My new horse love acorns - are they really that bad?

Quite agree TGM, that to me was a totally and un-necessary pointless reply!

We have acorns in one of our fields and I do collect as many as I can; I also try to keep them out of that field around that time. I've been told they are only poisonous in large quantities if there is nothing else to eat (vaguely similar to ragwort in that respect) except that they are more palatable. We've had several horses here that have taken a shine to them if given half a chance, one would break through the electric fence to get to them and so far, touch wood, nothing has shown the remotest sign of being off colour.(we've been here 20 years now!)
Hopefully, what OP's horse has eaten so far, won't harm him but I wouldn't allow him any more. On the other hand, look at wild native ponies, New Forests in particular, they will be surrounded by acorns and I'm sure we would have heard if they became ill in great numbers from ingesting them.

To OP, welcome to the forum; hope it hasn't put you off, some of the replies you've had!
 
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Yes the "know it alls are right" ...........

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Really mature
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Mature to quote the original posters words??? Hmmm more confused now....
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. We've had several horses here that have taken a shine to them if given half a chance, one would break through the electric fence to get to them

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Thats interesting Im sure I was told that horses can become addicted to the toxin in acorns which is why some horses like them so much!!
 
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I've got LOADS of horsey books - NONE of them mention acorns! They all just go on about ragwort!
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Oh my god, i'm such a horrible person.
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I'm so embarrassed.

I DO think he's ok though, but will ring the vet anyway. Good job he's insured eh?!

STRESS!!!

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your insurer might view it as negligence on your part and refuse to pay....
 
Yes, the vet who came out to Cassie said once they've got a taste for them, they're addictive. No-one knew there were oak trees in the field border (it's VERY dense), but there is an obvious one in our current field. As soon as they start falling, the horses will be moved until they can all be raked up. Pain in the bum!
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I hope your horse is okay and no lasting damage has been caused. Its an easy mistake to be made by all novice owners and well done you on asking about it as most people wont. Please dont beat yourself up about it. Also dont rely 100% on everything you read in books, most are outdated and can offer conflicting advise. Maybe enroling yourself on one of the BHS courses might help or ask a more nicer "know it all" to help when you need it. I took the Horse Owners Certificate many moons ago before taking on my first horse and found it very usefull. Also using the internet to throughly search your choice topic helps, but dont take everything you read to be gospal truth.
 
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Yes, the vet who came out to Cassie said once they've got a taste for them, they're addictive. No-one knew there were oak trees in the field border (it's VERY dense), but there is an obvious one in our current field. As soon as they start falling, the horses will be moved until they can all be raked up. Pain in the bum!
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Oh might be some truth in the addictiveness then..... thought I may of made it up LOL.... yes acorn picking was never a fave of mine, but didnt have another field so no other option really!
 
Right......everybody stop panicing! - blimey!

The take on it from my own experience and from my vet is as follows:-

If you horse appears fine at the moment, the likelyhood is, he is one of the fortunate ones that is unaffected by acorn ingestion.

The theory seems to be that its pot luck! Some can eat loads with no ill effect, others who are predisposed for whatever reason (which we will never know) can eat 1 and die from poisoning.

Best to be safer than sorry IMHO and remove them but dont lose sleep if your horse is seeming ok later.

I have had a friend lose one overnight from acorn poisoning, he had them in his field and ate them for years with no ill effect, but on this one occasion, it got him years later in 24 hours.

I have had ponies eat the damn things for years with no ill effects.

Its dependant upon many circumstances, and possibly you may be lucky but with the possiblility that things can go wrong and horses can die, you are probably best to play on the side of caution.

At least you asked which is the main thing!
 
Cassie went VERY toxic. Her gums were purple. She had a funny rash all over her body. She had NO appetite and was VERY lethargic - didnt react to anything. In the end, her bowl ruptured and she coliced. She had to be put to sleep. All because the owner failed to go and check on her for 4 days!
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We lost our beautiful clydesdale mare last autumn to suspected acorn poisoning. The onset of symptoms to her eventual death was less than 24 hours and it was devastating. We were always careful to fence off areas where acorns would fall and thats why we were so shocked when the vet said the symptoms suggested acorn poisoning. Our only thought was that as she had been neglected earlier in her life that the damage could have happened then and that even if she had managed to grab a few more recently this would be enough to kill her. We will never know for sure as we did not have an autopsey. The oak trees have been fenced off for a few weeks now as I never want to experience anything like that again. Apparently green acorns are more addictive and have higher levels of tanin which is the harmful toxin. Incidently our insurance did pay out I only hope that you never have to claim and that you horse stays well. We keep ours in the New Forest area and the ponies eat tons of acorns, bracken etc and seem to stay healthy!
Well done for seeking advice I hope you will find the posts helpful.
 
