traceyann
Well-Known Member
My horse is a pig i have a few hazel nut trees linning my field and he scoffing the lot are they bad for him not just the tree hes eating nuts and all he wears a muzzle all the time but the nuts fits perfect in the hole
hazel nut trees
- Thread starter traceyann
- Start date
spaniel
Well-Known Member
So many hedges contain hazel and Im sure many horses do nibble on them. I have never heard of them being a problem.
Daisychain
Well-Known Member
Little monkey, bet he is having great fun getting the nut through the hole lol!
HazellB
Well-Known Member
Any chance you could try punctuation next time, please?
Hazel isn't a problem for them at all. In fact, it's something they crave when their coats change in spring and autumn, when the body demands a form of undigestable fibre more than usual. They'll eat dogwood, etc too and stabled animals can be given an armful to chew on each day if they wish - which helps stop stable timber chewing.
He'll soon stop wanting the fibre hazel provides and probably stop trimming the hedge as a result. Hazel is a shrub or small tree designed to be eaten, so it grows best if chewed back anyhow, so don't worry about him damaging the hedge. I grow the stuff as part of my living and allow my horses to chew the plants each year as and when they want - thus saving me the bother of trimming and messing about too much! Nature is brilliant like that.
Rose Folly
Well-Known Member
Hazel and willow. Both fine.
micramadam
Well-Known Member
My 3 love willow. In fact I cut a few branches every so often (especially in the winter when they are boxed more) so they can have a good old chew.
traceyann
Well-Known Member
thanks for your replies i caught him headbutting the trees so he can shake the nuts of i was a bit worried as they are still green maybe i should worry more about the headaches he must be getting
brucea
Well-Known Member
Brilliant - really good for them. It's fantastic that your horse has access to them. Trees of all kinds (except I guess yew 
) are fantastic to have round your fields providing variety and shelter.
My big lad is now taped off from the trees - he was up on his hind legs swinging to pull branches down and doing just a bit too much damage.
) are fantastic to have round your fields providing variety and shelter.My big lad is now taped off from the trees - he was up on his hind legs swinging to pull branches down and doing just a bit too much damage.