Flash proves to be an excellent wildflower model. 🙂
Larkspur, the blue flowers, are toxic to cattle, “and rarely horses,” according to Colorado State University. Flash and his mates seemed to relish eating the flowers.
According to South Dakota State University, “(low) larkspurs are palatable to cattle and contain high levels of alkaloids, making them especially toxic. Because of this, larkspurs cause the second highest deaths in livestock from poisonous plants across the western United States. Five pounds of larkspur consumed within an hour is a lethal dose for a 1,000-pound cow.”
We almost always have larkspur in the spring. Fortunately, at our elevations, it doesn’t seem to be so thick that it’s an issue.
Randomly, our wild onion also is blooming like crazy right now. Despite the interest of a couple of friends, the horses do NOT eat it and therefore do NOT suffer from “onion breath.” 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Flash is such a uniquely beautiful horse…and with all those bouquets around him, this picture has a storybook quality about it. Wonderful photo, TJ.
I wish he’d keep his pinto pattern … but he’s already so much greyer. Well, we’ll be able to say “we knew him when he was young”! 🙂
Handsome guy! He probably has wildflower breath!
Ha! That did make me chuckle right out loud! 🙂
So the horses DO eat the flowers with no after effects?
Yes, no ill effects, as far as I can tell. I think they don’t eat a lot at any one time.
Our landscape doesn’t have a lot of wildflowers — but wild iris will soon fill the pastures. Flash is beautiful. This is tempting me to be a western artist again. I think I’ve sold the other painting.
The wild blue iris is blooming a bit higher than our elevation now – maybe a little past their prime. I haven’t seen as many as in years past. Congrats on the painting!!!
Thank you!