Equio

Holly

Ilex aquifolium

Horse

Low

Remove access and monitor the horse; call at the first sign. A large handful of berries or leaves.

Red berries and leavestoxic parts
Monitorwhat to do
Not reportedtoxic in hay

Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.

What to do now

Antidote
No specific antidote. Symptomatic and supportive treatment.
Time to signs
A few hours to 24 hours.
Prognosis
Excellent.
  1. Rinse the mouth thoroughly with water.
  2. Monitor for gastrointestinal signs.
  3. Contact a veterinarian if symptoms develop.

Its ID card

Height
2 m – 10 m
Flowering
May to July.
Toxic parts
Red berries and leaves.
Toxin
Saponins, ilicine, and mechanical irritation.
Habitat
Forest understory, hedges, gardens.
Soil indicator
Forest soils, acidic to neutral, shaded.
Regions
Entire Europe
In hay
Not reported
Palatability
Very low. The spines are an excellent natural deterrent.

When the risk rises

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Winter.

Spotting it in the field

Do not confuse with

Mahonia (prickly leaves but yellow flowers in clusters), Osmanthus. — smell : odorless.

  • Evergreen shrub with dark green, glossy foliage.
  • Leathery, wavy leaves with sharp spines on the edges (upper leaves may be smooth).
  • Bright red berries in winter (only on female plants).

Signs to watch for

Acute toxicity.

Dose : Not established for horses, but significant ingestion of berries or leaves can cause gastrointestinal upset.

  • Drooling and mouth inflammation (due to prickles)
  • Mild spasmodic colic
  • Watery diarrhea (if berries ingested)
  • Decrease in appetite

Who is affected

Other species : Berries are highly toxic to children and dogs (causing severe vomiting).

In pregnant mares : none.

HorseDonkeyPonyDogsCatsChildren
Holly : equine care and management documented with Equio app. Documentation équine avec Equio, l'application d'aide à la décision pour les chevaux.

Getting rid of it

Method : Uproot the entire plant, including roots, wearing gloves to avoid spines. Dispose of waste safely.

  • Avoid planting holly in or near paddocks.
  • Remove holly decorations from areas accessible to horses after holidays.
  • Carefully monitor horses in areas where holly is present.

Frequently asked questions

Can Equio identify Holly from a photo?

It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.

Is Holly dangerous in hay?

Hay risk is not always reported for this entry, but suspicious forage should still be isolated until checked.

Veterinary priority

This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Related pages

Holly and foal and young horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Holly and pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Holly and lactating mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Holly and non-pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Holly and senior horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Holly and horse in recoveryProfile-specific horse risk page.Poisonous plants for horsesEnglish Equio plant catalogue and risk pages.Sensitive profilesFoals, pregnancy, lactation, senior horses and recovery.Photo methodHow to document a plant without relying on one image only.Equio AppScan feed, plants and care products — keep your horse's history.Equio FAQAnswers about scans, profiles, subscriptions and AI limits.
What to do? The Equio app