Q: I’ve heard that dried dandelions are good for horses, but how about the fresh ones that grow in the field? Are they okay for a horse to eat?
A: No part of a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is toxic to horses. Even for us, eating raw or cooked, dandelion offers a good source of vitamins A, B, C, D, iron, potassium and zinc. Dandelion leaves can act as a diuretic and hence increase the frequency of urination. Research in humans also suggests that dandelion root helps to improve liver and gallbladder function by increasing bile flow. Finally, the dandelion contains chemicals that block the bacteria E. Coli from binding to the bladder’s lining. This means ingesting dandelion can reduce the risk of urinary tract infections secondary to E. Coli.
All in all, your horse munching on a dandelion or two is no bad thing, and your horse may, in fact, be self-medicating on one of nature’s richest sources of vitamins and minerals.