The British Horse Society is appealing to everyone with an interest in horses to help combat the deadly plant ragwort, by filling in a simple survey during Ragwort Awareness Week (12-18 July).

To complete survey:  http://www.bhs.org.uk/Press_Centre/BHS_News/Ragwort_Awareness_Week.aspx 

The Society hopes thousands of horse lovers nationwide will spend a few minutes completing the form to help record the extent of the problem in their area. The aim is to record the amount and location of ragwort spotted during the Awareness Week. Mapping software will be used to highlight those areas where ragwort is most prevalent and the number of animals grazing in ragwort-infested fields will be calculated.

Almost everyone involved with horses will be aware of the dangers that ragwort poses – every year animals die painful and unnecessary deaths as a result of damage to their liver from consuming this toxic plant – yet ragwort levels seem to be on the increase. The BHS has certainly seen a rise in the number of cases reported over the last few years.

There is currently no hard data that can be used to support arguments against ragwort, and it is this issue that the BHS is seeking to address this week.

Anyone who spots ragwort during this period is asked to spend just a couple of minutes filling in a simple survey which is available now on www.bhs.org.uk.

Lee Hackett, BHS Senior Executive (Welfare), said: “Ragwort has been causing horrible deaths to horses and ponies for many years and yet it seems to have become more widespread in its distribution. Even when it isn’t in a field grazed by horses it produces seeds that the wind can carry long distances, which spreads the problem in future years.

“The laws surrounding ragwort are not being enforced and we need to stand up and be counted. We must take action now rather than sit back and allow the problem to become progressively worse”.

For further information and pictures, please contact: Alison Coleman, The British Horse Society, 01926 707737 or a.coleman@bhs.org.uk