Conifer trees safe to eat?

[Beckie65]

My ponys are in a field that has conifer trees along one side and they have been munching them today, are they safe for them to eat?

 

[starsnrunes]

No idea if large amounts causes problems, but Herc used to grab the odd mouthful of the one outside his stable and it never affected him.

 

[PurplePickle]

I was always told the effects were cumulative rather than if they just ate a little bit, but Im not entirely sure if that is correct.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

no. a little bit wont kill them but larger quantities will affect the liver, and make white bits photo sensitive. (producing scabby noses and heels). could you not either cut them right back removing the trimmings or fence them off out of reach?

 

[Amstar01]

I thought that conifer trees produced turpentine in the winter which would definitely be poisonous if a horse ate any amount of them. A small amount would probably not harm them. I would run an electric fence around the trees just in case.

 

[Azmar]

I believe as a general rule all evergreen trees are harmful to horses