Welcome to the next Monday morning edition in the a-z of plants your horse can’t eat. Today’s plant is truly one of a kind, Ground Cherries almost look like little lanterns, but their bold colors are a clear warning.
A Little About Ground Cherries
Physalis is also called Bladder Cherry, Cape Gooseberry, Chinese Lantern, Hog-Plum, Husk-Tomato, Ground Cherry and Wild-Pompion. There are two different types of groundcherry, smooth (with a smooth stalk) and clammy (with a densely hairy stalk) but both grow to about 3 feet tall. Stems are ringed, hollow and grow spreading branches. Leaves are diamond shaped and grow alternately. Flowers are yellow (sometimes with violet spots) and bell-shaped. Fruit grows in hanging five-sided pods and is a green/purple berry.
How Dangerous Is It?
Although not generally palatable to equines, the extreme toxicity of this plant means horse owners should beware. The plant contains a glycoalkaloid called solanine which irritates the digestive tract and central nervous systems.
The stems, leaves and unripe berries of this plant are toxic and can be fatal to equines.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Ground Cherry toxicity symptoms include dilated pupils, loss of coordination, gastrointestinal distress, weakness, difficulty breathing, drooling and unconsciousness.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Ground Cherry page to learn more about the plant and while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?
*It should be noted that I’m not a veterinarian. This information is written specifically for horses and should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.
Hello I hope you are well, Sorry to write this note in the wrong post but I didn’t find your Email or a functional place to do so.
I recently found your page when I was loking for the paso finos breed topic related and notice that the info about the breed is incomplete and in some way incorrect. I would like to offer some facts about the Paso Fino breed so you can up date the your page.
The Paso fino horse is originally exclusivly from Puerto Rico. This is the national sport and was created by Puretoricans. Is the only sport created in PR.
The persons who develop the breed, the name it, Paso Fino or fine walkers as that was what they were looking for then, until he began competing as a sport. From there similar horses from the same genealogic tree, the Sapanish Andaluz, the also sapaniard jaca Jannett and the berberisc from Africa the 3 fundation breeds that originate the hibrid pasofino, now a breed of it’s own for more than 500 years.
From this name, Paso fino, the name and last name of Puerto Rico’s beloved breed. Beginning in usa horses with similar gait like the Colombian horses now share the same name and are called Paso Fino.
Paso fino horses shiped from Puerto Rico to Peru as a gift for Fransisco Pizarro from his brother, but thy don’t called their breed Paso fino, they call it caballo de paso peruano, Perubian horse. Also their gait is diferent and what they call it a virtue for Puerto Ricans is a failure when they judge the gait as the Peruvian horse is more like a Tennesseewalker or of a higher footfall, while the Paso Fino footstep should be lower to the ground.
I personally do not attempt to correct any information that is in the internet, I simply want to contribute my bit for the sake of a race that deserves the merit and as a Puertorican breeder who loves my paso fino horse breed.
I apreciate the oportunity of sharing some facts about one of the most versatile and fasinating horse in the world, the paso fino!
Congratulations on your page is a very good source of information and feel free to write back if you wish to do so. May God bless you and your family.
Cordially,
The Professional
Hi The Professional,
Thanks so much for your info – it is much appreciated & we don’t care where you post it! We’ll be adding it to the Paso Fino page shortly and will gladly provide a link to you as a source of information if you like.
Greetings The Equinest people.
I’m glad to know you read my note and like it.
Of course you can add the link; it would be a pleasure to collaborate
in any way possible, with the expansion of the Paso Fino horse breed.
Thank you and God bless!