Acorns

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poiuytrewq

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I'm trying to plan how I will use my three paddocks over winter hopefully so not to completely trash them all!
My problem being they are very very wet, some more so than others so I try and bear this in mind aswell. I'm currently using the wettest before proper winter sets in!
One has a large Oak in one corner. I keep a close eye on when acorns start to fall and sure enough they are on the ground now (probably have been a while but not using that paddock so not sure)
My question is when are they a problem until? I've only done one winter there and can't remember!
Also HOW poisonous are they? If I fence the corner off I still sometimes find a few out in the field, not sure how I'm certain they can't fall that far.
 
I would deffinately fence off the oak tree as some horses get a liking for them and it could cause colic. I fence mine off until mid December as although the acorns will have all fallen by about early Nov, if I leave it a while longer the squirrals will have collected them all of the ground too and saves me the job of picking them all up!
I do tend to have a quick look each morning for any that have fallen outside of the fenced off area but that is because my horse does seek them out if he thinks they are available.
It can be a pain and some people say you dont need to bother but I always think that prevention is better than a vets bill and stress!
 
They're a problem until they are gone, they are addictive as well.

I used to have a field with an oak tree in and I used to fence off around it - I put electric fence about 20 - 25 feet away from the trunk and on a very windy day I used a different paddock.

I have known several people have horses with colic due to acorns and one had to be pts.
 
I have oaks next to all my paddocks so whichever I use from September on they get electric taped off until mid December by which time I have moved the leaf fall off the fields too.
 
We've got a massive Oak in one of our paddocks.

Last year was a bumper crop & one of the NF youngsters got a real taste for them & would break in through electric fencing to hoover them up! We did restrict her as much as possible (moved her to furthest field) but she didn't seem to have any problems, although she is forest bred & i wonder if they eat them with their mothers?

Luckily there hardly seem to be any this year.
 
HazyXmas said:
We've got a massive Oak in one of our paddocks.

Last year was a bumper crop & one of the NF youngsters got a real taste for them & would break in through electric fencing to hoover them up! We did restrict her as much as possible (moved her to furthest field) but she didn't seem to have any problems, although she is forest bred & i wonder if they eat them with their mothers?

Luckily there hardly seem to be any this year.
Click to expand...

Our forest bred mare was exactly the same! They are at their most poisonous whilst still green (more tannins), so best to keep them fenced off at least until they have gone brown. The tannins can cause kidney problems I believe, but it is usually treatable. A few acorns don't seem to cause any problems but I would definately restrict access if you have loads.
 
We always fence off.

As others have said, although a few isn't a problem in itself, lots of horses get a taste for them and that's where the problem occurs.

Pan
 
Yes I remember last winter on a few occasions (due to rugs and neck covers protecting from shocks!) my horse went through the fence, always found under the oak tree.
Mid Decembers not too bad I was sure it would be more like Feb so actually I think I can work with that. Thank you for the replies.
 
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