The good times keep on rolling (not)

[Boughtabay]

After having my mare PTS for sudden onset scour, my boy then getting a case of the squitz (not as bad as her, & now looking fine), having to wrangle him into taking precautionary meds 2x a day. Ive come down the farm this morning to find THE WHOLE FARM IS COVERED in sycamore leaves/helicopters. The whole place - every field, the shed with their stables. I can’t collect them theres too many. Even my hay store is covered

Ive chucked them out in a paddock for half an hour run around while I muck out and then they’ll be back in until I can move them to a suitable field. Leaves and helicopters are blowing around for fun. Why do we do this, cause all this stress to ourselves?

 

[SEL]

Can you chop them down? I honestly don't think I could deal with the stress of having sycamore bordering my fields.

And **hugs** because you really need one!

 

[Boughtabay]

Can you chop them down? I honestly don't think I could deal with the stress of having sycamore bordering my fields.

And **hugs** because you really need one!

not really those and the oaks are all over the place and massive - it would be a huge expense and the other farm animals use them for shelter. I’d love to meet the farmer of ye olden times who thought “yes awesome, I’ll cover the place in poisonous trees!”

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

I share you sentiment with having trees all over the place. All bar one of the fields has an oak or is lined with them.

In fairness to the farmers of old though, they were good shelter. They had little/no knowledge of the dangers.

Horse ownership now seems frought with hazards!

 

[tyner]

Has anyone tried a paddock vaccum for sycamore? Is it worth it?

I see them available for rent and also services that will come and do it.

Tempted because one of the driest fields at our yard is plagued with sycamore but didn't know if it was worth it.

The leaf blowers with the vaccum mechanism don't seem to do much at all.

 

[Boughtabay]

I share you sentiment with having trees all over the place. All bar one of the fields has an oak or is lined with them.

In fairness to the farmers of old though, they were good shelter. They had little/no knowledge of the dangers.

Horse ownership now seems frought with hazards!

Probably true although I suspect they may have been aware acorns weren’t great when hoovered up by sheep . but the odd one getting addicted here or there in days gone by wasn’t probably the financial drama it is now. I’ve kept horses here for 4 years now and they’ve been perfectly fine (kept fenced away from oaks and no interest in sycamores) but in light of losing my mare I’m freshly suspicious of everything.

ETA no oaks or sycamores one the summer field she was in when she got ill but that’s not much comfort!

 

[expanding_horizon]

I have got lots bordering my field, the whole area / community I have had horses in for a long time has a lot of them. One horse died 4-5 years ago, but nothing since and many areas are overwhelmed with seeds.

I do my best to hand clear them daily from field my horse lives in and ensure there is always adlib haylage out.

My unscientific feeling is the seeds are slightly less risk of being eaten than the seedlings. My horse does not seem to eat the helicopter seeeds, and they are mainly falling where there isnt grass on my track.

Seedlings on the other hand taste okay, and can also be accidentally eaten when grazing and be concealed in good grass until are tall enough to spot.

 

[Cortez]

I have sycamore trees around most of my fields, never had a problem, but I'm aware that it's a random, not-every-year type of thing. I know the seedlings are the source, but the leaves too? I've not heard that they are a source of the toxin. (My horses never eat the leaves anyway).

 

[expanding_horizon]

I have sycamore trees around most of my fields, never had a problem, but I'm aware that it's a random, not-every-year type of thing. I know the seedlings are the source, but the leaves too? I've not heard that they are a source of the toxin. (My horses never eat the leaves anyway).

Seeds, seedlings and leaves can all be toxic.

But the leaves are only mildly toxic. My horse went through a phase of eating dying dried sycamore leaves over the fence, like they were crisps! I moved them out of reach!

AFAIK it is only the seeds and seedlings that if unlucky with levels of toxicity can be fatal. But sycamore leaves in sufficient quantities can make ill too.

In a world where I cant control everything, and horses are very fragile, and I have to make judgements I am chosing to accept having my horse's field boarded by sycamore trees and manage the risk as best I can. (Partly influenced by the last three locations he's lived at have also had same issue). Partly influenced by the quality of life I believe I can offer my horse where he is.

 

[Cortez]

Seeds, seedlings and leaves can all be toxic.

But the leaves are only mildly toxic. My horse went through a phase of eating dying dried sycamore leaves over the fence, like they were crisps! I moved them out of reach!

