Pasture Management
for
Horses

Growth Habit

Perennial, spread by rhizomes

Encouraged by

Wet acid land

Physical Control

Drainage followed by liming. Other forms of physical control have little effect - a deep rooting system rules out digging them up, and any form of cultivation is likely to break up the rhizomes but not kill them.

Chemical Control

Repeated MCPA or 2,4-D. Glyphosate has variable results due to the waxy coating the plant has.

Toxicity

Leaves, seeds and stems are toxic, containing thiaminase (breaks down thiamine causing a deficiency).

Rarely eaten fresh but has caused death of horses when in hay.