Learning to identify the correct species of horsetail to harvest is not something done easily. Harvest several horsetail plants from the wild, take them home, take photos of them so you can put them on your computer and examine them up close, using the zoom in option on the photos.
Record where you found them - were they in an open field? Near water? In a forest? Find out what type of species of horsetail they are.
Research, research, research the plant before you ever use it to ingest any part of it internally or apply it externally. Read up on the precautions, drug interactions, and all of the warnings about the herb.
Here is a photo of some young horsetail shoots. They were growing near a creek at the base of the mountains here.
