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Conference noted::equitation

Title:	Equine Notes Conference
Notice:	Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:	MTADMS::COBURNIO

Created:	Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2080
Total number of notes:	22383

699.0. "Beware of Pasture Mixes Containing Alsike Clover" by OFFPLS::PRESTIDGE () Tue Aug 30 1988 13:34

    If you have read note #697, this is some additional information.
    
    I have been in contact with Kathy Menard, whose horse Missy was
    a victim of Alsike Colver Poisoining.  Since my husband and I have
    just seeded a pasture of ours with what the Blue Seal sales person
    said was their standard pasture mix, I thought this was worth 
    checking up on.  What I found was the mix that we bought also had
    Alsike in it.  I have been turning our horse out into another 
    paddock ever since I read Kathy's note.
    
    Kathy was able to get in touch with a Toxicology Hotline in Iowa
    that provided much on the subject of Alsike.  What everyone who
    has horses should know is:
    
    1) ALSIKE CLOVER KILLS HORSES via Liver damage.  ALL HORSES are
       affected.  Cows are not affected.
    
    2) Alsike clover is strong enough to over-ride the other grasses/clovers
       in your pasture.  From what Kathy learned, if you have 12.5%
       in your field this year, you can count on having at least double
       that amount next year, hence MORE DANGER OF POISONING.
    
    3) ALSIKE is identifiable from other clovers in that it's leaves
       (if it has leaves at all) are not near the flower.  Red clover,
       a common pasture clover, has leaves right around the flower of
       the plant.
    
    4) If you are concerned with the condition of your pasture as regards
       to Alsike or other plants poisonous to horses, the toxicology 
       hotline in Iowa is 217/333-3611.
       
    5) The deaths of innocent horses (not to mention the emotional and
       financial strain on their owners) can be prevented if we all
       take steps to make our local grain/feed stores aware of this
       problem.  I know that I'm calling the store I bought my pasture
       mix from to warn them not to sell the mix to people planning
       to use it for horses...

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
699.1	more Alsike info...	WMOIS::J_BENNETT	Janice Bennett DTN 241-3522	`Tue Sep 06 1988 15:37`	18
	I recently talked to the County Agricultural Office in Keene NH regarding Alsike and learned this: That certain factors need to be present for Alsike poisoning. Not all horses are sensitive to it, however, light skinned animals have been known to have photosynthesis reaction. He also mentioned that Arabians have been frequent victims (probably because of the predominantly grey population) The greater the concentration of plants and heavy grazing are big factors (ie: OD). Alsike clover is not the only cause of photosynthesis reactions, ALL LEGUMES except Birdsfoot Trefoil have been known to cause this. Many legumes, including Alsike, grow rapidly in New England and have been grazed by horses for years with few individual horses having severe reactions to it. There has been information about this in Equus (the Extension office said it was a few years back - possible issue #35 but he wasn't sure). Russian Roulette? Sure sounds like it to me!
699.2	Is white clover innocent?	LEZAH::DOTY	Michelle Doty	`Thu Sep 08 1988 14:15`	15
	< Note 699.0 by OFFPLS::PRESTIDGE > 2) Alsike clover is strong enough to over-ride the other grasses/clovers in your pasture. From what Kathy learned, if you have 12.5% that amount next year, hence MORE DANGER OF POISONING. 3) ALSIKE is identifiable from other clovers in that it's leaves (if it has leaves at all) are not near the flower. Red clover, a common pasture clover, has leaves right around the flower of the plant. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gee, ordinary white clover fits both these descriptions. (Could Alsike clover be another name for white clover?)
699.3		MEMORY::MENARD	Kathy 237-3438	`Fri Sep 09 1988 09:12`	4
	Alsike Clover can be red, white or pink. I am under the impression that the "regular" white clover is many lawns is alsike, as it certainly does fit the description. However, I am going to try to verify that this weekend - There is a horticulturist who lives on my street.
699.4		MEMORY::MENARD	Kathy 237-3438	`Tue Sep 13 1988 09:09`	8
	According to the horticulturist, the little white clover in people's lawns is NOT alsike, though it fits the description. He said you can differentiate by the height - alsike is usually at least 6" tall, where that small white clover is only 2" or 3".
699.5	It's scarey to even think about..	BRUTWO::SOBEK		`Tue Sep 13 1988 10:23`	29
	re: 697 Kathy, another big thank you goes out to you for sharing the details of your loss. I hope that knowing Missy's tragedy has helped save many other horses will bring some comfort to you. I have a good friend who, like me, raises miniature horses. She lost her first miniature (a lovely little mare in foal) to Red Maple poisoning a while back. The ordeal was tough on her and she still hasn't "gotten over" it, though many minis have come and gone from her barn since then. While she was visiting me this past weekend she mentioned that she had just contracted for someone to reseed her pasture... I had just read the Notes about Alsike on Friday and mentioned it to her. ...She felt confident the fellow "knew what he was doing", but wasn't going to take a chance so she checked. The "haymaker" mixture he had planned to use was about 50% Alsike! She immediately started to do her homework and has discovered a mixture available from Agway called "Paddock Mixture", I believe. For those interested, this mixture contains the following: 20% Timothy (Climax) 15% Perennial Rye 17% Another Perennial Rye 42% Kentucky Bluegrass We shudder to think what might have happened to her gorgeous little stallion and her mares and fillies if we hadn't read your note! Linda
699.6	...for anyone who is reseeding.	THRSHR::DINGEE	CDD/Toolkit Development	`Thu Sep 22 1988 12:50`	7
	I had gotten some of Blue Seal's own mix, Horse Pasture North, a few weeks ago, and did not plant it until I found out whether Alsike was in it. It is not. The clover content is 6% Ladino clover; it also contains Timothy and Blue Grass. -julie
699.7	You get what you pay for	PBA::NICKERSON	Bob Nickerson DTN 282-1663 :^)	`Mon Sep 26 1988 00:30`	8
	I've been reseeding pastures for the last two years and have used Blue Seal's "horse pasture" mix mentioned in .6 with great success. The clover is indeed Ladino. This mix was more expensive than the general pasture mix but I guess in this case its worth the additonal expense. Bob
699.8	more identifying info	CSCMA::SMITH		`Mon Jun 03 1991 15:53`	22
	I wanted to add some extra info to this note. My husband and I are seeding some lawn areas in our yard and I noticed an abbundance of clover coming up. There was the ussual red and white clover but also a tall white/pink clover. I looked up an artical in the horsemans yankee pedlar from may 1990 called 'Poison Pastures', this gave information for certain identification, along with what was here I was able to pull all the alsike clover out. I think the most certain identification is the lighter > (chevron) marks on the leaves. Alsike clover is the only one without these marks. It is as tall as red clover but has white/pink flowers. Red clover has a set of leaves right at the head and alsike does not. White clover flowers are very similar and have no leaves at the head either, but they don't grow as tall. I was worried that this clover would be hard to identify, but just looking for the chevrons makes it very easy to pick out, even when it's low and has no blossoms. Beware of lawn seed, it was the only place this could have come from. Sharon S.