I was going to add a forum about this too as I have read on google search that acorns can be a good source of horses food chain...?? I too have green acorns in my horses field at the mo and im pleased to say I have him sectioned in another area.
Its hard to know what is posionous really with horses as some of the websites explain different things like I mentioned above...Ive owned horses for over 17 years and I still sometimes have to check things...well pretty much all the time, so dont beat yourself up over it....
 
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I have read on google search that acorns can be a good source of horses food chain...??
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Its hard to know what is posionous really with horses as some of the websites explain different things like I mentioned above

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Don't believe everything you read from a Google search or a book, anyone can publish any load of b******s. Your best bet is to ask someone experienced whom you can trust.
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My instructor told me that when she was younger she let her pony eat them as she didnt know any better, she said she would let him much on them for hours and this went on for years before she was informed they were poisonous.

But although no harm came to the pony, all horses are different and knowing that they are poisonous I would not let your horse eat them as you would never forgive yourself if they harmed him.
 
Just a warning to all - oak leaves can also be harmful, and apparently also addictive. We had a horrendous time with them many years ago, never want to go through all that again.
And exactly as eveyone else has been saying about the acorns, some horses go down, some seem fine, and some seem fine and then get caught another year. Presumably it's all the same toxin.
 
I have also heard stories that insurers will not pay out for incidents like this as it is negligence............

I know its not as you cannot physically trail your horse around its paddock/field 24/7 but insurers are insurers and if they dont have to pay out, they wont.
 
acorns and oak leaves and bark can affect horses so make sure they cant reach the tree either.its a pain but fencing off the area or using a different field is the best and easiest option!
some are more sensitive than others.

i would speak to your vet and explain, tell him if the horse has any behaviour changes or appetite,droppings etc as well.

everyone learns at some point so dont be embarassed.
just try to make sure you know things like when to call a vet for injuries etc and what foods can be harmful to your horse.

good lucvk with him he sounds lovely, hope all goes ok with the vet
 
I know they are poisonous but i have heard that they need to be the main source of food for them to be lethal.

Many horses eat them out in the field without dropping dead on the spot. BUT it obviously isnt a good idea to let him now you know
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I am sure he will be fine, dont beat yourself up about it, we dont all know everything otherwise this forum wouldnt be needed would it???
 
Have to add my bit! I can echo all above. I witnessed my friends pony dying from acorn poisoning when I was a chid and it was an experience I will never forget. The poor pony was in so much pain. Dreadful and should not have happened. Again it was about bad stable management....
 
ok as the OP didnt know about acorns (dont beat yourself up about it we all have to learn somewhere)
im going to point out that foxgloves are also poisonous to horses and ponies and people. one of mine has a taste for them so they get removed from my field if they are spotted (gloves similar to pulling up ragwort).
 
Having found the acorn tree I would ensure that the area that the acorns fall on to is fenced off with good quality fencing.

It may well be that because no in-depth research has been done in to acorn poisoning that it is culamative poison (like for instance ragwort) so each time a horse eats some acorns it does damage to the horse or reduces it's resistance.
 
Just a quick update to let you all know that the vet came out and reckons Odlid is going to be just fine!
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He took bloods to check liver function and stuff, and we'll get the results of that in a few days. He said he was showing no signs of toxicity, so it's looking like he's one of the lucky ones!

Thank you all again.
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That is a relief, I am glad for you!
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If there is anything that you want to know, we're usually a happy bunch who are willing to help
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TBH. I am seriously disappointed that any forum member would lower themselves, to sending hate Pm's. Get a life.
 
I cannot believe people are so nasty to PM someone that is asking for advice! God I have been in this game for over 30 years and still had to ask about bracken! - my lot have always had the odd nibble on all sorts of stuff, I can fence stuff off but they have oodles of grass so tend to go for that!

One broke a ruddy fence today to get to some bindweed in a hedge! Not sure if thats poisonous or not but he does it every time in that bloody field!!
 
Oh that's brilliant! He's a lucky boy!
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Sorry, couldnt help but stare at his name for a while as it's so unusual (well, i've never heard it before anyway). Erm....have you noticed what it spells backwards???
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Unless you have the spelling wrong, in which case i apologise!!
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Still a great name though - i like unusual names. Mine are all boring though. Apart from Monique, but that just sounds like her mum was a teenage chav!!!
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