The Equestrian Blog

Be warned – Horsetail, Mares Tail or Scouring Rush

Just a quick question... As horse owners we're mostly all familiar with the battle against ragwort and how it has spread into every field, central reservation and grass verge in the country, but how many of us know anything about mares tail?

Horse or Mares Tail, (scientific name Equisetum Palustre), is toxic to horses and should in my opinion be equestrian enemy number one. It looks like it belongs in Jurassic Park and spreads like wildfire. From a few small patches last year my paddock is now covered in it and it looks as if it's spreading fast and here to stay.

I've been researching this plant and what I've discovered doesn't make for pleasant reading.. more at Mares Tail - Toxic To Horses

Quote Of The Day – HRH Duke of Edinburgh

Posted by rji | Filed under General Info, Worth Mentioning

A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment.

Duke of Endinburgh

Prince Phillip - HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, 10 June 1921) is the husband and consort of Queen Elizabeth II.

Originally a Prince of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip abandoned these titles shortly before his marriage. At the time of his engagement he was known as Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.

In 1947, he married Princess Elizabeth, the heiress to King George VI. Prince Philip was a member of the German House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which includes the royal houses of Denmark, Norway and Greece.

The day before his marriage, George VI granted him the style of His Royal Highness and, on the morning of the marriage, created him Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.

In 1957, Philip was created a Prince of the United Kingdom. When he became a British subject Prince Philip took the surname Mountbatten, which is an anglicised version of his mother's German family name, Battenberg.

Joining the Royal Navy in 1939, Prince Philip saw active service throughout the Second World War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He was present in Tokyo harbour when Japan surrendered.

After Princess Elizabeth became Queen, Prince Philip gave up his naval career to support The Queen in her duties. The Duke of Edinburgh has no constitutional role other than as a Privy Counsellor, and sees no State papers.

But through his active support of a wide range of charities, and through his own initiatives for young people, The Duke of Edinburgh has played a major role both nationally and internationally.

Like The Queen, Prince Philip is a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria. The Queen and Prince Philip are also related through his father's side. His paternal grandfather, King George I of Greece, was Queen Alexandra's brother.