So before I could stop her, my mare reached down and grabbed part of a hydrangea bush and ate it. I think it was just a leaf. Just read how poisonous they are for horses…but it sounds like it’s only if eaten in large quantities. Should I be concerned? Rode her afterwards and she seems fine…
I just had that happen too. A dear friend left one in my barn not realizing the toxicity and my mare is a binge eater. She slipped out of her stall and before I knew what was happening…I noticed no ill effects. For what it’s worth.
Horses have such high body weight that it often takes more than one leaf of anything to poison them.
The exceptions are plants with extreme toxins and neurotoxins like yew and water hemlock. Those can cause death in tiny amounts. If cattle trample hemlock in a pond they can die from drinking the water. Id also be really Leary of foxglove digitalis.
I’m off to Google hydrangea though.
