Ragwort in hay Serious dilemma

J

joy

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One of my horses is out on loan to a family for their daughter to compete. This weekend she competed in her first Advnaced medium on my horse.
Now the serious ragwort bit.
She keeps it at a yard "managed" by a BHSI who is also her accredited BD trainer, the sister yard has been accredited by the BHS. I went up to the yard today to see some other friends and they told me that ragwort had been found in the hay. When emailed the mangement emailed back and told them to "shake it out".
Horses at the accredited yard and this off shoot are dealt the same hay.
I am furious, my lovely horse is now in danger of being poisoned by stupid selfish people who have BHS qualifications and are just being downright dishonest and evil.
This not the first time this has happened so do I blow the whistle to the BHS and BD as I am a member of both organisations I think I am being let down by members of the very organisations who are supposed to be for the good of the horse?
OR do I just go up and take my horse back upsetting a 15 year old girl and her family and not bother to explain my actions because in this case and given the circumstances I don't have to?
 
I would contact the family and say what you have seen - give them an ultimatum to either move the horse off this hay or you will have no option but to take the horse away from there.

I would also contact the relevant authorities. Please don't mess about or delay where ragwort is concerned.
 
I'm with Tia; the response you've received is IMO inexcuseable. They should be sending the hay back and getting new stuff, or you should be removing your horse. I wouldn't leave my PF there!!
Poor you
frown.gif
 
I wonder if this comes under the new laws of "keeping an animal in a manner likely to cause suffering" I heard as little as 2kg of the dried stuff can cause irreversible damage but dont quote me on that, would ask advice of a vet first.
 
I'd go balistic if I got that answer, When its in the field, its bitter and they will ignore it unless kept hungry in a starvation paddock, but when dried out, it becomes more palatable, and the horses will eat it..


I'd shop them without a 2nd thought and move the horse - flippin idiots
 
After seeing a horse die from ragwort poisoning - please get this horse off this hay immediately. Ragwort poisoning is irreversible and the death is horrible. I would be absolutely balistic.

Perhaps they should be made to watch one of Dr. Derek Knottenbelt's films of what ragwort poisoning does to a horse. I couldn't actually watch it all.
 
The horse must no be fed this hay as Ragwort is a cumialative poison so each time it is fed Ragwort more liver cells are destroyed.

If the yard is aware of it and disregarding it then this is a very serious matter. I would suggest that you do confirm that this is indeed Ragwort and if so take photos of it.

The BHS will treat this matter very seriously if it is reported to their welfare department.
 
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