Horse Paralysis and the Singletary Pea

The Singletary Pea is a plant commonly found in our Texas pasture lands. It can be found in the southern United States from New Mexico to the East Coast and along the West Coast in California and Oregon. This innocent appearing plant has a pink bloom and is in the legume family. Historically, this plant was introduced through use as a green manure and was even used as a cool season forage, but now we know better. While the plant's vegetation is innocuous, the seeds can pose a threat to livestock, and horses are especially susceptible. The seed pods often find their way into baled hay, and this is the most common way they cause problems for horses. If a horse eats too many Singletary Pea seeds, they will develop symptoms that are similar to EPM. Horses will present incoordination of the rear legs. You might also notice an unusual stance (with the horse's hind legs too far forward) or a stringhalt (the rear legs are lifted very high and then the hoof snaps back to the ground). Paralysis of the rear legs is also possible. Although horses are most sensitive to its effects, cattle and even humans can also be affected by the seeds of the Singletary pea. In India the plant is used as a food source by some of the poor. Humans that rely heavily on the plant often exhibit spinal cord and nerve damage. Cattle can display symptoms similar to those found in horses. Calves born to cows grazing in pasture with a high population of the plant can also exhibit birth defects causing curvature in the legs and spine. To learn more about the Singletary Pea, you can visit these sites: Texas Agrilife Extension Service: https://essmextension.tamu.edu/plants/plant/singletary-pea/ LSU Ag Center: https://text.lsuagcenter.com/en/crops_livestock/livestock/Horses/Pasture+and+Forages/Toxicants+in+Feeds+Hay+and+Forages.htm