I have recently planted some trees in one of my paddocks. The mix includes wild cherry. Some people are telling me that the leaves and bark are fatal to horses if eaten! Is this fact? I cant seem to find out much about it.
I have been under the impression that cherry is poisonous to horses, and as there are a lot on our yard, though not actually in the fields, I'm careful when riding or leading past them.
I found this on the internet:
"YES! Wild Cherry Trees ARE poisonous!
My Neighbors horse died from eating the wilted leaves. They seem to be poisonous for only a small period of time; the leaves or branches have to drop or break of the tree -say from a wind storm- and then wilt. That is when their sap turns to Cyanide and this last for about 24 hours. But after they have 'died' they are no longer poisonous.
Since his farms runs along our we all came together and cut all of his trees and all of our trees down. Being careful with the leaves and branches and spreading animal safe root killer on the stump/roots. The stump/root system will re-grow branches (or suckers)."
