too much of a good thing??

paintedpastures · 08-28-2008, 12:57 PM

Apples & horses seems like a good treat,but how much is too much? We have a paddock that has large crab apple tree that hangs over into it.Each year the horses eat up all the apples as they fall from the tree.I noticed this year the apples are just loaded on the tree.I have my baby & 2 yr old filly in the yard & they have access to this paddock.I keep it open so they can come into the auto water from a small pasture ajoining.Today I noticed my filly helping herself eating off the tree.They usually don't pick off the tree much just vaccum up the ones fallen off.I got to thinking do you think she could overeat apples? or would she? anyone heard of it or experienced?

lbequ4002 · 08-28-2008, 01:27 PM

From what I've always heard they should never have more than one apple core a day. I believe the apple seeds have trace amounts of cyanide in them and could become toxic to a horse if they eat too many. I know once when I was a kid and working with my vet for the summer she figured out why this guys' donkeys were always foundering and it was a small apple tree in their pasture. I would fence off the area so they can't get them and then just cut them up or feed them one at a time.

horseloverinVA · 08-28-2008, 01:34 PM

My trainers big pasture has and orchard in it. It has some 25-30 apple and pear trees. She has always turned her horses 30 at a time out into the pasture. They eat off the trees and the ground. Her horses have never had an issue. I've ridden with her for 15 years and to my knowledge she's only had 3 cases of colic and no founder in that time. None of the colic cases were associated with the apple intake either. Her vet has never mentioned that the apples were bad for the horses, nor told her to keep them away.

My horses are kept on my farm. I have an old apple tree in one pasture. they are june apples and hard as a rock, my horses don't too much care for them and eat very few, so I don't worry about it. I've never had a problem either.

These are just my experiences. I haven't had a problem. From a medical stand point I wouldn't be able to say though. Maybe you could call your vet for a recomendation.

paintedpastures · 08-28-2008, 02:21 PM

well I have never had a problem in previous years with them eating the crab apples.Usually though there is more than one horse cleaning them up so less intake.Right now my filly is the only one eating them & there seems to be more on the tree than some years.I think I may have to cut back some branches so she can't reach as many

**taelesean** · 08-28-2008, 11:10 PM

Usually, as long as the horse has access to the tree and the fruit from the begginning of bearing season, there is no problem - the horse's stomach become used to the apples slowly, as they start to ripen only a few at first, then more and more. The seeds do contain cyanide, but horses learn very quickly not to crunch them as they taste very bad.

Your filly might get a little fat and frisky, though

paintedpastures · 08-29-2008, 12:47 PM

well I trimmed back some branches on the tree so she can't get at so many.She is already a little chubby,so yes don't need her any heavier.I think she's already eaten her quota of what she can reach so now it will be more controlled amounts of the few that fall off the tree & roll into the paddock.

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08-28-2008, 12:57 PM
paintedpastures Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sherwood park,AB Posts: 297	too much of a good thing?? Apples & horses seems like a good treat,but how much is too much? We have a paddock that has large crab apple tree that hangs over into it.Each year the horses eat up all the apples as they fall from the tree.I noticed this year the apples are just loaded on the tree.I have my baby & 2 yr old filly in the yard & they have access to this paddock.I keep it open so they can come into the auto water from a small pasture ajoining.Today I noticed my filly helping herself eating off the tree.They usually don't pick off the tree much just vaccum up the ones fallen off.I got to thinking do you think she could overeat apples? or would she? anyone heard of it or experienced?

08-28-2008, 01:27 PM
lbequ4002 Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Central AL Posts: 761	From what I've always heard they should never have more than one apple core a day. I believe the apple seeds have trace amounts of cyanide in them and could become toxic to a horse if they eat too many. I know once when I was a kid and working with my vet for the summer she figured out why this guys' donkeys were always foundering and it was a small apple tree in their pasture. I would fence off the area so they can't get them and then just cut them up or feed them one at a time.

08-28-2008, 01:34 PM
horseloverinVA Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Central, Virginia Posts: 2,173	My trainers big pasture has and orchard in it. It has some 25-30 apple and pear trees. She has always turned her horses 30 at a time out into the pasture. They eat off the trees and the ground. Her horses have never had an issue. I've ridden with her for 15 years and to my knowledge she's only had 3 cases of colic and no founder in that time. None of the colic cases were associated with the apple intake either. Her vet has never mentioned that the apples were bad for the horses, nor told her to keep them away. My horses are kept on my farm. I have an old apple tree in one pasture. they are june apples and hard as a rock, my horses don't too much care for them and eat very few, so I don't worry about it. I've never had a problem either. These are just my experiences. I haven't had a problem. From a medical stand point I wouldn't be able to say though. Maybe you could call your vet for a recomendation. __________________ A horse can lend its rider the speed and strength he or she lacks, but the rider who is wise remembers it is no more than a loan. Pam Brown

08-28-2008, 02:21 PM
paintedpastures Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sherwood park,AB Posts: 297	well I have never had a problem in previous years with them eating the crab apples.Usually though there is more than one horse cleaning them up so less intake.Right now my filly is the only one eating them & there seems to be more on the tree than some years.I think I may have to cut back some branches so she can't reach as many

08-28-2008, 11:10 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,638	Usually, as long as the horse has access to the tree and the fruit from the begginning of bearing season, there is no problem - the horse's stomach become used to the apples slowly, as they start to ripen only a few at first, then more and more. The seeds do contain cyanide, but horses learn very quickly not to crunch them as they taste very bad. Your filly might get a little fat and frisky, though __________________

08-29-2008, 12:47 PM
paintedpastures Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sherwood park,AB Posts: 297	well I trimmed back some branches on the tree so she can't get at so many.She is already a little chubby,so yes don't need her any heavier.I think she's already eaten her quota of what she can reach so now it will be more controlled amounts of the few that fall off the tree & roll into the paddock.