might be a dumb question, but....

[riding_high]

i was wondering about oak trees and acorns.

i know that they are poisonous to horses but if the acorns fall on the ground in long (ish) grass would the horses spit them out if they had some amongst the grass they ate or would they eat the acorns as well?

would a horse purposelly eat them even though they are poisonous or would they avoid?

 

[amiacat]

I think that animals have a 6th sense to what is dangerous for them to eat, but I know that this doesn't always stop them! If there is something more tasty to eat and they aren't eating out of starvation then they'll more often than not avoid the acorns.

 

[scatty_mare]

Actually acorns are addictive...

 

[xxRachelxx]

I used to work at a livery yard where one of the fields had an oak tree in it. One of the horses who was turned out in this field was obsesed by acorns! It was like a drug addiction! When they fell off the tree he would run out there and spend all day eating them! Obviously we moved him out of that field! Anyway, my point was that not all horses will avoid things that are bad for them!

 

[Splish & Masons mum]

we had to move paddocks last year when the acorns started to fall, Splish got a real taste for them, and wouldn't stop eating them, even though there was plenty of grass. the other pony in the field didn't seem to bother, but we've yet to find anything Mason wont eat, so I'll have to keep my eyes open this year.

 

[Steorra]

My horse will also eat them even if there is plenty of grass.

 

[riding_high]

not sure whether to say thanks for the replies or not as i was hoping for a totally different response but guess i knew the answer!! lol

i've been offered a lovely field with lots of natural shelter and also a field shelter in it but it does have 2 acorn trees, there's a fair bit of grass at the moment but i know that will soon be gone with the winter. i have a niggling feeling that the way my luck is going it will mean my stupid ponies will eat them!