AFAIK it is only the seeds and seedlings that if unlucky with levels of toxicity can be fatal. But sycamore leaves in sufficient quantities can make ill too.

In a world where I cant control everything, and horses are very fragile, and I have to make judgements I am chosing to accept having my horse's field boarded by sycamore trees and manage the risk as best I can. (Partly influenced by the last three locations he's lived at have also had same issue). Partly influenced by the quality of life I believe I can offer my horse where he is.

Honestly, I've had multiple horses here for nearly 30 years, never had a problem. My neighbours have had horses in their sycamore-bounded fields for even longer, without a problem. I wouldn't worry, there are enough, more likely things to go wrong. As long as you're aware and can keep it in mind if the horse seems off.

 

[Boughtabay]

Honestly, I've had multiple horses here for nearly 30 years, never had a problem. My neighbours have had horses in their sycamore-bounded fields for even longer, without a problem. I wouldn't worry, there are enough, more likely things to go wrong. As long as you're aware and can keep it in mind if the horse seems off.

This is the sensible mentality but getting my brain back to there is taking a bit of time. Especially given a relative lost their pony to sycamore poisoning last year - on a small holding which has kept horses since not long after the 2nd wwar … realistically though unless my boy goes hoovering up the leaves/seeds/saplings (later) then we’re not likely to have an issue BUT he does go mad for acorns so he could add sycamore to his list of “really yummy things that could kill me” for fun!

 

[jules9203]

Our fields are surrounded by sycamores. In the 10yrs we've been here we have lost one horse due to them and he was a very poor 3yr ex racehorse. Nothing else has been affected by them. My old mare actually tries to eat them off the trees. This used to terrify me but a vet did say that some seem to have built an "immunity" to them. Not sure if they actually do but she is a very healthy 24yr old.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Honestly, I've had multiple horses here for nearly 30 years, never had a problem. My neighbours have had horses in their sycamore-bounded fields for even longer, without a problem. I wouldn't worry, there are enough, more likely things to go wrong. As long as you're aware and can keep it in mind if the horse seems off.

I have to agree with you I am surrounded by them I have them everywhere and I use a leaf blower for most of them but what else can I do, I live opposite a woods full of them that blow over.

I've watched my horses for hours and they don't eat the seedlings or helicopter seeds either and are not bothered by the leaves either

 

[catembi]

Are you sure that they are sycamores and not (harmless) field maples? I was having 50 fits over it when we first moved here, but collected a few helicopters & looked them up online & they were field maples. Good because there are quite a few of them!

 

[PeterNatt]

Boughtabay! You can have the Sycamore seeds tested for toxicity. See the link below:

Equine Atypical Myopathy testing available at the Royal Veterinary College

The RVC is testing for atypical myopathy in its work towards improved treatments and management of this disorder, and to enhance the welfare of affected horses.

www.rvc.ac.uk

 

[Boughtabay]

Boughtabay! You can have the Sycamore seeds tested for toxicity. See the link below:

Equine Atypical Myopathy testing available at the Royal Veterinary College

The RVC is testing for atypical myopathy in its work towards improved treatments and management of this disorder, and to enhance the welfare of affected horses.

www.rvc.ac.uk

RVC isn’t doing testing at the moment because I think a machine is broken? I have considered it though thankyou! £188 a sample is a lot when you have many many trees though

ETA yesterday before I saw they weren’t testing at the moment I was ready March around the farm collecting leaves/seeds off every damn tree to get it tested, cost be damned … today I’ve calmed down ever so slightly

 

[spotty_pony2]

After having my mare PTS for sudden onset scour, my boy then getting a case of the squitz (not as bad as her, & now looking fine), having to wrangle him into taking precautionary meds 2x a day. Ive come down the farm this morning to find THE WHOLE FARM IS COVERED in sycamore leaves/helicopters. The whole place - every field, the shed with their stables. I can’t collect them theres too many. Even my hay store is covered

Ive chucked them out in a paddock for half an hour run around while I muck out and then they’ll be back in until I can move them to a suitable field. Leaves and helicopters are blowing around for fun. Why do we do this, cause all this stress to ourselves?

Sorry to hear about your horse, do you now think she had atypical myopathy and the scouring was a cause of that?

