Widely used perennial pasture grass species found in horse pastures, it forms tussocks, suits a wide range of soil types and is moderately drought tolerant. Tall Fescue is prone to infestation with Ergot, an endophyte fungus which produces a mycotoxin and causes the disease Ergotism in horses. Safe endophyte (non-ergot producing) varieties are available and are known as novel varieties, sold under the trade name MaxP. Old pastures may still contain species of fescue prone to infestation with ergot endophyte fungus.