09/12/2026
🌾 𝐅𝐨𝐱𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥: 𝐀 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬
Have you seen this w**d in your pasture or hay? While foxtail may not contain toxic compounds, its barbed seedheads can still cause painful problems for horses. Let’s dig into why foxtail can be harmful, how to control it, and how to make sure you’re identifying the right w**d.
🌱 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐱𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥?
Foxtail is a grassy annual w**d belonging to the genus Setaria. There are three main species, green, yellow, and giant foxtail, which are found throughout much of the world.
Foxtail receives its name due to the bushy fox tail appearance of its seedhead. It tends to thrive in disturbed or poorly managed areas, but regular mowing and hand pulling can help keep it under control. Because foxtail is a grass, common broadleaf herbicides will not control it. If herbicide control is desired, a pre-emergent approved for use in areas where horses graze, such as pendimethalin, may be an option in the spring and early summer.
⚠️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐱𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬?
The biggest concern with mature foxtail is its seedhead.
The tiny, barbed fibers called awns can become lodged in a horse’s lips, mouth, and gums. What may initially look like a minor irritation can become quite painful and may potentially lead to secondary infections.
Some signs you may notice include:
💧 Excessive drooling
🦷 Difficulty chewing
🤕 Head tossing or rubbing the face
🌾 Refusing to eat
🔎 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐱𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲?
These two grasses may look alike, but it is important to be able to tell them apart.
The easiest way to spot differences is by looking at the seedhead.
Foxtail:
🌾 Has small hairs projecting from each seed, giving the seedhead a fuzzy or bristly appearance
🌾 Has noticeable awns
🌾 Seedheads may droop as they mature
Timothy:
🌿 Has a smoother-looking seedhead without the characteristic bristles of foxtail
🌿 Seedheads generally remain upright
You can also examine the collar region, where the leaf blade meets the stem.
🔍 Timothy has a prominent, tall membrane (ligule).
🔍 Foxtail often has tiny hairs in this area instead.
🐴 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐨 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐭?
If you find mature foxtail in your pasture or hay, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either.
Regular mowing before seedheads mature can help reduce the amount of mature foxtail. Hand pulling can also be effective for smaller infestations. If you’re considering herbicide control, make sure the product is specifically labeled for the intended use and is safe for areas where horses will graze.
And if you suspect your horse has foxtail-related mouth irritation, removing the source and monitoring the horse closely is important. Horses showing significant pain, difficulty eating, or persistent drooling may need a veterinary examination.
🌾 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲
Foxtail may look like just another grass in the pasture, but those tiny barbed awns can cause some very uncomfortable problems for horses.
Learning to recognize foxtail, and knowing how to distinguish it from desirable grasses like timothy, can help you catch the problem before it becomes a bigger issue.
Take a closer look at those seedheads the next time you’re walking through your pasture or inspecting your hay. You might be surprised by what you find! 🔎🐴
Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer
