The ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) has been used by humans for centuries as a natural medicine against coughs and bronchial diseases. It can also have a positive effect on horses if the horse can tolerate it.
Is ribwort plantain suitable for horses?
The ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is non-toxic to horses and can be used to relieve coughs and bronchial diseases. Dried ribwort plantain is included in many herbal mixtures, but can also be given whole, crumbled or as a tea.
Trust the horses' natural instincts
If your horse wants to nibble on the leaves and flowers of the visually striking ribwort plantain when you go out on the side of the path, you should not stop him. Ribwort plantain is non-toxic for human and animal consumption and animals can usually judge very well what their nutrient intake needs are. You should only avoid the horse's consumption of ribwort plantain if you know that the animal has a corresponding allergy or intolerance. However, if this has not been found in your horse, you do not need to combat larger populations of ribwort plantain in the pasture.
Use ribwort plantain specifically as medicine and animal feed
For horses without an allergy to the plant, ribwort plantain can be administered as a natural medicine to suppress dry coughs and to dissolve mucus in the respiratory tract. Since ribwort plantain can also be fed prophylactically without side effects, it is contained in dried form in many commercially available herbal mixtures for horses. However, in many locations in this country with suitable soil and moisture conditions, the ribwort plantain grows on the side of the road or in fat meadows without any intervention.
Harvesting ribwort plantain for the horse
For use as a feed ingredient and natural medicine, you can harvest ribwort plantain from natural stocks or cultivate it specifically under suitable conditions. Since feeding to combat coughs in horses is often necessary in winter, you should cut the ribwort plantain after it has bloomed in summer and let it dry in the sun as quickly and well-ventilated as possible. So you can feed it to your horse in the following dosage forms during the winter months:
- as a whole
- crumbled and mixed with other food
- as cough tea for horses
Tips & Tricks
Ribwort plantain has a positive effect on the he alth of horses that are not allergic to it, but the amount and frequency of use should not be exaggerated. It is believed that excessive consumption can cause intestinal problems in horses.
