ragwort I have had it with the myths

Esther.

Do you want to know why, as we say here, you and your two colleagues have 'got everyone's backs up' ie annoyed the HHO members so much?

You came here with an agenda which makes no sense to us: to tell us we don't understand a pasture management 'problem' we have actually been managing very well over the years, and to discredit a man who has been a huge asset to the horse world.

You labour under the misapprehension that terrible rumours are currently circulating in the UK about the effects of ragwort being (or not being) absorbed through the skin or causing liver failure in horses.

They are NOT. Ragwort is occasionally mentioned on this forum but it is not a topic that concerns us much.

I like ragwort, as a plant. It's pretty, it supports a small ecosystem of its own and like every other example of flora or fauna that exists, it has a place and a purpose. But in the world in which we live, (i.e. massively overpopulated by humans) it's not always appropriate to allow it to flourish in every situation: and where it may become mixed into a hay crop is one of them. So we remove it. Fortunately, where I live it isn't as common as the area I grew up in 40 years ago, where we pulled it, by hand. And over the years, the plants became fewer in the pastures.

But back to this thread.

Bizarrely, your friend 'Ragwort Facts' then joined in, all guns blazing, to say that by spreading rumours, we may cause people to lose their jobs etc and that we're all too 'thick' to understand your arguments.

Well, that's just plain rude. And also more than a tad weird in the wider context :roll eyes:.

I have just read today about 5000 jobs being axed at Blackberry: about the fluctuating markets as a results of Angela Merkel's u-turn: about ongoing massacres in Syria: about efforts to rebalance the books in Greece while people and animals are starving: about 3,000 homeless horses facing destruction here, due to abandonment caused by the recession, as the charities can't cope: and even about this year's failed apple crop in the UK. But not one word about job loses or trashed reputations because of ragwort rumours spread by thick horse owners like me.

You and your friends may have a point (somewhere), about something to do with the little yellow-flowered plant we call ragwort; although unfortunately, you have failed to make it clear enough what that point IS to those who, like me, are obviously a bit on the 'slow' side. You may well be very passionate and dedicated and intelligent....

BUT you have totally and utterly blown this out of all proportion and therefore have lost any credibility for your cause. I am (I hate to admit) rather intrigued to understand how such a minor topic has taken over your lives to such an extent that you barge onto a forum such as this in such a manner.

What on EARTH has upset you all so much to take it to these extremes?

I guess on one level, you are to be congratulated. You have managed to make the entire membership of this forum (as existed prior to your arrival) agree on something!

Now that SHOULD make the headlines... :eek:
 
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However she does have the decency to say that Germaine Greer seems quite intelligent - you don't say!

Have you read the Female Eunuch? Did you find it credible that she accused a nurse of almost cutting off her clitoris by mistake :D? Im not sure, but I think I'd rather read Esther than Germaine :p
 
I'm sure Germaine Greer will be most flattered!

Perhaps I had better arrange to have my horses shot because everybody gets some ragwort & therefore is unfit to own them.

I'm polishing my bolt gun out as I speak.....and I have only ever had about 3 or 4 rosettes in my field each year in the seven years I have been here.

I think Esther needs to understand that we don't have lots of options in terms of pasture over here in the UK. I own one field. I don't have access to any other fields in my area. It's not a simple as just moving the horses in order to change the pasture management.
 
Have you read the Female Eunuch? Did you find it credible that she accused a nurse of almost cutting off her clitoris by mistake :D? Im not sure, but I think I'd rather read Esther than Germaine :p

For all I respect GG, I suspect she's not really my cup of tea, so no, I haven't read the Female Eunuch! I enjoy listening to her debate though, and don't doubt her intelligence!
 
For all I respect GG, I suspect she's not really my cup of tea, so no, I haven't read the Female Eunuch! I enjoy listening to her debate though, and don't doubt her intelligence!

Yes, me too. Incredibly intelligent woman but if the nurse could have cut it off with a razor while doing a pube shave she's got a much bigger one than me! Is that lucky, or not, I wonder. More interesting than ragwort myths by a long shot :D
 
....and well said Mrs B; I just don't understand all the time and effort given to something that really isn't of much impact. (and that is why I am spending my time and effort on this thread, as irrationality completely intrigues me!)

People always have their pet subjects in science......but there are specialist journals that cater for these musings....!
 
