Acorn poisoning

[kerrieberry2]

I was talking to my instructor the other day about the leaves from an Acorn tree and she mentioned that 2 horses in the village where she lives have been diagnosed with acorn poisoning. two horses on separate yards!

now im wondering about the leaves from the trees? are they okay to eat? is it just the acorns themselves that are dodgy? as both my horses go mad for the leaves, snatching them from the floor. my mare used to stretch across the ditch to eat them, now I have it fenced off!

and what symptoms would you see if they had poisoning?

 

[Ranyhyn]

The tannins cause liver failure don't they?
We always kept our horses away from the oaks in autumn-spring. We never had a problem with then eating the leaves, but they had more than adequate grazing.
I believe the tannins are addictive too-so maybe more of a worry to a horse who has a taste for leaves, rather than any old horse.

 

[kerrieberry2]

Just found an old post! apparently they are poisonous. the horses have plenty of grass and hay but apparently they can get a taste for them! luckily I have the area fenced off for lunging so they've only gone for them when I got them in today! so they shouldn't be able to get to them normally, so I will make sure they don't get them when im getting them in now!

 

[Mrs B]

It's not the leaves of the oak tree as much as the acorns - most mature oaks have leaves way above a horse's grazing level anyway.

Yes, some horses do develop a liking for acorns but most horses won't look to touch them if they have enough grazing. However, if I had a field with an oak in an abundant acorn year, I'd probably fence it off temporarily, just in case.

 

[maximoo]

We've fenced our's off temporarily round the acorn tree as there seems to be a bumper crop of acorns this year they have loads of grass but better safe than sorry where acorns are concerned

 

[Tobiano]

I have just spent an hour tonight and last night removing the acorns from my horse's field - its a daily job at this time of year. I dont have the option to fence round it as they are on livery but I keep on top of clearing them and hope that is sufficient. Harry doesnt touch them, and foaly hasnt yet, but 2 years ago when the acorns were abundant my mare had mild colic and they were the suspects. I know it can be an awful lot worse so try and make sure they dont have the chance to poison themselves.

 

[mjcssjw2]

i have my oak trees fenced off, nobody else at my farm has bothered, but we have a bumper crop as well and the diary cows were having a field day yesterday eating the leaves.

 

[Adopter]

Oak is poisoness to sheep and cattle as well as horses. We had a gelding some time ago who found some acorns and ate them, he became badly dehydrated, his skin was like orange peel, he was ill at the time and I always wondered if that was why he ate them, we lost him soon afterwards.

I am doing a daily patrol to pick up any green leaves and acorns, if we get a heavy fall I will have to fence off part of the field, it is not worth risking them eating any part of the oak. We have removed as many overhanging branches from neighbouring land as we can.

 

[Abby-Lou]

I have fenced off my oak trees huge bumper crop this year. Does anyone know when the leaves are not poisionous ? as they fall into my yard when they come off the trees, I hoover them up as never quite want to chance anything

 

[kellybee]

I have never bothered with the oaks before as my horses never seemed interested, however last year a friend of mine lost a pony (who was out on loan) to acorn poisoning so I've fenced mine off. We have had some ridiculously huge acorns this year, and have found that the number which have already fallen is quite incredible. Especially because last year we didn't have a single one.

 

[paulineh]

We don't seem to have had as many in the yard this year although at home there are plenty.

Each evening we go and pick up those in the fields near the yard. It is only when the Acorns are green that they are poisonous ,once they turn brown they are alright.

My winter field is the only field that has an Oak tree in so the Acorns are all gone by the time the horses are in it.