keeping horse off acorns

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Supere

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Hi all, I am in such a dilemma at the moment and looking for anyone’s advice. I have two ponies, which i moved to a new yard around six weeks ago, and for some silly reason at the time i didn’t check what trees were there.
Turns out there are many oak trees, and this year with the high amount of acorns they’ve produced, there are now hundreds in the fields. Myself and some others have been trying to collect them up by hand but it is proving impossible, they are falling right by us as we’re picking them up. Both of my horses have got a taste for them, and three days ago my horse had mild colic in the evening, to which the vet said he needed to be stabled all weekend. The following morning i arrived and gave him some hay, went to go to my other horse, turned around and he was trying to jump the door. I had to get him out of his stable, and hold him on the yard all day, as had absolutely no where else to put him. Thankfully i managed to get him to stay in his stable last night, the vet requested he go into a field with no access to acorns, and there is no where on the yard for him to go without them. There are also sycamores there.
Our other pony became unwell suspected from eating them aswell. Both have had to have the vet this weekend. The one is stabling okay and staying off the fields, but the other still won’t stay in his stable during the day, and doesn’t seem settled at this yard as it is. We were planning to move, as the acorn situation is too much now, and the yard owner does not seem to want the trees fenced off. I am also gravely worried about the sycamores. I had to put the one out for a few hours today, as i could not hold him on the yard any longer as had to go somewheee this afternoon. We do not have a school or anything like that to leave him in either.

We are desperately on the case to move yards hopefully by the end of the week, but for the time being, I have no idea what to do, as when i put him out he just goes back to eating acorns and ignoring hay or grass put out.

Anyone any ideas or words of advice please
 
Supere said:
Hi all, I am in such a dilemma at the moment and looking for anyone’s advice. I have two ponies, which i moved to a new yard around six weeks ago, and for some silly reason at the time i didn’t check what trees were there.
Turns out there are many oak trees, and this year with the high amount of acorns they’ve produced, there are now hundreds in the fields. Myself and some others have been trying to collect them up by hand but it is proving impossible, they are falling right by us as we’re picking them up. Both of my horses have got a taste for them, and three days ago my horse had mild colic in the evening, to which the vet said he needed to be stabled all weekend. The following morning i arrived and gave him some hay, went to go to my other horse, turned around and he was trying to jump the door. I had to get him out of his stable, and hold him on the yard all day, as had absolutely no where else to put him. Thankfully i managed to get him to stay in his stable last night, the vet requested he go into a field with no access to acorns, and there is no where on the yard for him to go without them. There are also sycamores there.
Our other pony became unwell suspected from eating them aswell. Both have had to have the vet this weekend. The one is stabling okay and staying off the fields, but the other still won’t stay in his stable during the day, and doesn’t seem settled at this yard as it is. We were planning to move, as the acorn situation is too much now, and the yard owner does not seem to want the trees fenced off. I am also gravely worried about the sycamores. I had to put the one out for a few hours today, as i could not hold him on the yard any longer as had to go somewheee this afternoon. We do not have a school or anything like that to leave him in either.

We are desperately on the case to move yards hopefully by the end of the week, but for the time being, I have no idea what to do, as when i put him out he just goes back to eating acorns and ignoring hay or grass put out.

Anyone any ideas or words of advice please
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Can you hand graze, or fence off the worst areas? They might go through the fencing if they’re climbing the door though….

Or provide something really attractive to eat in the field but they will probably switch to the acorns eventually if they’re so inclined.

I think you’re doing the only thing you can. Keep in all autumn or find another yard ☹️
 
Supere said:
Hi all, I am in such a dilemma at the moment and looking for anyone’s advice. I have two ponies, which i moved to a new yard around six weeks ago, and for some silly reason at the time i didn’t check what trees were there.
Turns out there are many oak trees, and this year with the high amount of acorns they’ve produced, there are now hundreds in the fields. Myself and some others have been trying to collect them up by hand but it is proving impossible, they are falling right by us as we’re picking them up. Both of my horses have got a taste for them, and three days ago my horse had mild colic in the evening, to which the vet said he needed to be stabled all weekend. The following morning i arrived and gave him some hay, went to go to my other horse, turned around and he was trying to jump the door. I had to get him out of his stable, and hold him on the yard all day, as had absolutely no where else to put him. Thankfully i managed to get him to stay in his stable last night, the vet requested he go into a field with no access to acorns, and there is no where on the yard for him to go without them. There are also sycamores there.
Our other pony became unwell suspected from eating them aswell. Both have had to have the vet this weekend. The one is stabling okay and staying off the fields, but the other still won’t stay in his stable during the day, and doesn’t seem settled at this yard as it is. We were planning to move, as the acorn situation is too much now, and the yard owner does not seem to want the trees fenced off. I am also gravely worried about the sycamores. I had to put the one out for a few hours today, as i could not hold him on the yard any longer as had to go somewheee this afternoon. We do not have a school or anything like that to leave him in either.

