Most poisoning cases have involved horses eating young, immature leaves in the spring and/or freshly fallen acorns in the autumn, as these contain the highest concentrations of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins. As the grass in your pastures starts to grow, so will the weeds. Other favorites such as lilies, milkweeds, delphiniums, hyacinths, daffodils, or butterfly weed are also toxic to horses. Storms can down branches, putting otherwise unattainable tempting leaves within reach. There are many plants that have been identified as being toxic to horses. Found all over, rhododendron is an ornamental shrub also known as Mountain Laurel. To get a complete list of toxic plants in your area contact your local extension office. Lookup which plants and weeds are poisonous to horses using our easy toxic plants lookup tool. Nut trees that contain toxins harmful for horses include aesculin, found in the yellow (Aesculus octandra) and Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) trees. Sometimes it’s simply not practical to cut all the trees down that may be toxic. It seems that weeds can grow just about anywhere. It includes photos, symptoms to look for, how to control, and more. The adverse effects to the horse range widely with the amount of ingestion and often the environmental conditions the plant was grown under (drought typically increases the poison concentration in some plants). They probably don’t taste good, and if better food is available, the horse won’t touch them. There are various trees and shrubs that horses can safely browse. Horses are bedded on shavings from a toxic tree (especially black walnut). It is estimated that an adult horse needs to consume 1.5 pounds of leaves or more to become poisoned. Even though these trees are safe, a horse can still overeat bark, twigs or leaves, which can lead to colic. Prevent animals from grazing on dead or wilting plants as they may still be toxic. Also, if these plants are in hay fields and get mixed into hay bales, it becomes more difficult for horses to eat around them. We also recommend the following trees as they provide good shelter and shade for horses. The seeds of the boxelder tree (Acer negundo) containing the toxin hypoglycin A have been associated with seasonal pasture myopathy in horses. “The oleander, a southern flowering shrub which is dangerously toxic, yet used regularly in commercial and home landscaping,” Johnson explained. Jimsonweed: Jimsonweed can be recognized by its distinctive tree-like shape, white or purple trumpet-like flowers and prickly seed capsules. With a little management, this unwanted greenery can be kept at bay. When their regular forage is gone, horses tend to find anything else that might be good (or bad, for that matter) to eat which includes trees and plants that can be toxic and harmful to them. Horse chestnut trees typically bloom first in spring, making them a tempting choice to chew on before other plants are flourishing. Fortunately, horses will naturally avoid consuming vast amounts of poisonous plants however, some plant species may appear palatable and a small amount of a toxic plant may cause poisoning. There are many ways you can control weeds on your horse property. cherry (black cherry, chokecherry, and fire cherry) peach and plum trees, Horse Friendly Shrubs & Trees. But if your horse gets hungry or greedy, a stomach full of leaves or tender bark could spell trouble, however. Unfortunately, toxic plants may be found in pastures and along trails and although a well-fed horse is seldom attracted to these plants, the fact that horses, by design are grazing animals, can lead to accidental ingestion of these plants. Bruce Ackley, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org. Trees and plants that are poisonous to horses can be very dangerous and identifying the harmful plants is paramount to keeping horses happy and healthy. ; Oleander: Highly poisonous, as it can cause the horse to suffer … Maple Trees: Maple leaves are highly toxic, particularly when they are in a stressed state prior to dying (e.g. toxic plants and, using the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools on the following pages, develop a plan to prevent future exposure. Horses are fed leaves or branches from the toxic trees or shrubs as a treat by well-intentioned people (often visitors, guests or neighbors) who don’t know that they are toxic. Maple Trees: Maple leaves are highly toxic, particularly when they are in a stressed state prior to dying (e.g. Does this … Generally, the top portion of the plant dies back each winter and regrows the following spring from the same root system. The good news is that most are unpalatable and horses tend to selectively graze around them and never consume them. Common Plants Poisonous to Horses. Let’s take a look at some of the most common trees and plants poisonous to horses. ; Acorns: Only poisonous for horses in large amounts, but they can cause cramps, constipation, abdominal pain and kidney damage. Certain drugs will also be used to stabilize the heart. 