Q: We just bought a property
that has a very small orchard. We would like our horse to have the freedom to
roam everywhere, but we haven’t been able to find out much about any risks the
fruit trees might pose to him. The orchard has one or two trees each of
oranges, lemons, avocados, loquats, pomegranates and figs. Our horse has
pre-metabolic syndrome, mild Cushing’s and laminitis, but he is actually very
healthy. Should he be allowed access to the trees? What do horses do with
pits---spit them out or swallow them?
A: Orchards can be wonderful
for the family but are not always the best for your horse. With fruit trees,
you have to be concerned about the horse eating not only the fruit but also the
pits, leaves and bark. Depending on the tree, each part may present a separate
danger. Keep in mind, too, that the horse may beat you to the harvest and leave
slim pickings for the family.
Horses can acquire a taste for all
of the fruits on your property, none of which themselves pose a problem if
eaten in small quantities, except maybe avocados. However, your biggest concern
with allowing free access to the orchard would be the total amount of fruit
your horse could consume. With this selection of trees, he would have access to
fruit almost year-round. For a horse with a history of laminitis and in
the early stages of Cushing’s0 disease, I would not recommend free access to
the orchard because the fruit has a high sugar content. Here are some
individual characteristics and concerns with the different fruit trees in your
orchard:
Oranges and lemons
Fruit: These citrus fruits are not harmful. Horses can acquire a
taste for them, and some eat the whole fruit, peel included. Oils found in
peels may be irritating to the lips and corners of the mouth. Dried citrus pulp
(the leftover material from juice production) is a common ingredient in
livestock feed and can be used in horse feed in limited quantity.
Seeds: Orange and lemon seeds are not harmful to horses in small
amounts, although no research has been done on consumption of larger
quantities. High-protein seed residue can be used in cattle feed. Orange seeds
are used in human herbal medicine for urinary tract ailments and malaria. Lemon
seeds have been used as a natural anthelmintic in children, and the oil is
prized as an antioxidant used in lotions and cosmetics.
Tree bark: Horses tend not to bother the bark on these trees; it must
be bitter or strong tasting. The oils found in the bark can be irritating to
the skin.
Leaves: Because the leaves are bitter, horses tend to avoid them.
In humans, orange leaves are used for digestive issues and lemon leaves
for colic.
Another note: Free access to lemon trees could be problematic because the
branches have thorns.
Avocados
Fruit: The fruit of the avocado contains a compound called persin
that is dangerous to livestock (although harmless to people). Persin is an oily
fungicidal toxin that, it is believed, the trees create as a defensive mechanism
against insects and fungi. Consuming large amounts of this toxin can cause
noninfectious mastitis, gastritis, colic and possibly damage to the heart.
Reports exist of horses consuming avocado without ill effects, but there is
always a potential for problems.
Pit: The pit of the avocado is large enough to pose a choking
threat if the horse does not chew it adequately. While the avocado pit is high
in protein, it also contains persin and is high in tannins, which if consumed
in large quantities are destructive to the intestinal tract and kidney.
Leaves: The avocado tree leaves contain toxic compounds, including
persin, dopamine and methyl chavicol. The toxicity can vary in severity
depending on the variety of avocado tree.
Tree bark: Essential oils (methyl chavicol and anethole) found in
avocado tree bark have an anise odor that can make it appealing to horses, but
the presence of persin renders it nocuous.
- See more at:
http://equusmagazine.com/article/fruit-trees-pastures-25779#sthash.4KFjgXzf.dpuf
Some
species of trees pose a threat to equine heatlh. - See more at:
http://equusmagazine.com/article/fruit-trees-pastures-25779#sthash.4KFjgXzf.dpuf
Some
species of trees pose a threat to equine heatlh. - See more at:
http://equusmagazine.com/article/fruit-trees-pastures-25779#sthash.4KFjgXzf.dpuf
