Happy Cleaver Foraging

Cleavers: 🌿

Sticky Buds.
Aka
Cleavers (Galium aparine) Horses adore them.
A great natural snack as a treat or weaved into a haynet.

They’re packed with nutrients and are known for their gentle lymphatic support, helping to keep the body’s drainage systems healthy.

Ive recently read, feed cleavers to Horses / Ponies specifically during times when a horse needs a little extra help moving fluids around the body, such as during mild swelling or after being stabled for longer periods.

April you can start finding them in abundance, often popping up in hedgerows, woodland edges, field margins, down leafy lanes, But be aware you dont get stung, They often grow and intertwine with Nettles.

Just make sure you’re gathering from areas that haven’t been sprayed with chemicals or contaminated by dog waste, My pony prefers the younger, greener plants rather than tough, chewy woody ones.

As an enrichment option, Cleavers are brilliant fun. Hang them around the stable, or simply roll them into a ball into the field as a foraging treat, or they easily tie to the partition of a stable. This helps and encourages natural foraging behaviour, adds a bit of variety, taste, texture to their diet.

As with any wild plants, it’s best to introduce cleavers slowly if your horse hasn’t had them before, and feed them in sensible amounts alongside their normal forage. If you’re ever unsure, a quick chat with your vet or equine nutritionist is always a good idea.

Happy Cleaver foraging!