Acorns - realistically, how poisonous are they?

[fburton]

There are plenty of horses who live near ragwort who don't die either but that shouldn't mean the rest of us rest on our laurels about it, does it?

Absolutely not! Zero tolerance of avoidable hazards where horses are concerned is what I believe.

There will always be people who get away with it - do you want to be the one that doesn't, finding out the hard way? Might as well bury a knife in the field and play russian roulette with that too!

Good analogy.

 

[dogcalleddill]

Just posted on the other thread but thought I'd add here. My mare has been colicking on and off for the last couple of days and is now in and on bran mash. I've just moved yards and one corner of her field is near an oak. The vet thinks it probably is the acorns given that all other things are equal. I'll be moving paddocks and only wish I'd thought of it sooner.

 

[Ibblebibble]

i know this is a serious subject but myself and a friend did have a little chuckle at a comment made by a neighbouring YO about a huge oak tree on the boundary fence, thing must be 100+ years old and the livery yard 20 years at most. her comment? 'what idiot would plant an oak tree on the edge of a horses field' bless her don't think she thought that one through

 

[BonneMaman]

I know from personal experience that acorns kill - fact. Also, the grass in the field at the time was green and plentiful so no they were not starving.

My recollection of what the vet said was that some horses get a taste for them and they glut on them and die.

This was two horses - both mares in their early teens. Both of large pony type.

3 fully mature oak trees in the fenceline - ie. 1.5 tree span total.

I personally would NEVER allow any horse to graze in a field with Oak trees at this time of year again, especially this year as everything from apples through to blackberries and sloes can be found in HUGE quantities due to the good Spring weather this year.