All About the Deadly Nightshade

A ride on your horse to an unfamiliar place or to a forest can sometimes be dangerous.  Aside from the danger when encountering wild animals, there is also danger posed by plants that are not recognized as toxic.  During the strolling, you might not be able to notice that your horse is already chewing on some grass or plant that might risk his health due to poisoning.  One notable poisonous plant found in some parts of the forests is the Deadly Nightshade also known in its scientific name the Atropa belladonna.

In the forest, there are lots of wild plants that are harmful and poisonous to your horse and the Deadly Nightshade is one of the most common and a very toxic one.  So, how would you know if you encounter this poisonous plant during your strolling in the wild and prevent your horse from eating one?

To know if it is the infamous plant, you first need to examine its leaves; the shapes are oval though the ends are pointed, colors are pale green and or somehow lighter than the usual leaf’s color and it has more ribbed lines than the usual leaves.

Deadly nightshade, Atropa belladonna.
Image grabbed from PlbMak

Second, examine its flowers; they are colored purple and are somehow touched with brown and they are next to its fruits (the poisonous berries).

And, examine its berries; they appear from green to a shiny black and from afar they are relatively a lot like the cherries.  They are to me appearing to be temptingly delicious because of the big significance of the cherries yet the black color would remain a warning and sign of its deadly characteristic.

Every part of the deadly nightshade is said to be poisonous though the most toxic is found on the parts of the leaves and stem.  Moreover, plant parts are accidently mixed into the hay or the food supply of your horse.  They might come from your nearby bushes camouflaging itself before your knowledge. 

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Because of these, always make sure to check what you give to your horse and store their food supply in a warehouse or other safe storage places and containers.  When you decide to stroll with your giant four-legged buddy into the wild, make sure he has eaten enough to refrain him from picking and chewing what grass he sees delicious to intake, else if he’s hungry make sure to check what you give him by learning about toxic plants.  Always be aware not only for your own safety but for your horse’s as well.