Sycamores and Horses

[Stubby]

Went through this a few weeks ago when I put up the thread " Horses and Sycamore Seed " .

[Andy Collins]

Clients neighbour had a 4year old thoroughbred die of this a few weeks ago. They've kept horses for 30years without a problem prior to this. The PM showed a vast number of keys in the digestive system of the horse. Now the crux of the matter, is this good reason to fell in a conservation area? I have (at my clients) 7 mature sycamores of up to 4feet dbh, they are looking to fell them due to proven risk (neighbours horse) to their own horses, of EAM. The client is a trained equine vet as well, so knows her facts re: EAM. I have, for now, clearly marked all sycamores so the horses can be kept clear of the heaviest fall area, while we establish a plan of action. They've raked mown and cleared as many seeds as possible beneath the trees to minimise the risk for now. But this is going to be an on going issue.

[Eddy_t]

Clients neighbour had a 4year old thoroughbred die of this a few weeks ago. They've kept horses for 30years without a problem prior to this. The PM showed a vast number of keys in the digestive system of the horse. Now the crux of the matter, is this good reason to fell in a conservation area? I have (at my clients) 7 mature sycamores of up to 4feet dbh, they are looking to fell them due to proven risk (neighbours horse) to their own horses, of EAM. The client is a trained equine vet as well, so knows her facts re: EAM. I have, for now, clearly marked all sycamores so the horses can be kept clear of the heaviest fall area, while we establish a plan of action. They've raked mown and cleared as many seeds as possible beneath the trees to minimise the risk for now. But this is going to be an on going issue.

 

 

I've had a problem similar this year with my horses, on the 20-odd acres of land the horses are on there are 4 (yes, four!) sycamores. We've had 2 horses poisoned by the keys. The disease itself is degenerative, and curable* if controlled quick enough. This can be done with Epsom salts and garlic powder in the feed of the horses. It's a typical knee-jerk reaction by horse-owners to have the trees in question felled, as 90% of trees are poisonous! Oak, willow and conifers are all toxic, just to name a few.

 

*It will not cure the muscular dystrophy caused, but as your client will know, that's where their specialist training comes into practice.

 

But if they do choose to have the trees removed, you may as well advise them to have all oak, willow, poplar, prunus, any other acer, laburnum, yew, conifer, ash, beech, and any other shrub/tree removed, along with all rye-grass, buttercups, clover and any other weeds. In fact, they may as well have the horse shot now to save time, as EVERYTHING a horse eats is poisonous to it!

 

The problem with the sycamore is that it's been a good seed this year, the keys themselves are sweet (all maples produce high levels of sugar) so the horses enjoyed eating them, and the crop being much larger this year meant the horses could consume fatal levels