We are desperately on the case to move yards hopefully by the end of the week, but for the time being, I have no idea what to do, as when i put him out he just goes back to eating acorns and ignoring hay or grass put out.

Anyone any ideas or words of advice please
Click to expand...
Yep, but not easy.
Your horses have unfortunately both got the taste for acorns, probably for oak leaves too, so will be going after these until the trees are totally bare -it’s a nightmare,
like addicts, and acorns can definitely kill.
If there’s no safe turnout until you move them (plus sycamore issues to follow, aargh!), keep them 100% stabled, get up early and get riding for their exercise. I was once in this exact situation for 3 weeks, waiting to use my other fields. Family and social life out the window, you ride and lead two before work, same again afterwards, mucking out twice per day - just try and get them moved asap. Do use plenty of reflective stuff this time of year, less daylight than ideal for early and late rides. Good luck.
 
the one unfortunately will not stable through the day and just tries to jump the door when he sees others going out, he is not very settled on this new yard (unlike the other one) so won’t even tie up for me to groom him or anything, i am literally stuck holding him baby sitting him. It is a nightmare.
We did go to view a potential yard today, but the whole thing was lined with oaks, however there may be a possibility of us fencing off an area within the field as it is very large for them to go in, away from the oaks along the edge, but i’m wondering if this is even worth the risk now. It is so difficult
 
Supere said:
the one unfortunately will not stable through the day and just tries to jump the door when he sees others going out, he is not very settled on this new yard (unlike the other one) so won’t even tie up for me to groom him or anything, i am literally stuck holding him baby sitting him. It is a nightmare.
We did go to view a potential yard today, but the whole thing was lined with oaks, however there may be a possibility of us fencing off an area within the field as it is very large for them to go in, away from the oaks along the edge, but i’m wondering if this is even worth the risk now. It is so difficult
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You can’t have him on a lead rein all day? Can’t you exercise them both together by riding and leading, then putting them both back into their stables so there’s no separation issue? Otherwise, will have to shut his top door, or buy a top grille to keep him from jumping out when riding the other. Ride the pair as much as possible to compensate for lack of turnout.
If your prospective field is really large, and oaks are only in the fence line, could set up an electric fence of inner playpen/ paddock for a couple of months -that should be ok.
But you will be asking for trouble if turn either of them back out into the present set up, sorry.
 
Depending on the area the acorns are falling on, could you try using a lawnmower with a grass collector which will suck up the acorns? I haven't tried myself, it might work - they'll keep falling of course so it would be an ongoing job. Alternatively you say that the yard owner seems not to want the trees fenced off - sounds like there may be some room here for a conversation about doing so temporarily? Or like at the other yard, making a turnout pen for him in the field?
 
My mower isn’t picking up many acorns even on a low cut 😬. There are crazy amounts of acorns this year and the squirrels aren’t keeping up at all.

It’s a fence off and hand rake job. One of mine has the taste for them too. I’m afraid that you’ve got to keep the horse off the acorns, no matter how. They are fatal if a horse gorges on them.
 
Hand walk your stress head away from the yard while the others are being turned out & don’t bring him back until they’re all out. You might have to be cruel to be kind and put a hurdle over his stable door to stop him jumping out when you’re not there. I’d rather that than a serious accident getting stuck. The acorns are awful this year 😭 If your two aren’t stabled next to eachother for company see if you can get them shuffled around. Give them as many distractions in their stable as possible and once you know they’re in and secure/no hazards in reach, walk away. standing and watching him will also wind him up as he’ll be anticipating you taking him out of his stable while you’re still there.

Obviously this is all temporary solutions and not a way to keep a horse long term.
 
Boughtabay said:
Hand walk your stress head away from the yard while the others are being turned out & don’t bring him back until they’re all out. You might have to be cruel to be kind and put a hurdle over his stable door to stop him jumping out when you’re not there. I’d rather that than a serious accident getting stuck. The acorns are awful this year 😭 If your two aren’t stabled next to eachother for company see if you can get them shuffled around. Give them as many distractions in their stable as possible and once you know they’re in and secure/no hazards in reach, walk away. standing and watching him will also wind him up as he’ll be anticipating you taking him out of his stable while you’re still there.

