I'm gutting an old Victorian house and am pretty sure the radiator piles are wrapped in asbestos, but I've found some white insulation in places. What about horse hair plaster? Plaese help me identify this stuff so i can take the necessary precautions.

Amen to others who tell you this is serious stuff. It's nasty, deadly, and requires specialized processing to remove it. This is not, not, NOT something you can wear a paper mask for and forget the rest.

I think you'll need to contact a certified asbestos removal company to get them to take down the asbestos and double-bag it and take it away. This is not a DIY project.

If you are unsure what to look for, call a local inspector to help decifer for you. This is not something to take a chance on. This is serious stuff and should not be looked at finding the cheapest way out. good luck and make good decisions.

Asbestos can be found in many things,tiles,both floor and roof. Plaster,drywall,insulation around pipes and furnaces etc.
Unless it is tested by a lab there is no way to just look at it and tell weather a material contains asbestos or not.