Shall I be REALLY worried about this?

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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Filling in a hole in the hedge, thanks to a loose cow, I found a sprig of yew. I've walked up and down the hedge line before, and didn't see anything suspisous then. The rest of the hedge, to the best of my eye sight doesn't look like anything to worry about. I hope I am not missing anything more, but I find it hard to desquinish (sp) green from green if you understand me!
Now, this bit of yew is well bedded into the hedge and the ground. I've fenced it off for now, but what can I do about it? Its almost beyond reach.
Do, and would horses choose to eat it if they have grass?

Ideas and thoughts on this please.
 
They are very unlikely to eat the yew if they have grass available. It is more the clippings from it that are the danger so if it should be cut back everylittle bit needs to be removed from the field.
 
They are unlikely to eat it, but, if it is just 'a sprig' why don't you just cut it right down to the ground and dispose of the cuttings carefully then cut it again if it comes back?
 
I will either cut it down ( and get shredded in the process due to massive brambles which make up 98% of the hedge!) or thought I'd ask you lot, and query the process of 'they won't choose to eat it if they have grass?' route.
I am also happy to keep it fenced off, which as it turns out may be a blessing as cow shaped hole is still present!
 
I too have heard of horses being found dead with the yew still in their mouths, scary stuff. I would personally get rid of it, just not worth the risk.
 
It is true that yew is one of the most poisonous plants there is , any animal eating it only has to eat a small piece and it's deadly - so on flip side of that i would say that the probability of your horse eating it is pretty much zero , he/she is more likely to eat ragwort , animals are very sensitive to poisonous plants , but i would still remove it if you can. We had a yew tree in our garden , and when we had our stables built , even though the tree was not in reach of the horses , I did decide to cut it down , although the roots are still in , as they are massive and from time to time it re-sprouts but i just douse it with poison which seems to be killing it off nicely!
 
Yes I would be very worried about it.

A friend of mine lost two horses when someone threw a branch into her field in some garden rubbish. One died within a few steps, the other took about an hour to go. They were not starving or anything.

Horrible, nasty stuff. It make me mad to see how many people are now planting it in their gardens. It used to be just in graveyards.

I read an article about some sheep on the top deck of a transporter which stopped next to a yew tree. They died with it still in their mouths, they had not even swallowed it.

I would dig it out however difficult it would be.
 
Oh cripes, thats enough to nearly kill me reading it! The plant shall live no longer, even if I slice my arms off in the process. Thanks for the info.
What worries me even more, is that as there is this sprig of the stuff, honestly its not very much, what else might there be? I only saw it thanks to the cow! I doubt my eyes will spot anymore - unless of course there is a huge amount, which I know there isn't. I am doubting myself now, bloody stupid eye sight!!
 
The offending Yew has been removed. It is currently in an old oil drum awaiting a burn up with other bits of bushes and twigs. I have buried it under several little logs as to avoid it being blown about.
The area where it was is still fenced off.
Good plan??
I have looked for further yew, but as yet haven't seen any.
Thankyou for you advice, I think I shall sleep better tonight!!
 
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