Obviously this is all temporary solutions and not a way to keep a horse long term.
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This. Also use a temporary electric fence to fence off the area where the oaks are and feed hay in the field so the ponies have plenty to eat and won't be tempted to try and get back to the acorns.
 
My leaf blower also sucks up stuff. I'd try buying or renting a powerful version. Can you make a small turnout area out of electric fencing and keep that clear in the first place?
 
Assuming you left on good terms could you go back to your old yard - either permanently or short-term.
May seem a bit cheeky to your old yard but worth an ask ?
 
While you are waiting to get a new more permanent yard which is safe, could you move them right now to somewhere like there a rehab type of yard or somewhere without access to oaks that does temporary holiday livery. Even if it is expensive for a few days it would buy you some time away from acorns.
 
Buy a good energiser and make a tape corral, or use it to tape off the acorn area. All 3 of mine have a taste for them and I have one whole side of my track and turnout area taped off on a mains energiser - they still get some, especially in my yard which has oak trees overhanging. This is the worst year I've known for acorns. It's because of the drought - all the seed and nut and fruit trees are producing for all they are worth because they all thought they were going to die and have to regenerate by producing as many offspring as possible. Last autumn there were barely any acorns.
 
I’d electric fence off the worst areas of acorn fall and hire a backpack blower - they are very powerful, I have one - great for large areas, 200mph+ wind will definitely spit the acorns out of grass. You’d blow them all in the direction out of the fenceline….well out of their mouths reach.

Hire from here:

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It’s been a year for acorns - even my young oak tree has produced lots, which the red squirrels here have gorged on thankfully…..there’s just little acorn ‘hats’ on the ground.

If you direct the nozzle of the blower 45 degrees at the ground 6 feet in front of you it will blast everything loose forward. These backpack blowers easily move gravel, close-up, so will easily handle acorns.
 
If you blow them to the fence line just make sure you blow them far enough away that the horses can't get them. Otherwise you've just created an easy larder for them 🤣
 
It's a mast year for oaks I think. I don't think you have any other options than 2, keep in or fence off an area in the field and clear from acorns and manage exercise as best you can. Mornings and evenings are darker now so if you ride when light is failing use as much bright stuff as you can.

I saw a FB article today about a dentist who have already had a client's horse die from eating acorns this autumn.
 
Very sadly we have lost one on our yard to acorns this year.

Most are now fenced off, but like a lot of yards around here the fields are lined with oaks.

I know from personal experience that muzzles don't stop horses eating them, though they do slow the horses down a little. The holes would have to be tiny to stop acorns getting through.

I feel for you - it's an awful year for the things.
 
I would try the coral or temporary fence along the line of oaks. It's only whilst they settle into the ground/get taken/removed by hand. I've had to do the latter for the first time this year as my Exmoor was gorging. I plan to rake them all up once the tree is mostly bare, then take the fence away.
 
One of the yard farriers was in this morning and mentioned that he knows of 10 horses in his clients' area that have died from acorns this autumn. That is tragic.

I had 2 oaks on my land in the middle of one field and I planned my grazing so that I used that field for hay and summer grazing and put the sheep on it in the autumn and winter.

Definitely fence off the area where the acorns are - with a wide margin - even if that means fencing off half a field and having to feed supplementary feed. Once the acorns are gone you'll have a rested part of the field to use over the remainder of the winter.
 
The field we started renting a month ago has a few large oaks on the boundary fence and quite honestly I've never seen so many acorns! We have just had to tape off that section where they fall and every day I sweep up a barrow full, they've nearly all fallen now so hoping I can let them onto that section in a couple of weeks time.
 
meesha said:
Would a grazing muzzle do the trick? If holes are small enough on it, it might prove impossible to pickup acorns !!
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I really would not risk this. Horse with an acorn habit are ravenous to get at them, and acorns quite small enough to get through the grazing holes.
What you could possibly do with a robust, bucket style muzzle, is entirely gaffer tape up all grazing holes and use as a barrier for temporarily turning the difficult pony out with his pals for a couple of hours, while you’re exercising the other, allow him to let off steam.
But, he will definitely try to rub the tape off, and might become even more stressed, so a very temporary measure, at best.
 
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