Horse Owners Field Guide to Toxic Plants

By Sandra Burger

Keep this book in the medicine cabinet in the barn. Walk around the pastures with the book in hand, especially in late spring or early summer. Or pack it with on on a trail ride. It just might save... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0914327623
• ISBN13: 9780914327622
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Breakthrough Pubns
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 4.8"

Customer Reviews

Horse Owners Field Guide to Toxic Plants

This guide is clearly written. Best of all it has photos for every plant listed. It would be helpful to have photos showing a plant before flowering as that is when they first come into range. There are few books and sites that really cover the topic of toxicity at once. The problem with all of them is that they cause great alarm. Seems like the whole world is toxic. In fact, horses don't like the smell of most toxic plants. Still, I have identified a few that would cause me to jump right off my horse and pull it from his mouth if he snagged a bite. He's made a game of snitching when he can - a dangerous habit I'm trying to break. This guide does rate the toxicity levels and indicates how much it takes to reach levels of concern. All in all, it's very good idea to know your toxic plants. Domestic horses aren't always inherently educated. I wouln't leave them free access to the grain room. I feel the same about the wilds. It's my job. The guide is very helpful.

A must have for horse owners who pasture their horses

In the author's preface, she describes the reason that she wrote the book, the loss of a treasured friend. Recently (10/02), the nightmare was repeated with a friend of mine and her 18 month-old filly. The case appeared to be a simple case of colic, and the vet treated her accordingly. By the time we realized that the treatment wasn't working, I grabbed my copy of this book and we poured over the description of the symptoms. After matching the symptoms to the possible plant species that cause them, we began a systematic search of the pasture. It turned out that the filly had been poisoned by a common plant under uncommon conditions. Her symptoms were described in detail in the book, along with the treatment. Unfortunately, for us, the treatment came too late to save her.The true strength of this book is the description of the symptoms and the treatments for the various plant toxins. The pictures and the descriptions of the plants are a starting point, but they will not make the reader an expert in plant taxonomy. They act more as a warning flag to encourage the reader to research similar looking plants in their pasture with a more detailed reference.I am so convinced that this book is valuable, that I ordered 10 more copies that I plan to give away. I will give them to all of the 4-H horse leaders in the county plus the 4 vets who work with our young horse owners and their parents. Maybe we can, through education, give the caregivers the tools that they need to save a life. We owe them at least that.

Excellent reference book for veterinarians and horse owners

This is the best and most affordable compact reference book on toxic plants that I have seen. It lists common name, scientific names & local a.k.a.s. A detailed description of the plant is given as well as geographical distribution, signs of poisoning and a 'what to do' section. The best part of all is that there are full color photos for each plant as well as a drawing. The index allows you to look the plant up by name or by clinical sign (plants that will cause the sign are listed with their page numbers). Indespensible for the veterinarian or student. Useful for large and small animals!

The most important hosre book you might ever buy !!!!

This is definitely in the MUST HAVE catergory. Tells you all the deadly poisonous plants down to the upset stomach plants. This book is going to shock and definitely open your eyes to all the poisoins lurking ,waiting to get to your horse. This is a definitely scary,get outside, and start ripping plants out of the ground book! GET IT NOW!

A Must Have for Horse Owners!!

This book will help horse owner's identify if there are any toxic plants in their horse's paddock easily with the big color pictures. This guide also gives a written description of the plant, symptoms of intoxication and what the owner can do to try to save his or her horse. This book is also great for Pony Clubbers. The "C" book does not describe all of the plants that are toxic to horses, so this guide is helpful for ratings, or for Know-Down. All in all, this book is worth the money!