Risk of 'ergotism' in horses?

[TotalMadgeness]

I have about 10 acres which is topped but we tend to leave the perimeter and corners as the topper doesn't reach this grass. This grass is now very tall and has seed heads. Unfortunately the seed heads are nearly all infected with ergot (a fungus). I read up on it and it is apparently dangerous to horses. Has anyone on here experienced this before and do you have an advice?

Some info:
https://wagwalking.com/horse/condition/ergot-alkaloid-toxicity

My photos:

 

[PapaverFollis]

There's a few threads on going on this already. Hang fire and I'll link them...

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...rass-seed-heads-in-paddocks-this-year.809603/

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/will-it-never-end.809449/

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...anding-hay-warning-toxic-ergot-fungus.809652/

 

[TotalMadgeness]

There's a few threads on going on this already. Hang fire and I'll link them...

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...rass-seed-heads-in-paddocks-this-year.809603/

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/will-it-never-end.809449/

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...anding-hay-warning-toxic-ergot-fungus.809652/

Thank you!

 

[PapaverFollis]

Lots of info on those threads, look out for PurBee's excellent posts.

Long story short. Do not let horses onto areas with infested seed heads currently standing. Chop down and remove (and burn). But also don't freak out too much (there has been a fair amount of freaking out! ?).

I'm not sure I we have reached a conclusion on how soon horses can be grazed after chopping down and removing. I think about a month might be a general guide although I've also seen "not at all this winter" said on Facebook.

We are also not sure how much they would need to consume to create a problem BUT we have a reasonable guess that they could easily do it if allowed to graze standing, infested grass (60 seed heads?) but that worrying about fallen ergots in the grass maybe a little unnecessary.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Instead of cutting could I try (carefully) burning the seed heads around the perimeter with a weed burner? Or would that be a stupid idea?

 

[SantaVera]

Sounds like an excellent idea

 

[scruffyponies]

I read 'risk or egotism in horses'. i was about to say that one of mine is really quite up himself sometimes...

 

[milliepops]

I read 'risk or egotism in horses'. i was about to say that one of mine is really quite up himself sometimes...

oh yes, my yearling has a dreadful case of egotism! it's all me, me, me, as far as she's concerned

 

[PapaverFollis]

Just don't set your whole field on fire! ?

 

[milliepops]

Just don't set your whole field on fire! ?

yeah have to say that was my immediate thought, there have been a lot of fields going up round here lately

 

[PapaverFollis]

We've piled up our cut ergot-infested grass somewhere safe but we are holding off actually burning until next door have harvested their oats as its all still a bit dry and a stray spark... we don't want to be the neighbours that burned the crop down one year... having said that I'm not sure they'll get much for it as it looks quite ergot infested from peering over the fence.

 

[Palindrome]

There was a big thing about mycotoxins on barefoot fora a few years back, I think some people even fed supplements against it. Not sure if someone could confirm that ergot is/produces mycotoxins?

 

[PapaverFollis]

"Mycotoxin" covers a broad range of substances of which the "ergot alkaloids" found in ergot are a subset.

 

[Ceriann]

I have mulched my perimeters and corners. Plan is to leave to dry and then suck up with poo hover, pile and burn. Whilst I only found dots of ergot on heads in the permiters and corners, the bales taken off those fields will be burned. I assume there is no risk in horses then grazing those fields?!

 

[TotalMadgeness]

yeah have to say that was my immediate thought, there have been a lot of fields going up round here lately

Yeah I plan to be very careful and have a hose / bucket on standby! The grass to be fair is pretty wet at the moment and the fence posts are damp too. I'll only burn the seedheads not the entire grass though. I have cut a couple of perimeters already just need to rake up which will take forever - although I do like Ceriann's idea of using a poo hoover!