Advance Warning!!!

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pottamus

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18 November 2005
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Just noticed this morning the first few green acorns falling from the tree in my field - must be the wind we have had this past couple of days.
Please all check and fence off those acorns trees so your horses cannot get at them and start eating them...before it is too late!
My horse has a real taste for them so I have to be on red alert at this time of year as he hunts them out...all fenced off now thankfully!
 
I have been monitoring my two as I noticed a few weeks ago that they were falling off. Both my two love them. I think they are stupid enough to think they are pony nuts.

I cannot fence off so my strategy is to keep them stuffed full of grass and hay to dilute the effects and to collect as many as I can and remove them from the field. Touch everything wooden it seems to be working.
 
acorns are very poisionous to horses! Do not graze your horses in a field where there are any! I know of a horse who died of acorn poisoning!
 
So do I, hence monitoring them. I am not comfortable in leaving them in the field, but have no choice.

Acorns contain an acid which potentially poisons the horse, leading to death. It seems to show as colic type symtpoms. The acid is stronger in acorns that have been subjected to drought conditions. The effects are more pronounced in horses that are poor or on limited grazing. Cattle are more prone to the poisoning than horses. It all sounds dire which is why people try to avoid letting their horses eat them.

Sorry to answer another question on your reply, but I am new-ish and my HHO etiquette is lacking.

All opinions are mine and apply to my horses only.
 
I know bloody things, they started dropping about 2 weeks ago round here but luckily the only one i have is by the gate where my horses don't graze but hacked out monday and was trying to lock the gate, hold my dog, hold my horse and stop the littl bleeder from eating them!!! He did manage to get a couple but not enought to do any harm. Why do they have to love them so much?
 
like you, i am unable to move mine out the field where there are a number of oak trees. (livery owner will not allow me to fence field off - does not believe they are that dangerous
confused.gif
) I too keep mine in during the dya (at mo) and let them eat hay, hoping it will fill them up. It worked last year but is a dnagerous tactic to have to take. Must say that i have no other probs whatsever with my y/o.
 
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