In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and its association with the shamrock, also known as clover—a delicious and nutritious treat for horses—here’s some interesting information about this iconic plant.
In the USA, there are several species of clover that horses can eat, with the most common ones being:
1. Red Clover (Trifolium pratense): Red clover* is widely distributed across the United States and is commonly used as a forage crop for horses. It is valued for its high protein content and palatability.
Excessive consumption of red clover can lead to excessive salivation in horses due to the presence of certain compounds called phytoestrogens, particularly formononetin and biochanin A, found in the plant. These compounds have estrogenic properties and can affect hormone levels in the body, leading to various physiological effects, including increased salivation. This excessive salivation may manifest as drooling or foaming at the mouth.
Excessive salivation is usually a mild and temporary side effect of red clover consumption. In rare cases it can lead to dehydration and associated complications.
2. White Clover (Trifolium repens): White clover is another common clover species found in pastures and forage crops throughout the USA. It is often mixed with grasses and other legumes to provide additional nutrition for horses.
3. Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum): Crimson clover is less common than red and white clover but is still cultivated in some regions of the USA for forage purposes. It is valued for its rapid growth and ability to fix nitrogen in the soil.
4. Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum): Alsike clover is less commonly used in horse pastures compared to red and white clover. It can be toxic to horses if consumed in large quantities, as it contains compounds that can cause photosensitization and liver damage.
While clover is generally considered safe for horses to eat and is often included in pasture mixes, there are a few factors to consider: if consumed in large quantities or under certain conditions horses may exhibit symptoms such as bloat, photosensitivity, dermatitis, or gastrointestinal upset after consuming large quantities of clover.
To mitigate the risk of potential issues, horse owners should carefully manage the amount of clover in their horse’s diet and ensure that it is part of a balanced feeding program.
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