribute to a solution of the Ragwort problem; as a horse lover AND as a Ragwort enthusiast.

Q: Is it true that horses usually do not eat fresh Ragwort?
A: Yes, that is right. Only in exceptional circumstances or when there is a food shortage, horses will eat fresh Ragwort. Horses, however, don't recognize dried Ragwort plants as poisonous and contaminated hay may cause Ragwort poisoning. More info

Q: Will my horse get ill when it occasionally eats a mouthful of ragwort?
A; No, incidentally ingesting small amounts of Ragwort will not result in illness. If, however, horses eat several kilograms of Ragwort a day or small amounts for extended periods, this may lead to irreparable liver damage. More info

Q: Do the toxins in Ragworts accumulate in a horse’s body?
A: No. The toxins (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) are excreted within 24-48 hours. If an animal consumes pyrrolidizine alkaloids regularly though, liver damage will accumulate and the animal will show signs of illness. More info

Q: Is it true there are several hundreds of victims each year?
A: The exact number of victims of Ragwort poisoning is unknown. The symptoms of Ragwort poisoning cannot be distinguished from other liver disorders and poisoning can only be confirmed by means of a post-mortem liver exam. These exams are, however, not common practice, and reliable data on the number of victims are therefore not available. There could be more than hundreds of victims, but there could also be much fewer. More info

Q: Will touching a Ragwort plant result in alkaloid poisoning?
A: No. Ragwort poisoning takes place in the digestive system. In the plant, pyrrolidizine alkaloids are stored in their non-toxic form. Only if these substances end up in the digestive system, they will be converted into their toxic form. There is no scientific evidence that skin contact leads to the conversion of non-toxic alkaloids into their toxic form. Some people experience an allergic reaction after skin contact (compositae dermatitis), but this response is cause by sesquiterpene lactones rather than pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These sesquiterpene lactones are common chemical compounds of members of the Sunflower family. More info

Q: Are all Ragwort species poisonous?
A: Yes, all Dutch Ragworts contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These are also found in Comfrey and Butterbur.

Q: Why is Ragwort fairly common in horse pastures?
A: Ragwort needs a bare spot to germinate. Horses easily churn up the ground when running, and graze the grass very short, thereby easily creating open spots suitable for seed germination. More info

Q: Why is Ragwort nowadays more common in the Netherlands than before?
A: Ragworts are presumably more common in the Netherlands and neighboring countries than 30 years ago, because the number of suitable habitats has increased due to large-scale renewal of infrastructure, building activities, and efforts to give agricultural land back to nature. In addition, Ragwort seeds have been used to enrich roadsides. There is no evidence that Ragworts have a different habitat preference or better dispersal capabilities than in the days when this species was much less common in the Netherlands. More info

Q: How can I recognize Ragwort?
A: Ragwort is a biennial. In the first it only has leaves organized in a rosettes. These can be found throughout most parts of the year. Ragwort usually flowers in the second year (June till October). After the plant has produced seeds, it dies. The leaves of Ragwort are pinnately lobed. Flowerheads often occur in clusters called corymbs. They are yellow with ray and disk flowers. Click here for pictures of Ragwort and other Ragwort species.

Q: I have Ragwort plants growing in my horse's field, what can I do?
A: Ragwort is difficult to eradicate and most methods to remove the plants, such as pulling by hand, mowing, and using herbicides, may have increase rather than decrease the number of Ragwort plants at a given site. The best way is probably to prevent ragwort from establishing in a pasture. Good pasture management is therefore of utmost importance. More info

Q: Is it true that the toxin in Ragworts can poison a whole bale of hay?
A: No. The toxins remain in the plant and don't 'contaminate' the rest of the hay. It is advisable though not to use the rest of the bale for consumption, because undetected parts of the plant may have remained in the hay and can potentially lead to Ragwort poisoning.
Click to expand...

whatever the back story to this actual thread [ which quite frankly, i deeply dis-interested in ] i just wanted to thank this poster for such a useul & informative response:)
 
rubysmum said:
whatever the back story to this actual thread [ which quite frankly, i deeply dis-interested in ] i just wanted to thank this poster for such a useul & informative response:)
Click to expand...

Ahhh thankyou, i was being a bitch by googling this, but its all true! Animals rarely eat poisonous plants unless we have processed it.. or if the animal is soooo damn hungry it has no choice, if they did do such things we would all be instinct!
 
rubysmum said:
whatever the back story to this actual thread [ which quite frankly, i deeply dis-interested in ] i just wanted to thank this poster for such a useul & informative response:)
Click to expand...

i agree with this :)

Also, not sure exactly how true it is, but i was told that horses are more likely to eat ragwort when its dying as it gives off a sweet smell?
 
While I understand your concern,I don't understand why you could'nt post under your usual user name, you said you werent going to "out" the person concerned, so why hide?
 
I'm a little bit perplexed by some of the replies......ok so OP has assumed another user name and stressed that the post is about another HHO member....but if one of us had come on and had a rant about, say, some one we knew having a field full of ragwort, and were asking for advise on who to report it to...would we be calling them a troll or suggesesting they pull it up themselves, or would we be offering consructive advise (?) The same advise my YO gave to me when I spoke to her about a field of horses near my friends yard, full of ragwort,......call Defra! Just saying!!
 
I am new to this forum and reading a thread like this is very disheartening. Ive joined this forum because i thought it would be helpfull, informative and fun and maybe i can give help and advise to others in an adult and respectful manner.

This post shows very little respect or helpfull behaviour.

If this situation is worrying you so much then you would happily give up you time to help the HORSES not the forum member that you have an issue with.
 
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