Needed: Immediate feedback about pasturing horses. Can you offer some advice?

I would like to pasture our horses in an area that would included woods and brush. It will be an area of about 1 1/2 acres. It will include some oak, balsam, spruce, hemlock, pine, maple, soft maple, and pople. It has an abundance of wild blackberries. If I move my horses into that area from a grassy pasture, are there apt to be problems with any of the above mentioned trees/bushes? Will the horses founder from eating the blackberries? Are the two small oak saplings going to cause my horses problems? The land is sandy and mossy with some grassy pastureland. Please offer your advice. Thank you so much.

Needed: Immediate feedback about pasturing horses. Can you offer some advice?
Red Maple leaves can be very toxic to horses. My pony died from eating leaves off a red maple tree that had a branch break off and fell into the paddock.


The leaves are not dangerous at all times only during certain times of decomposition.


If there is not enough grass for your horses to eat you must supplement them with hay. The more bored they are the more inclined they will be to eat the bark off the trees which will kill the trees over time. Also boredom will cause them to nibble on almost anything so I would suggest getting a list of toxic plants from your Vet.


Sandy soil can also cause sand colic in any horse. Many people with sandy soil get large tubs to put the hay into so the horse is not eating off the ground. One way to see if your horse has to much sand in his belly is to take some manure and place it into a rubber type glove (latex is fine). The glove should have small pin holes poked into the bottom of each finger. Once the manure is added fill the rest of the bag up with regular water. The manure will break down and the water will drain out the bottom holes. Later go and check to see what is remaining in the fingers. If you see sand you will need to add something to there Daily feed to stop sand colic before it starts. I can't think right now of the name of the supplement. Sand Colic is a killer if not caught in time.


Have fun with your horses!
Reply:Also, crzyhorse5, I will run a test for sand in the poo. I would love to know the supplement that you are referring to, but at least now I know to ask about it. Thanks for the information. Report It

Reply:Give your horse some Metimusil each month and it'll help with the sand in the belly. Because it'll flush everything out. Report It

Reply:I own a horse and i know that oak and acorns are not good for them. If you want more info the best thing to do is call your vet
Reply:Call you vet!!!! He/she will be the most knowledgeable person to ask this question.
Reply:http://www.talktothevet.com/VETERINARIAN...
Reply:You need to get a list of toxic plants to horses and find out everything you have growing and what you will need to get rid of.


I would first get rid of the maple as red maple is a problem.


Some varities ofpine like Yew is toxic and Oak is alo a problem.


To many acrons can be a problem.


I do not think they can founder from to many balckberries but they can grass founder.


And sand can cause sand colic so you should elevate your hay feeders.


Check out www.equusmagazine.com they will have a list of toxic plants to horses and info about good pasture and how to get it.


It is a great source of horse health information.
Reply:i have horses myself, and i dont think that that eating the blackberries is a big deal. the horses will be more interested in the grass. however, the thorns may cause a large amount of cuts and scrapes on their legs or noses, so you might want to fense them off. most of the trees are fine, but you should definately make the hemlock out of horses reach. and if any acorns fall to the ground and are eaten in large quanities, they can be harmful, so keep that in mind.