Are black poplar trees poisonous to horses?

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Gift Horse

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Has anyone got any? Does anyone know if they are poisonous to horses? I’ve had a look online and they don’t appear on any of the plants poisonous to horses lists that I have found, but that might be because they are relatively uncommon now.
 
My late mil’s Horses lived in a field surrounded by them, and did not have any issues. I haven’t heard they’re dangerous, but someone else may know differently.
 
Thanks Spottyappy.
I think they are beautiful and want to plant some, having read a bit more about them they like wet ground so the best spot here to plant them is not near the horses grazing anyway so it should be ok.
 
I grazed on a farm for many years with lots of black poplars, in fact there were a few in the horses field. Were never an issue. They grow to be absolutely massive, are not particularly long lived and useless for firewood, but stunning all the same.
 
Thanks silv, interesting that the timber doesn't burn well. There are reported to be only about 2,500 left it the U.K. not sure they will grow here but going to have a go.
 
Used to have them round my old paddock and my horses would happily eat them. Sadly they got very tall and unstable and after a few toppled in high winds the farmer got permission to have them removed - they were protected.
 
I cut one up about two years ago that measured 110ft from root to the tip and was 6ft thick at the bottom - sawdust smells like ....... a very bad smell! Wood strips like cotton wool and very open grained - it will burn on an ordinary fire when bone dry but vanishes in minutes.
The leaves when fresh are positively edible - to humans, not heard of anything adverse for horses and the one above was on the field margines of a big local stud so feel that it would have noticed.
Surprised about the "only a few left" as they grow like weeds - cut a few sticks off an existing tree - push them into some wet ground and away they'll go about 99% of the time.

Editing to add that in the spring, the buds exude a sticky substance that smells like "Comfort" conditioner and almost that strong, very pleasant fresh air kind of smell.
 
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Thanks both, it sounds like they grew easily like willow, but unlike osier don’t tolerate side shade. I don’t need them for firewood. I’ve got a good supply these are just for pleasure.
 
One trouble with them is that they seem very susceptible to the pathogen Phytophthora - internal rotting to most folk and as they are mostly propagated by vegative means - they are all related. They also have a terrific habit of suckering - sending up new shoots from ground travelling roots and in this way can build up quite large thickets which will all be genetically identical too. I've come across ring shaped plantations that originated from a tree long gone to leave its suckers as quite big trees.
 
I don't know if black poplars are poisonous but we've got French poplars of some size, we started with 11 and now have 7. Three came down recently in the high wind and at 80ft in height we were lucky they did so without causing any damage. If they do grow this big, do think carefully about the prevailing wind.
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We have them bordering our land and I remember being told how they were traditionally used for making matches in the old days. I think they are in serious decline, so I'd say plant some up, they will be great for biodiversity.
We have not had any problems with poisoning.
 
Great trees for windy boggy areas...From what i can remember, anything evergreen is poisonous to horses, only the usual suspects in the tree species can be poisonous (acorns etc)..
 
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