Resolved Question

I'm a herb fanatic yet seldom take them myself (but I will... there's someone in the sky with diamonds telling me I need more roughage! lol *wink)

Anyone know what herbs NOT to give horses? I believe there are a couple that can be harmful to them. Trying to plan a herb garden at a stable that they can nosh around on.

Some herbs to be careful with:

- St. John’s Wort, a popular herb for managing stress in humans, contains hypericin, which can be toxic to horses and most grazing animals. Horses can have a severe reaction, displaying symptoms of photosensitivity and peeling skin conditions, which often leads to a horse rubbing himself raw.

- Horsetail is another herb that can cause serious problems in the equine. This herb contains thiaminase, which can cause a thiamine deficiency in horses.

- Black Walnut. When horses are bedded on wood shavings containing black walnut shavings, clinical signs of laminitis (inflammation of the laminae in the hoof) can occur within 24 hours or less. Consumption of the shavings may cause signs of laminitis as well as colic.