[bay_blnd jmpr07]

We just had a horse being treated by the vets for Maple Leaf Poisoning...Saddest thing ever.

The horse's blood looked just like it's stool (which the stool wasn't normal looking either, worst diahrea ever)...Poor thing died...

[Arabians4ME]

Originally Posted by bay_blnd jmpr07

We just had a horse being treated by the vets for Maple Leaf Poisoning...Saddest thing ever.

The horse's blood looked just like it's stool (which the stool wasn't normal looking either, worst diahrea ever)...Poor thing died...

Sorry you had to see that BBJ, from what I gather it's pretty sad. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

Oh, I'm not flipping out over it. With 15 acres of pasture between 2 or 3 horses tops, nobody's going after fallen leaves.

Actually my squash plants overflowed from my garden to send vines into the pasture and my horses have oh-so-neatly weeded around them without tuching a hair of the squash plants.


I've also been told that some horses somehow know the native plants that aren't safe to eat. He thought it was regional but I think my horses, which all have mustang no more than 2 or 3 generations back, are savvy in that regard even though they are from all over the US. My vet told me a story about a farm locally where the guy had raised all sorts of horses for years and years and years, and then went and brought down three Clydsdales from Canada and 3 days later they were all three dead from eating something in their pasture!!! Weird that the other horses never touched it, huh?

LA,

I agree with everything you just said and trust in it myself but I wanted to put this bug in your ear. Horses are curious creatures and if a tree or something were to fall they would most likely stop eating that lovely grass and go try out the tree. Just something to put in the back of your mind.

For example- Yesterday we had a BAD and completely unexpected storm. It was crazy! (It carried the dogloo down into the big pasture and left it in smitherenes! It was CRAZY.) It also blew down several trees in our pasture. (our neighbor, a nice little old lady had a HUGE Oak land in her house.) Anyway the storm took out a Box Elder and immediately our cows went to munching on it. Horses were right behind them, and they had plenty to eat on the ground. We have wild cherries and 2 red maples in our field. (The boys went looking at maples just to see what we had yesterday and found 2 we didn't know were in the field) Some of the trees are not able to be cut for a few reasons, such as land we pasture but do not own, in fence lines, or too dangerous. So after storms we always check our pastures.

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

I have a black walnut and a red maple in my front yard.

I have a black walnut and a red maple in my yard too! How coincidental. I also have a Sassafras.

Originally Posted by sugarsgal

I believe the leaves are toxic in any stage (fresh on or off the tree and dry) But I could be wrong but alot of sites will say different things bout all trees.

Also speaking of tree, so is the Black Walnut (all parts) the roots being the most toxic. My mare at the leaves and I was lucky that she only coliced from it but man her mouth stunk!!

From what I learned yesterday Maple leaves are toxic at any stage.

Wild Cherry is only toxic at wilt stage.

Originally Posted by kellidahorsegirl

Well I was talking more of a resistance to it. As in, e-coli is in all the meat really,,,,but some people can be more easily effected by it. Like here, we eat RARE meat all the time, even store bought and don't have problems (mind you the meat coulda been healthy too ).
Just mainly talking about how some toxins effect some while not others.

I bet there's truth to that.

Originally Posted by kellidahorsegirl

Yep, red maples
When I was really young, I remember we planted a red maple right next to the horse pen...THEN found out it was apparently poisonous.....well its been there for probably ohhhh 15 or 16 years? I don't know if the horses ever ate the leaves, but they've not gotten sick from it.

I wonder if certain horses aren't effected by it (like some people aren't bothered by e-coli or whatever).

I would say your right as long as the have food they are not going to be doing a ballerina dance eating your maple trees.

Anyone know what the Red Maple has that other Maples don't that makes them toxic?

[sugarsgal]

Here's is a great site that explains the symptoms and why it's toxic. It's easier to let you all read it rather then me mess up what is ment to say

Red Maple Leaf Poisoning of Horses