Acorns...again! brilliant response from YO

ATrueClassAct

ATrueClassAct

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 June 2011
Messages
1,035
Visit site
Just had to bring our two old mares in from the field since it seems as though they were becoming addicted to acorns! Had noticed my 22 year old been eating them recently, they only go out for about 4 hours a day and have an ample amount of grass. Kept an eye on her and she seems fine. No loose poo etc. However I noticed today that our 26year old trotted over to the oak tree we have and started digging for the acorns! Went over, managed to easily get the 22 year old Arab to other side of the field. She isn't that obsessed with them. But our 26 year old Welsh wouldn't move! Brought them in pronto after they'd been mucked out. Both seem absolutely fine right now. And we are gonna electric off the tree asap. So they can't get to it. Yard were a brilliant help and got it sorted quickly. on a side note, is there anything we need to look our for in the two old ladies? Both came in and did solid poo's! Will they be alright now?
 
To be honest though your YO should have had that tree fenced off anyway while the acorns are about, also the same applies in the spring when the tree starts to bud.
In my opinion too many yard owners are blaise about too many poisonous plants, be it ragwort, horse's tail, oak trees and bracken!
Really think there should be some courses on proper field management that these people should go on before they are allowed to run a yard.
Gripe, yes because I have seen so much mismanagement on yards of land.
Either trying to cram too many horses onto not enough acreage or else not acknowledging the presence of poisonous plants and doing something about it.
I have seen horses strip the bark off trees and eat leaves and branches even when there is plenty of grass to be seen with the naked eye.
No one seems to be bothered about whether these trees are in fact harmful in anyway.
Horses are not always the sharpest tool in the box and can and do eat things which can cause them serious harm and even death.
It is up to the owners and yard owners to ensure that any horses out at grass are kept safe.
This is a real bug bear of mine :(
 
Quick ?? Is there any difference between the acorns being green or brown? I have in the past been told that brown acorns are less hazardous than green.

Needless to say I do fence off my oaks as the little ones in particular like to hoover them up :(

F
 
Technically the tree is my fault for not doing it quickly. Since my 22 year old has cushings so I've been more stressing over that and keeping an eye on her grazing. But yeah I know what you mean, I know quite a few people Who don't even know about basic field management. There isn't much difference between green + brown, both are poisonous just the green ones are higher in proteins.
 
@miller
Read that, felt awful for them. Such a tragedy.
The girls aren't showing any signs of being any different. Happily ate their haynets, both done solid poo and breathing rate is normal. Just looked angry to being brought in!
 
Just keep an eye on them, I get the impression that the effects are not immediate- from what I read earlier, they can affect kidney and liver function. Although I am sure you will be keeping an eye on them! Hope all is well with them!
 
Cheers Sheep. Will definatly be keeping a close eye on them. Told our whole barn aswell what's happened so if when I'm not there and they seem off, the rest of the barn knows what could be up. Couldn't imagine anything worse than the two old girls suffering like that, they're such saints.
 
My oh posed the same question yesterday - at what point aren't they poisonous - or are they ALWAYS poisonous?

Answers greatfully appreciated, if anyone knows for sure!
 
As far as I am aware. Always poisonous due to the protein levels affecting the horses gut lining. However they are most high in proteins when they are green, as they go through seasonal changes and turn brown, the levels go down. Meaning they are still toxic, just less toxic. They become safest mid winter when frozen but still are toxic. However only very toxic when eaten in vast quantities. Luckily our old ladies are only out for 4 hours a day so cant stuff themselves. A worrying sign is if they start to herd under the tree and do nothing else but wait for them to fall so they are fresh. However ours hadn't reached to this stage and we quite happy to eat away from the tree aswell.
 
Please, please (and I cannot state this enough) fence off any areas that could possibly have acorns on the ground, this year has been commented on that it is a mast year which means more fruit than normal including the dreaded acorns :(

I have heard of two definate cases of deaths in the last month alone from acorns and likely to be many that came dangerously close but not reported.

Acorns are a killer
 
Definatly agree. The problem is that some fields are surrounded by acorn trees! Luckily we only have one small one in the corner of the field so it will be easy to fence off. They are more dangerous than Ragwort, Foxglove etc since they cant be seen aswell on the floor and the trees are huge IMO
 
There was an article in horse and hound mag.

Green are more hazardous than brown, and it says that generally they have to have a glut on them rather than the odd mistake.

Thank goodness ( touch wood) we have an oak tree in our paddock but as my little girl has been very I'll, my oh has been letting pony out.

I normally pic up the windfall before let him out, but my oh did not know they were harmful so let him out without clearing acorns up, ad he gobbled them up!!!!!

My fault as I assumed oh knew :(
 
Daisydo said:
Green are more hazardous than brown, and it says that generally they have to have a glut on them rather than the odd mistake.
Click to expand...

It is the generally part that people seem to miss or believe that their horse will be fine, I am glad your pony is OK, unfortunately you never know if it could be your horse or not :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top