7. Fallen and dead leaves remain toxic for about a month and cause severe kidney damage if ingested in large quantities. But, you may want to check that there are no trees that are actually toxic to your horse. Yellow star thistle/Russian knapweed (Centauria spp.) Anything in your horse’s pastures is fair game for tasting. Buttercups: The Buttercup causes oral irritation when chewed, and horses rarely consume the plant because it is unpalatable. Horses and horse owners both love trees near pastures. Horse chestnut (Ohio buckeye), whose scientific name is Aesculus Hippocastanum or glabra, is one of those trees which is toxic to your horse. While the effect on the horse will depend on the amount ingested and the amount of toxin accumulated in the plant, most toxins primarily attack the major systems in the horse, such as the respiratory, cardiac and digestive systems. Ingestion of wilted or dried maples leaves can cause damage to red blood cells and potentially death in horses. Because most of these toxic trees don’t taste very good, horses will leave them alone. Prompt veterinary treatment may be required. But, what this all means, is that any tree that’s growing within a horse pasture should be safe to eat. Field Maple, Hornbeam, Hazel, Hawthorn, Beech, Bay laurel, Ramanas rose, Rosemary. But, during drought, when pasture grass is sparse, your horse might snack on the trees despite the taste. Tree and shrub fodder as a sole diet is not suitable for horses. Black walnut trees are among many cultivated trees that are toxic to horses. This tree and its leaves become extremely toxic when they wilt. The links in the following list will take you to descriptions of the trees for easy identification. Many pastures included forested areas. This is one of the types of plants that horses often find unpalatable, but will eat if necessary. The plant affects the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. There are many weeds and trees that are toxic to horses and that can be found in horse pastures. The leaves are very toxic to horses, but they can recover depending on the amount eaten. Plants that have been treated with an herbicide or hand-pulled may be more enticing to horses and other livestock due to All parts of the jimsonweed plant are poisonous to horses and humans. Jimsonweed has a foul odor and taste, and horses rarely consume it if they have other quality forage. This one should be taken more seriously as it ranks in the 10 Most Poisonous Plants for Horses according to Equus Magazine. If you plan to plant for a windbreak, it’s probably best to plant the trees on the outside of your pasture fence, just beyond your horse’s reach. Horses are primarily exposed through black walnut shavings mixed in with other shavings as bedding. Toxic components The buds, twigs, leaves, and acorns from oak trees can all be potentially harmful to horses if eaten. White and red clover. The effects can happen between a few hours or a few days. Farm and stable owners should take precautions to remove red maple trees and avoid the leaves in hay and pastures. If there is plenty of other food, such as grass or hay available, your horse probably won’t touch any of the trees within its reach. Katherine is an avid horseback rider and trainer who contributed to The Spruce Pets for over 12 years, publishing 400+ articles. Perennials are plants that persist for many growing seasons. The horse chestnut tree is rather poorly named, as no horse should ever eat any part of this tree. Making sure your pastures are full of things your horses want and need, rather than a playground for weeds, takes care and planning. But then again, so will I. Symptoms usually disappear within hours after the horse is removed from the shavings; however, laminitis can present further problems. Besides adding beauty to your farm property and ambience to your pastures (what’s nicer than a few horses grazing happily under a single large tree? 5. leaves on … And, in the autumn leaves on the ground may be attractive to some horses. Since the bark and nut hulls from the black walnut are toxic, these trees should be removed from horse pastures as a precaution. If you do wish to plant trees for shade or windbreak in or near your pastures, you might consider the following: Any variety of maple, other than red--as long as it hasn’t hybridized with red maple. Clinical signs of toxicity include depression, lethargy, increased rate and depth of breathing, increased heart rate, jaundice, dark brown urine, coma and death. Jimsonweed can be recognized by its distinctive tree-like shape, white or purple trumpet-like flowers and prickly seed capsules. And of course, you'll want to plant trees that are safe if they are eaten. Losing a horse to tree poisoning is devastating, partially because we see trees as part of our horse’s natural surroundings. The toxic component is in the fresh leaves and flowers, but they lose toxicity when dried for hay. While ragwort has a bitter taste and is rarely eaten by horses when it is growing, when it … Slobbers or Slaframine Poisoning in Horses, The Best Feeds for Helping a Horse Gain Weight, 14 Winter Care Tips for Horses and Ponies, Bringing Your Horse Home - the First Days, How to Tell If a Horse Is Lame on a Front or Back Leg. Clinical signs of buttercup poisoning include increased salivation, decreased appetite, colic and diarrhea. It is utilized as a shade and ornamental tree and can also be found infrequently in many wooded areas. Fall is a pretty time of the year; however, falling leaves and other parts of some trees can pose a potentially deadly threat to our horses. These provide important shade and shelter from the wind and are a nice addition to a natural setting. Clinical signs of exposure include depression, lethargy, laminitis, swelling of the lower limbs, and increased temperature, pulse, respiration rate, abdominal sounds, digital pulse and hoof temperature. However, in pastures that are overgrazed, horses might start to nibble at some of these toxic plants. ), trees can also offer a windbreak in winter and … Some clinical signs of poisoning include dilation of pupils, diarrhea, loss of appetite and loss of muscular coordination. Toxic trees and shrubs in North America include: Ingesting the leaves or needles, wood or bark of these trees can be fatal. While it is mainly found it Asia, it… They grow from seed, bloom, produce seeds and die in one growing season. Silver birch, Aspen, White willow and Common lime. More research is necessary to determine the feed value and even the toxicity levels for horses. It's a lovely spring-blooming perennial bulb, but it's deadly to horses. The primary toxic