Do You Know Your Poisonous Plants?

Tragically many Horses, Ponies and Donkeys die each year from preventable plant-based poisoning and often there are no visible signs until the damage is done, resulting in irreversible injury or even sudden death.

L-R: Ian Whitfield, Managing Director of Alpha Card, and Roley Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare.

Leeds based marketing & communications engagement specialists, Alpha Card, has once again joined forces with Equestrian Charity, World Horse Welfare, to help raise awareness of the dangers of poisonous plants to horses.

Specialists in the creation of bespoke Z folding cards and endlessly folding Infinity Cards, Alpha Card first started working with World Horse Welfare in 2015, and since this time has donated both time and resource to help the charity increase awareness and engagement through its printed pocket guides; which are all manufactured in the UK.

This latest edition, a free Poisonous Plants Guide, features ‘top tips’ for owners on how to help keep their horse safe from toxic plants all year round – whilst highlighting the common misconception that horses will only eat poisonous plants if they have nothing else to graze on.

Director of Fundraising of World Horse Welfare, Emma Williams, said: “World Horse Welfare has worked with Alpha Card for a number of years now, and are very grateful for their enthusiastic help and support which has helped us to increase engagement.”

“The new durable, pocket size, fold-out Poisonous Plants Guide that Alpha Card kindly printed is extremely handy. I and many horse owners can take this into the field to help identify potentially harmful plants. We are hopeful that this guide will go a long way in helping to prevent avoidable harm to many horses and ponies, whilst raising awareness of World Horse Welfare’s work.”

Each plant featured in the World Horse Welfare bespoke guide has been colour-coded based on a combination of the potential consequences and likelihood of exposure. While not a definitive list, the guide aims to help reduce the risks posed to many horses which can include anything from a mild allergic reaction to a fatality.

Ian Whitfield, Managing Director at Alpha Card, added: “Alpha Card is delighted to offer continued support to World Horse Welfare. As animal lovers, we’re passionate about the invaluable work they do to protect and care for horses and ponies and following the success of our cards for The Invisible Horse Trail at Badminton Horse Trials last year, we believe this new Poisonous Plants Guide will go a long way in helping the charity to protect animals across the UK.”

Having started producing Z folding cards in 2005, Alpha Card works with a vast range of businesses, organisations and charities worldwide, and has manufactured over 350 million Z folding cards since it began.

To find out more about the new, free Poisonous Plants Guide from World Horse Welfare, please visit: http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Chelsea-Sign-Up

Click here to view as a pdf