LANDOWNERS are being forced to control the spread of the equine killer weed ragwort under tough new Government measures.

Defra officials are to be allowed to issue on-the-spot enforcement notices to landowners who have been asked to clear the weed in the wake of a tough new bill set to be on the Government statute books early next year.

If the landowner does not comply and clear the weeds himself, Defra officials have been given the power to call in a private contractor to do the job for him.

The stringent new measures have been welcomed by the British Horse Society who say many people can now recognise the deadly plant and realise that the weed can cause death to horses, ponies, cattle and other livestock.

Following their extremely successful Press conference to launch the draft code of practice with Alun Michael, Minister for Rural Affairs and Minister for the Horse, the campaign is enjoying high profile political attention through the BHS private member's Bill and draft code of practice. Baroness Masham has agreed to promote the Ragwort Control Bill in the Upper House.

It provides for a statutory code of practice which will be admissible in evidence.

The draft document, launched at the conference by Alan Michael, will provide a strategy and guidelines for landowners and occupiers to comply with the Weeds Act 1959 in controlling the spread of common ragwort seeds.

In addition to the Bill and code, Defra has announced a review of the way in which they will deal with complaints and enforcement of the Weeds Act.

Complaints will be given high priority where the weed is threatening the use of land used for grazing horses and other livestock and the complainant has made reasonable effort to contact the landowner or occupier where the weeds are growing.

It includes farmland used to produce conserved forage or for other agricultural activities.

Kay Driver, chief executive of the BHS said: "We are delighted the Ragwort Campaign has received such high profile coverage during Ragwort Action Week.

As a result, the society has received numerous calls from members and non-members on the subject and we have provided an"action week" leaflet information sheet which can be used all year round," said Mrs Driver.

"Our campaign continues to grow and we look forward to the BHS Ragwort Bill reaching the statute book early next year followed by the publication of the code in readiness for next spring."

Meanwhile, Defra's main aim in investigating complaints under the Weeds Act is to protect livestock and agricultural activities.

As a result of a recent review of enforcement it has been agreed that a high priority will be given to complaints where weeds are threatening land used for keeping or grazing horses or other livestock; farmland used to produce conserved forage or other agricultural activities and the complainant has made reasonable efforts to contact the landowner or occupier where the weeds are growing.

In all cases Defra will encourage the complainant to take the matter up with the occupier of the land on which the weeds are growing to avoid the need to invoke the formal powers of the Weed Act.

Low priority complaints will be kept on file for 12 months and if the complainant contacts Defra again, the status of the complaint will be reviewed.

An inspector from the Rural Payments Agency will be asked to carry out a site visit and, under the new enforcement procedures, an inspector will be able to issue an enforcement notice immediately.

If this does not resolve the problem, an officer from the Rural Development Technical Service will carry out a further site visit with a view to arrange the clearance of the weeds by a private contractor.

Hot off the press are two new leaflets. The first, A Guide to Ragwort, contains information for horse owners about the plant, ways of controlling it and useful contacts. The second, A Guide to Ragwort For Landowners and Occupiers, looks at the options available to people who have ragwort on their land and what responsibilities they have to remove the weed.

Perils of autumn highlight the risk to horses

THE first frost of autumn marks the arrival of some short-term seasonal health hazards for your horse.

Some deciduous leaves can be deadly at this time of the year when they fall to the ground, particularly those of red maple and wild cherry trees.

It's important to make sure you know where they are and to keep your horse away from the leaves for at least 30 days.

Yew and Oleander are also toxic to horses.

Frosty nights make for dew-soaked morning pastures that can contribute to scratches on horse's pasterns and "dew poisoning," the painful puckering and cracking of the skin on the muzzle.

Anti-chapping

Treat both conditions by gently but thoroughly cleaning the affected skin and, after drying, coating it with an anti-chapping agent.

Many larger flies are killed off by the first frosts but the smaller pests such as gnats and horn flies seem to go into a final frenzy of activity as cold approaches.

Head shaking, eye and ear irritation and crustiness along the belly midline are all signs of this last attack.

Keep fly masks, ear covers and insecticide protection going for a few more weeks.

The return of cooler, wetter weather can produce a flush of lush pasture growth that could potentially trigger laminitis via an equine digestive tract long accustomed to parched forage.

Keep "at risk" horses off re-greening pastures or supply free choice hay so they can take in gut-stabilizing roughage along with the succulent growth.

Eric's two beauties give him happy 21st

THE heritage of the working horse was bought to life at Malvern's Autumn Garden and Country Show when Leopold and Duke demonstrated how important the various heavy breeds have been in Britain's farming history.

The pair are owned by Eric Freeman, who lives near Newent.

He is passionate about preserving these magnificent animals.

Bay gelding Leopold is an 18h Belgian Brabant, the largest of the Ardennes type of horse and Duke is an 18h black pure Shire which Mr Freeman bought as a three-year-old - and he has already won 21 first prizes!

Both these horses regularly work on Eric's farm, carting feed for the stock, muckspreading, mowing and harrowing.

"I am passionate about heavy horses and use them on my farm," said Mr Freeman.

"They are both rare breeds and we often go to shows under the auspices of the Cotswold Cart Horse Society, whose aim is to provide a source of pleasure and recreation for all who are interested in the heritage of the working horse."

Members of the society own different types of horsedrawn machinery including harrows, seed drills, cultivators, grass mowers, ploughs, binders, hayrakes and hayturners.