Honestly, in your situation this time round I might look at hiring one of those paddock vacuums - I’ve seen a lot of the companies offer to do a free trial at your yard so you may be able to use this to do it this time. Obviously moving forwards you can’t do this every year but maybe the YO and all of the liveries could chip in to have the trees removed at least from certain areas so you have some safe grazing.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the Oak trees. Just fence around them in the autumn whilst the acorns are falling and the squirrels soon come and eat them. I have quite a few oak trees in my fields and in the summer they provide great shade. I do have some sycamores (have removed a fair few others too) but I just graze these areas either in winter when the seeds have fell and blown away or in the summer. I have more problem in the spring when the seedlings appear and we have to mow and collect them up. I fence the areas off until I’m sure there aren’t any seeds left. Are you 100% they are all sycamore? A lot do maple trees look similar and aren’t actually toxic.

 

[spotty_pony2]

Are you sure that they are sycamores and not (harmless) field maples? I was having 50 fits over it when we first moved here, but collected a few helicopters & looked them up online & they were field maples. Good because there are quite a few of them!

That was me too when we moved here! I was so relieved to find out a lot of them were Field and Norway maple.

 

[expanding_horizon]

Boughtabay! You can have the Sycamore seeds tested for toxicity. See the link below:

Equine Atypical Myopathy testing available at the Royal Veterinary College

The RVC is testing for atypical myopathy in its work towards improved treatments and management of this disorder, and to enhance the welfare of affected horses.

www.rvc.ac.uk

It’s pretty pointless testing as the same tree can have seeds of a range of toxicity levels. So you cannot rely on the results for deciding how dangerous your sycamore seeds.

And toxicity levels can vary tree to tree year to year.

 

[Boughtabay]

Sorry to hear about your horse, do you now think she had atypical myopathy and the scouring was a cause of that?

Honestly, in your situation this time round I might look at hiring one of those paddock vacuums - I’ve seen a lot of the companies offer to do a free trial at your yard so you may be able to use this to do it this time. Obviously moving forwards you can’t do this every year but maybe the YO and all of the liveries could chip in to have the trees removed at least from certain areas so you have some safe grazing.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the Oak trees. Just fence around them in the autumn whilst the acorns are falling and the squirrels soon come and eat them. I have quite a few oak trees in my fields and in the summer they provide great shade. I do have some sycamores (have removed a fair few others too) but I just graze these areas either in winter when the seeds have fell and blown away or in the summer. I have more problem in the spring when the seedlings appear and we have to mow and collect them up. I fence the areas off until I’m sure there aren’t any seeds left. Are you 100% they are all sycamore? A lot do maple trees look similar and aren’t actually toxic.

No I don’t believe sycamore caused her illness as there aren’t any down near the summer grazing BUT as we don’t (probably won’t ever) know what caused her illness I just worry I could be moving him out of fire and into the frying pan by moving him but hey ho, he does need moving regardless. After the comments on here though I am feeling slightly more sensible that my horse isn’t VERY likely to hoover up a catastrophic amount of sycamore bits given we have plenty of grass and hay and he hasn’t shown any interest!

 

[suestowford]

Has anyone tried a paddock vaccum for sycamore? Is it worth it?

I see them available for rent and also services that will come and do it.

Tempted because one of the driest fields at our yard is plagued with sycamore but didn't know if it was worth it.

The leaf blowers with the vaccum mechanism don't seem to do much at all.

I have also been wondering about this.

 

[Boughtabay]

Update! Poo results came back normal for Mr - slightly raised worm count but nothing alarming, will be wormed tomorrow or Monday depending on when I can get to the shops. Horses have been offered an appropriate field, it does have sycamore but there’s plenty of sycamore-free grass so my sensible brain says they’ll stead clear of any leaves/seeds anyway. Mr and mini pal will be very pleased to be allowed back out for more than half an hour tomorrow. Things are looking up again & I can start easing Mr back into work again next week. Shouldn’t be too much of an ask as he’s only had 2 weeks off by then but he wasn’t massively fit before hand

 

[maya2008]

Honestly, I've had multiple horses here for nearly 30 years, never had a problem. My neighbours have had horses in their sycamore-bounded fields for even longer, without a problem. I wouldn't worry, there are enough, more likely things to go wrong. As long as you're aware and can keep it in mind if the horse seems off.

It seems to be genetic, either the horse will be fine if they eat them, or they won’t.

We lost my husband’s cob in Spring this year - the seedlings had only just sprouted, a small patch. There was nothing the vets could do, he was fine one night, dead by the next.