BHS launches research project on killer weed

The British Horse Society (BHS) has launched a survey into how ragwort affects horses in England.

Fatal to horses

The survey is supported by Defra and will assess levels of awareness and concern about ragwort, which can be fatal to horses.

Lee Hackett, BHS director of equine policy, said: “We know that ragwort kills horses every year and there is absolutely no excuse for this – such deaths are completely avoidable.

“We need everyone who cares about horses to complete our survey so that we can better understand the extent of the problem. The results will also help inform policy making and other measures surrounding ragwort.

Complete the survey

The survey is running till Friday 15 August 2014, and can be accessed through the BHS’s website.

“I urge everyone involved in horses to take a few minutes to complete the survey and to encourage others to do the same,” added Lee.