Pretty but dangerous - the oleander bush
How much do you know about the many plants that grow in Australia which are potentially poisonous to horses?
For example, oleander is native to the Mediterranean region and it is widely grown in Australia as a garden ornamental and street tree.
The plant is extremely toxic to all species, including humans. A study on the toxicity of oleander showed that the ingestion of only 7 leaves could be fatally toxic to an average sized horse. All parts of oleander trees are toxic and this toxicity is retained in dried leaves, flowers and branches.
An awareness of toxic plants growing in Australian and an understanding of the factors that influence the risk of poisoning can certainly help horse owners to keep their horses safe. Pasture management decisions and landscaping decisions should also be made with consideration to plants that are potentially poisonous to horses
The Australian Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s publication Plants Poisonous to Horses – An Australian Field Guide should be on every horse owner’s bookshelf and you can download it for free here