I think Esther needs to understand that we don't have lots of options in terms of pasture over here in the UK. I own one field. I don't have access to any other fields in my area. It's not a simple as just moving the horses in order to change the pasture management.

I think Esther needs to understand that I don't agree with her and neither do a lot of us, and that the methods she proposes may not actually be the best for our horses in this country.

I am lucky enough to have a field big enough to section into at least 4. I have no intention of doing that, because my horses love the space and keep themselves fit with a damned good gallop around the 12 acres. I also don't need to harrow it or poo pick because they have space to avoid poo areas and graze elsewhere and over the years they naturally rotate poo spots. Meanwhile, the field is an unfertilized wildflower meadow containing natural red sorrel wormers that they eat when they need them. If the payment for that (which I don't believe it is) is to hand pull a few ragwort plants each year (and I don't wear gloves :eek:), it's a price well worth paying.


ps both Esther and Nick may also like to note that I have a dense sward of grass, flowers and herbs and that this does not prevent the occasional self seeding of ragwort from my neighbouring farmers. You contention that ragwort cannot grow in dense sward is entirely incorrect, in my experience. Ironically, the places that I have never seen ragwort growth are in the bare earth "bedrooms" the horses make or the poached gateways. I really do think that if people are going to come onto a forum and preach, then they should at least have their facts straight.
 
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See Esther hasn't come back on to respond to my confusion about what I'm supposed to change. Maybe my revelation that it isn't actually winter has stunned her into silence.
 
I think Esther needs to understand that I don't agree with her and neither do a lot of us, and that the methods she proposes may not actually be the best for our horses in this country.

I am lucky enough to have a field big enough to section into at least 4. I have no intention of doing that, because my horses love the space and keep themselves fit with a damned good gallop around the 12 acres. I also don't need to harrow it or poo pick because they have space to avoid poo areas and graze elsewhere and over the years they naturally rotate poo spots. Meanwhile, the field is an unfertilized wildflower meadow containing natural red sorrel wormers that they eat when they need them. If the payment for that (which I don't believe it is) is to hand pull a few ragwort plants each year (and I don't wear gloves :eek:), it's a price well worth paying.

Same here ten acres 2 horses, 2 miniatures. More than happy to pull the odd ragwort and cut down thistles. Am I allowed to cut thistles or they a protected species too Estherhegt?
 
And 4.3 Do not post rude or abusive messages - including personal attacks on other Users


Get a grip. She said 'please' and everything :rolleyes:

What do you have issues with? Incessant? Check. Pro-ragwort rantings? Check. Quite honestly your last few posts have been becoming increasingly ridiculous. You are providing amusement for HHO, nothing more; certainly not education. That is not rude or abusive, that is my personal opinion to which I am entitled.
 
*pops head in*

My God, this is the thread that will never die!

Just to update you all - it's ok, Andy Murray won.

Night night.
 
Oops wine all over the iPad ,what are these people on?
I means this degree of passion over the yellow peril .

I dunno! Hysteria does seem to have its benefits :eek: :eek: :D

old-time-remedies-hysterical-paroxysm.jpg
 
One last post, read this http://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/

A logical fallacy is usually what has happened when someone is wrong about something. It's a flaw in reasoning. They're like tricks or illusions of thought, and they're often very sneakily used by politicians and the media to fool people.

Good luck.

Well I'm glad you've learned something from the thread Esther, and how brave of you to admit it to us. Fingers crossed you'll be less gullible in future ;)
 
A strange way of reacting here....
We too are people who love their horses, whe don't say ragwort is not toxic for them,we just said, it is not toxic by skin.

Is this the normal way in England as you deal with people ??

I want to ask you all ONE simple question...but maybe you can only answer when you did read and controlled the refference we have given to you , several times...

Why do you still believe what ONE proffessor is saying about this plant... and do you not believe a lot of other proffessors , named on the refference list we have given ?
 
A strange way of reacting here....
We too are people who love their horses, whe don't say ragwort is not toxic for them,we just said, it is not toxic by skin.

Is this the normal way in England as you deal with people ??

I want to ask you all ONE simple question...but maybe you can only answer when you did read and controlled the refference we have given to you , several times...

Why do you still believe what ONE proffessor is saying about this plant... and do you not believe a lot of other proffessors , named on the refference list we have given ?

I will ask you one question...... What part of " we are not interested in your ramblings" do you not understand? Seriously, go campaign something which is important to people who care to listen to you :(
 
I want to ask you all ONE simple question...but maybe you can only answer when you did read and controlled the refference we have given to you , several times...

Why do you still believe what ONE proffessor is saying about this plant... and do you not believe a lot of other proffessors , named on the refference list we have given ?

Nick dear, we don't. But it is a case of person x says one thing, and person y says the opposite. No proof either way. We know Ragwort is poisonous, and there is anecdotal evidence at the very least to suggest it may also be toxic on contact. As nobody can prove otherwise, it seems a sensible precaution to wear gloves when handling it. Even if it prevents the allergic responses, that is enough of a benefit in my opinion.

As to how many horses die? We don't know, we can't know, but surely you will agree that even 1 is 1 too many. We don't have the luxury of being able to pick and choose perfect pasture, and we don't believe a nationwide slaughter of horses for those who cannot guarantee ragwort free pasture is really a viable option. And that would be the only option, as there are vast numbers of unwanted horses in the UK that can't be rehomed anyway.

We would I feel be interested in the Ragwort free hay systems being set up, but despite questioning we are no further forward in understanding how you went about that, and therefore if it would be a possibility in the UK. Most caring horseowners (and I'll class the vast majority of HHOers in that) will do what they can to check their forage is free of poisonous plants.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't know, or don't care, but they are not the ones likely to be using an online forum devoted to horse care, are they?

I would be interested in any future research that is carried out, but nothing that has been said on this thread has been enough to change my mind on anything.
 
Erm - wow, that was some read!

I have never heard of any of the professors - ipso facto I don't know about any myths.

I don't believe a word the press say about anything.

The problem with our Dutch "experts" is not that we cannot understand their English, it is that they cannot understand our replies.

Ragwort is not good for hossies - nor is lush grasss

Pulling rag is one way of controlling it - spraying is another - sheep make one hell of a smelly mess of any grazing!

If you care about your health wear gloves, wash hands, do not eat food while pulling rag!

Not a myth in sight, just a practical approach to keeping our beloved hossies as best we can.

Still can't get over the idea of scraping off all the soil from 5 acres and replacing it with weed free soil - where would we put the soil scraped off and where would we get the soil to replace it? The garden centre??

Planet Zog or what??
 
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At this time every year, there are a lot of stories about ragwort that do not reflect the facts.

Yep, and the Dutch contingent in this thread seem to be perpetuating them all... So far the only stories, myths and facts that appear to be continually rammed down my throat reading all this are:

1 - We become hysterical at the mere mention of ragwort...
We don't...

2 - We hysterically worry we'll all die of liver failure it we touch it...
We don't...

3 - We hysterically worry that our horses will promptly drop dead from ragwort poisoning if they sniffed or rolled on some ragwort...
We don't...

4 - We are either incapable of removing ragwort when or if it arrives in a field and use salt liberally or we regularly keep horses in fields of ragwort when we shouldn't have horses... Perhaps because we fell asleep for a year or don't know how to manage it...
We don't...

5 - Prof Knottenbelt has scared us all witless about ragwort and created the aforementioned hysteria...
He hasn't...

6 - We have vets who diagnose any form of liver disease to be the fault of ragwort poisoning...
We don't...

7 - We believe a stack of myths about ragwort...
It appears, we don't...

Whilst yelling about supposed myths, you appear to be creating far more...

:)
 
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The sad thing is there are myths that create hysterical panic:
Eastern Europeans photographing horses to steal to order
Gypsies putting plaits in manes to mark horses to steal etc,etc
It's a shame they don't put their educating zeal into things that really do cause people to lose sleep instead of wasting their time telling us that ragwort is poisonous to horses & really it would be better if it didn't grow in their grazing. Because guess what - we already knew that. They have spouted absolutely zilch on here to tell us anything we didn't know already & have given us no new practical solutions. If they had actually come up with some good ideas to get rid of the stuff more easily we would have said "ta muchly" & tried them out. People who are happy to let their horses graze in ragwort strewn pasture are not, by & large, the sort of people who spend their free time on HHO.
Maybe they will be back next week to try & educate us that Syria is not a good holiday destination at the moment. Because, after all, we are all too stupid to work that out for ourselves & may merely think of all the interesting archealogical sites we could visit.
Mind you it has been tremendous fun, much better than anything on the tv lately.
 
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