agent, oleandrin, causes heart arrhythmias that lead to cardiac arrest and death. Lily of the Valley. Bead Tree (China Ball Tree, Paradise Tree, Persian Lilac, White Cedar, Japanese Bead Tree, Texas Umbrella Tree, Pride-of-India, Chinaberry Tree) | Scientific Names: Melia azedarach | Family: Meliaceae Instead, be vigilant for opportunities or situations that might lead to your horse ingesting any part of a toxic tree. Here you will see what plants are poisonous for horses that are commonly found in fields and meadows: Black wattle or Australian acacia: Causes anorexia, muscle weakness, depression and cramps. Saplings have a good chance of being aggressively pruned by horses--to the point where you’ll be left with nothing but a ragged stick. Red Maple Tree:This is a common medium size tree with green leaves and red stems. Also known as: Barnaby's thistle. The toxic component is in the fresh leaves and flowers, but they lose toxicity when dried for hay. Star-of-Bethlehem is a pretty flower that grows in certain parts of the United States that is toxic to horses. Others nibble out of habit or curiosity, rather than hunger or taste. Generally, horse owners don’t plant trees in pastures for this reason. If you notice your horse is sampling the greenery, be sure it isn't gorging itself. Losing a horse is heartbreaking and it’s especially so if all it would have taken is a little knowledge to prevent the loss. Choose plants for your horse’s safety: There are several species that are poisonous to horses such as yew, laurel and privet. As we all know, horses will eat and eat and eat until there is nothing else to eat. ID: Yellow … Black Walnut: The bark, woods, nuts and roots of the black walnut tree contain a toxic compound. Horses have the plant material baled into their hay, and they eat it that way. Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org. The tree is dangerous and poisonous when growing, the seeds, sprouts, and leaves all have toxins. Toxic Trees. leaves on a fallen tree limb lying in a pasture or during the fall). For additional information on Standlee Premium Western Forage, visit www.standleeforage.com. © 2020 by Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc., an Active Interest Media company. Bedding made of shavings derived from black walnut wood is dangerous and … Chances are if your horse snatches a mouthful of red maple or oak leaves while trail riding, it won’t be harmed. The protection needs to be safe for both horses and the tree. Other factors that can affect toxin level include stage of growth, season and fertilization, part of the plant eaten, as well as boredom, age and general health of the horse. The Buttercup causes oral irritation when chewed, and horses rarely consume the plant because it is unpalatable. The toxin behind the slobbers, slaframine, is … But, if it gets bored or hungry, to satisfy its need to graze, your horse might try chewing on tree bark, branches or leaves. In horses, as little as 30 grams of green leaves can be lethal. Mild to moderate cases of buttercup ingestion results in digestive disturbances such as diarrhea and colic. Oleander (Nerium oleander) – This tree or large shrub contains cardiotoxic compounds that are poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas and birds. Weeds can be classified as annuals or perennials. Safe Trees Poplars Eastern or Canadian Hemlock (not water hemlock which is a plant and is toxic) Willow Staghorn Sumac (shrub) Unfortunately, there are many large shade trees that are harmful to livestock like horses, cattle, sheep, goats and swine. Maple Tree. Demetrio Carrasco / Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images. Buttercups: The buttercup species (Ranunculus species) includes several annual and perennial plants which are commonly found in overgrazed horse pastures. Annual plants are plants with a life cycle that lasts only one year. In the springtime, emerging leaves may taste fresher to your horse than a dry hay bale. Here are a few tips to controlling them in your pastures. If you suspect your horse has eaten parts of a toxic tree, call your veterinarian. Some horses love the taste of willow, staghorn sumac, and a few others. Ragwort. Learn how to create a happy, healthy home for your pet. This article was written by Dr. Tania Cubitt. Many plants are poisonous to equines; the species vary depending on location, climate, and grazing conditions.In many cases, entire genera are poisonous to equines and include many species spread over several continents. If you do plant trees, you’ll need to find a way to safely protect them, until they are large enough that they are no longer a tender snack. Nightshade Family: The nightshade family contains many toxic plants, including horse nettle, black nightshade, bittersweet nightshade, some species of groundcherry, and even tomatoes and potatoes. Buttercups are a type of plant that is toxic to horses when the fresh flowers and leaves are ingested. White and Red Clover. The leaves, stems, pods and fruits can be used as a supplement to their other feed. Since the bark and nut hulls from the black walnut are toxic, these trees should be removed from horse pastures as a precaution. The following plants can produce good hedges in their own right or as creative mixtures for non-toxic hedges and trees safe for horse enclosures. Clinical signs of poisoning in horses include a weak, rapid pulse, dilated pupils, dry mouth, incoordination, diarrhea, convulsions, coma and sometimes death. Many of these trees, bushes or shrubs won’t be attractive to your horse. Natural foragers, horses will graze the day away if you let them. Buttercup causes oral irritation when chewed, and horses rarely consume the plant because it is unpalatable. leaves on a fallen tree limb lying in a pasture or during the fall). 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