Just put up a load of hay. There was a broken bale that we left out for the three geldings to pick away at. They are on 24/7 light pasture. They were all slobbering the next morning but otherwise good. It didn’t occur to me that it was the tiny bit of clover in the grass hay that was the culprit. Vet’s only advice was be watchful re hydration. What experiences can you share - really hoping it was just one bale (yikes)!
I’ve had some mixed in throughout the years. Only real problem I’ve had is when the farrier is there–he doesn’t love getting drooled on.
I haven’t heard of any actual medical issues or concerns, just unsightly and a little gross.
It’s been a bad year here for it. Not in the hay, but on pasture.
My gelding had a constant stream dripping from his mouth yesterday. We’re in a heat wave so I soaked his grain and gave him some electrolytes. He shipped today for two weeks of showing so I’m sure the slobbers will be gone by tomorrow.
Edited to add that I’m in Ontario. It’s been really hot and humid through August. If it was my own pasture I would be cutting everything short for multiple reasons, but my horses are boarded right now…
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Are you sure it was the hay and not the pasture? I mowed my backyard on Sunday and by Monday morning even I could see mold on the grass. The wet and warm temperatures are just a breeding ground for it.
I’m not sure there is much to be done other than take them off pasture and put on hay only - if it’s the pasture.
I’d be surprised if it was the hay, to be honest. I’m sure it can happen but I would think the drying process would reduce the mold a lot.
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We did an experiment after first episode of drooling. Put them back out on normal pasture and drooling stopped in 24 hours. Then brought them in and split one flake three ways and they started drooling and blowing bubbles. Vet has advised use of an anti fungal drug to protect the liver. This is first cut hay made in the last week so in very hot, humid weather. Recipe for mold I guess.
Really? What is the drug? I have never heard of this.
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Following this as I have had slobbering issues with our pony this year. Where does everyone live? I am in PA
If this is actually Alsike clover, that hay needs to thrown out and yes, get some liver support into the horse - milk thistle for example
I’ve never heard of an anti-fungal to protect the liver from the fungus that develops on clover. It’s fairly well researched, and the only issue is the excess salivation, which isn’t a health issue as long as the horse is drinking well.
Clover by default isn’t the problem. The fungus grows on it in the right wet conditions. Once things dry up, the fungus dies, so I wouldn’t expect that to be an issue in older hay. Newly baled, sure (your case). But also, “a tiny bit of clover” shouldn’t cause a problem either, but never say never LOL
Are you SURE there isn’t something stuck in their mouths, like foxtails?
I’m in NC, and while it hasn’t been an issue here for a few years, it’s definitely been an issue several times in the 15/16 Summers here.
Add me to the list of surprised folk that it’s coming from your hay, not pasture. I’m in Maryland and earlier this summer (and every summer, though not so much this late in the year) lots of horses get slobbers if they’re out on pasture. For mine, a muzzle was enough to minimize the impact (she was muzzled for other reasons). As others said, it’s not really a huge issue - they just drool all over the place, but better after a day off pasture (or muzzled). I could always tell when mine got her muzzle off overnight because of the slobbers. At this time of year, she’s muzzle-less and it’s not a problem anymore.
@pokesaladannie If you definitely narrowed the source to the baled hay, I’d worry the bales were put up wet & the clover in them may continue to mold & eventually ruin the hay.
A neighbor bales a small area outside my pastures (he keeps & sells the hay, I get a civilized-looking property).
There is usually lots of cIover in the grass, but he teds & allows it to dry before baling.
The clover may turn black in the bale as it continues to dry, but does not get moldy.
Re: Your slobbers question:
For the 1st time in 17yrs, 2 of my horses came in from pasture at night with slobbers. Mini somehow was not affected. Maybe mold was on taller grasses/clover in that field?
Both were fine the next morning & I closed off that field.
It will need to be bushhogged before I reopen.
I think your vet was being uber-conservative with medication.
Unless there were other symptoms besides increased salivation, or the drooling went on for days, I’d doubt liver function was compromised.
But, no DVM after my name, so… 
The fungus can take a bit to dry up and die, so since it’s newly baled, that doesn’t bother me too much.
Same. Mine have slobbered for weeks some years. Nowhere does any publication that I have seen over the years, say anything about this fungus affecting the liver.
MSU - “While it is a nuisance and rather unpleasant, the condition is not life threatening.”
OMAFRA - “Affected horses commonly show no abnormal clinical signs except the profuse frothy salivation, which is not life threatening. Clinical syndromes that can cause profuse salivation are: the virus disease, vesicular stomatitis; mechanical or chemical irritation of the mouth, e.g., by plant awns; or slaframine poisoning, most commonly associated with clover pasture or hay.”
Science Direct - "Bioactivation of slaframine in the liver to an active metabolite results in clinical symptoms, most notably salivation. The action of active metabolite involves muscarinic receptors.
Slaframine affects the salivary and pancreas exocrine glands, causing viscous salivation and an increase in digestive enzymes, respectively."
My vet has never expressed any concern about liver health, and until now, never heard of a vet expressing that concern
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All three out on usual paddocks today. No hay, no drooling. The drug we are using is “Griseofulvin” oral paste. Just started it today.
No worries - that hay is coming out of my barn and going back. Sigh.
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I’m in NY. It’s been very warm and wet this summer.
Very weird. I’ve never heard of a vet prescribing an anti-fungal for this. A google search says this product is for things like ringworm and other fungal skin issues.
I have dealt with slobbers (not from hay, from pasture), and like the others no vet has ever been worried about it. Certainly not suggested any harm is being done to my horse, just more mess to deal with.
Alsike clover is not something your horse should be eating, but that is not the same problem as clover slobbers at all.
The mold can cause photosensitivity, weeping sores, ulcers in the mouth and peeling skin as well as the drooling. Yes, the vet told me it was a ringworm treatment but is helpful for fungal toxicity as well. Will be happy to see those hundred bales go out my driveway.
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Interesting. Nothing I have read has said that for this. Those are some of the signs of toxic alsike clover though.
I am glad your hay provider is willing to take back the hay you do not want. Hopefully your horse(s) will not have any further slobbers.
From drugs.com:
Griseofulvin is an antifungal medicine that is used to treat infections such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, jock itch, and fungal infections of the scalp, fingernails, or toenails.
Griseofulvin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
You should not use griseofulvin if you have porphyria or liver failure.
Alsike can also get the fungus, so can also cause slobbers, but yes, that isn’t the issue, the issue is the real toxicity to the liver, and resulting photosensitivity, blisters, skin peeling, and even liver failure
See above - the “photosensitivity, weeping sores, ulcers in the mouth and peeling skin” is from toxic Alsike clover, not slaframine which is the chemical in the fungus that causes slobbers
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I agree with the other posters. The culprit for slobbers is the mold Rhizoctonia leguminicola, that mold produces the mycotoxin slaframine, which causes excessive salivation. It can also be referred to as black patch.
According to the Ontario ministry of agriculture there has been one report of a mare aborting, but there is no other information. ie did the mare get severely dehydrated resulting in colic and stress? Did the mare actually abort because she ate toxic amounts of clover, and just happened to also have slaframine poisoning?
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I have never had it due to hay but I have had my horses slobber pretty heavily at times throughout the years if the clover is abundant. I has been a long time but I didn’t do anything different with them when it happens.
