What could be causing a black tongue on grazing horses!?

[ChestnutConvert]

I have noticed a few horses on the yard coming in woth black or slightly black tongues. No fences have been treated, adjacent paddocks were patch sprayed by hand but nowhere near the current paddocks and about two weeks ago so should be well washed in by now.
Are there Any plants that can do this to horses? They can't all be licking soil! They are all fine in every other way, any ideas?

 

[putasocinit]

Mine are the same

 

[Goldenstar]

And mine I asked the vet when she did the dentals she did not know.

 

[ChestnutConvert]

Phheewww! Glad it's not just me it must be a plant or something?

 

[Fools Motto]

Don't know what sort of soil you have, but several at work get turned out and lick the earth for a few moments, and end up with earthy soil all over their noses!! (and yep, probably means they are lacking in something?)

 

[ladyt25]

Isn't it just grass staining? That's what I assume anyway as they get it when the nice lucsh grass is coming through.

 

[Goldenstar]

Don't know what sort of soil you have, but several at work get turned out and lick the earth for a few moments, and end up with earthy soil all over their noses!! (and yep, probably means they are lacking in something?)

No our soil is really quite red this is black.

 

[Goldenstar]

Isn't it just grass staining? That's what I assume anyway as they get it when the nice lucsh grass is coming through.

Oh I hope so , but I fear mine are imagining the nice lush grass though.

 

[niagaraduval]

Mine also had a black tongue I'm pretty sure it's the soil they are on.

 

[stencilface]

A quick google brings up dandelions and other friendly pasture 'weeds' that might cause this. Ours get them in spring, none have died yet (at least fro tongue related things! )

 

[ladyt25]

A quick google brings up dandelions and other friendly pasture 'weeds' that might cause this. Ours get them in spring, none have died yet (at least fro tongue related things! )

There you go then - most probably dandelions seeing as it's time for them at the moment.

 

[Rhodders]

There you go then - most probably dandelions seeing as it's time for them at the moment.

That would make sense - mine has a black tongue too and loves dandelions

 

[Goldenstar]

Dandelions ,it is then the blackest tongue belongs to known dandelion scoffer.

 

[doonrocket]

Red wine - explains behaviour of mine.

 

[LittleRooketRider]

We had an old pony once who would get a black tongue...we were told it was due to lack of minerals/food/sustenance/nutrients or something along those lines so was eating dung to compensate anyhoot gave hime some exra vits. and it all cleared up

 

[Pasture Mix]

I'm glad to have seen this post as my girls periodically get black tongues. I had also put it down to licking soil as I have caught both of them in the act before. It's a relief to hear other people aren't worried about it

 

[BTR]

Our dentist said its horses eating dandelions!

 

[putasocinit]

Must be weeds because there is no soil on the nose, just the black tongue.

 

[putasocinit]

And dandelions are a storehouse of minerals esp iron, copper, and potash, copper being an activator of zinc in the body, zinc being good for wound healing, fertility and white blood cell production. Dandelion contains more vit a & c than most veg and fruit. So do not worry we have happy, healthy, sexually orientated black tongued beasts. Get on.