Stinging nettles

[Sarah6]

Does anyone know why horses don't eat stinging nettles when they are growing but as soon as you cut them they want to eat them?

 

[tazzsmum]

My lot eat them when there growing, I could never understand how thier mouths don't get stung.

 

[scotsmare]

I think it's cos they wilt and lose their 'stinginess'

then again, I know a horse who eats thistles......

 

[Sarah6]

Yeah strange animals arent they!

 

[silvershadow81]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it's cos they wilt and lose their 'stinginess'

then again, I know a horse who eats thistles......

[/ QUOTE ]

I was just about to add thay my girl loves thistles!!! She was very careful picking one from the field the other day! I then tried to pick another for her to eat and couldnt was they were so 'stingy'!! dont know how (or why!!) she did it!!

Gem gets dry nettles added to her feed and will happily eat them by the handful!

 

[Sarah6]

so they allowed 2 eat dried or cut nettles n stuff?

 

[kerilli]

yes, dried nettles are good for them. they lose their sting pretty quickly as soon as they start wilting, i think.
if you lay them out to dry for too long, they get covered with swarms of flies though. *bitter experience face*

 

[angieandstar]

my pony loves nettles dried though although does try them when they start dying off to see if still stinging apparently correct me if im wrong but they are a good source of iron and a diruretic (cant spell) to cleanse the insides

 

[carys220]

My NF loves thistles too, it's funny watching her, she opens her lips really wide and picks them with her teeth.
My shettie is actually allergic to nettles

she has patches of white hair all over her face where she was stung when she was younger.

 

[the watcher]

[ QUOTE ]
my pony loves nettles dried though although does try them when they start dying off to see if still stinging apparently correct me if im wrong but they are a good source of iron and a diruretic (cant spell) to cleanse the insides

[/ QUOTE ]

They have also been long regarded as a preventive measure for urticaria, it would be interesting to know if those which do have access to wilted nettles suffer from lumps and bumps as much as others

 

[custard]

It's because they need to wilt/die off to release the various 'chemicals' they contain. Apparently this doesn't happen while they are growing for some reason.

 

[SanchoDulci]

Stinging nettles lose there sting once they have been chopped down and left to wilt for a few hours. I am led to believe feeding them is good for horses with sweet itch, when I can find access to some I plan to give it a go as my pony suffers badly in the summer.

 

[the watcher]

SabsInSpain - you could improvise with nettle tea, just make it up and then add to feed, including the contents of the tea bag - I've done that when nettles aren't readily available

 

[SanchoDulci]

Thanks for that, will give the tea a go