Horses and Thistles?

What is up with horses and thistles? My mare is constantly eating the heads (flowers) off the thistles, but get this they are dried up and SPIKY thistle heads!

Is it normal for a horse to eat thistles? Yes it is.

Is eating thistles going to hurt my horse? No, Vets say it is totally normal for a horse to eat thistles. And horses have a strong mouth so they are practically designed to eat them.

Does it help my horse by eating thistles? Yes some types of Thistles actually help horses. For instance like the Milk Thistle, the milk thistle  Helps to protect the liver from toxins and stimulates production of new liver cells to replace damaged ones. 
Milk Thistle works in three ways. It protects the Liver cells, it has antioxidant activity and it will also regenerate damaged liver cells. Milk Thistle seeds are comprised of bioflavonoid silymarin complex and silibinin. The silymarin complex protects the liver with its anti-oxidant properties. It prevents toxins from entering the liver cells and it also helps with regeneration of damaged cells. 

A typical thistle you see around the place!

                                          

A milk thistle




So now we discover that it is fine and actually healthy for a horse to eat thistles...

Till next time :)