Eating Oak

[HudsonsDad]

When we were putting the boy back in his field, after a quick bolt with the wife on board, (she blames me as I said he could go for a canter). We noticed as we walked away that he was having a nibble at the new leaves on the oak tree overhanging his field. Cue wife running, waving her hat to send him away but will it do him any harm?

 

[JosieB]

Yes, leaves, acorns the lot are poisonous to horses, think its tannin thats in them. Leaves in the water is also bad. The trouble is some horses can eat quite alot and seem ok whereas others have a lower tollerance. Google it, you will find lots of info. Either cut the branches so horse cannot reach or fence the tree off, remember fallen leaves are also a no no.

 

[HudsonsDad]

That,s what we thought, but it's not our field. None of the oaks (and there are plenty) are fenced of or pruned high enough.
Don't get me started on rabbit holes. lol

 

[JosieB]

You can cut anything overhanging your field so long as you put it back over the fence, otherwise you are stealing it lol.

I ended up moving fields afew years ago, after a week of sweeping up leaves and dumping them on the muckheap and then going down the next day and another carpet of them, I gave up. I even thought about getting a leaf hoover lol

 

[juliette]

Not only is eating oak really bad for the horses, they seem to get addicted to it if they have an intolerance to it which is weird! My friend's horse had a bad allergic reaction after eating some acorns and despite feeling really poorly he now seems to actively seek them out! Cue lots of electric fence to stop him getting near them.