Cat's ear
Cat's ear is a native plant that resembles dandelion to some extent. It is considered toxic to horses and is clearly linked to the occurrence of the condition known as “stringhalt”. This has again been confirmed by a field study by König et al., 2021.
The tricky aspect here is that cat's ear copes better with dry conditions and sandy soils than most other grasses. In connection with climate change and more frequent dry years, this problem could also increase in our region.
Good to know: a large amount of cat's ear on the pasture does not necessarily lead to more horses developing stringhalt (Australian stringhalt), but it does increase the risk. Usually only individual animals are affected. Cat's ear is eaten mainly in cases of overgrazing.
The symptoms of stringhalt usually appear between late August and late September, typically in dry years. Unfortunately, cat's ear is difficult to control, so it has to be removed manually. It is best to encourage grass growth in order to crowd out the cat's ear. If necessary, the horses should be taken off the affected pasture.
You can find further poisonous plants in our specialist article: How can I protect my horse from poisonous plants?