There are a number of Fiddleneck weeds that are growing everywhere this spring.  They are toxic to horses so be sure to keep your horses from grazing on them.  Fiddleneck (tarweed)- Causes photophobia, photosensitivity, jaundice, liver failure, diarrhea, depression, aberrant behavior (head pressing, incessant licking, aimless walking), weight loss, edema of the extremities. As little as 15 mg of dried plant per kilogram of weight over 2 weeks will induce severe liver failure.

Keeping in a dark stall can treat the photosensitivity, but the underlying liver problem is rarely if ever treatable.  Prognosis is very poor.

http://kaweahoaks.com/html/fiddleneck.html

Other Plants that are Toxic to Horses Check out the website listed below.  There is a list that contains more plants that have been reported as having systemic effects on horses and/or intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Toxic Plants - Equine

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Bill Number: H.R. 503/S. 311
Sponsor(s): Representatives Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), Nick Rahall (D-WV), John Spratt (D-SC); Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV)
Action Needed: Send a letter to your senators and representative now and urge them to support the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act!
Update, 4/26/07: On Wednesday, April 25, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted to move this important bill to the entire Senate for a vote, without making any changes to it.  Please take action on this legislation if you have not already done so. We’ll let you know when the Senate vote is imminent.

Premarin is a drug derived from pregnant mares’ urine (PMU).  Mares are kept in production, foaling every year, for eight or nine years. When no longer able to produce, they are sold to slaughter. To read more and find alternatives go to:

Before the start of the summer travel season, it is critically important for horse owners to perform basic yet essential maintenance on their trailers.  This will be time well spent because it will ensure that their trailers will be in optimal shape. Click the link below for some tips to prepare your trailer for the upcoming travel season: