Are fruit trees safe in horse pastures?

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

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Real Salt by Redmond

"Is your salt dirty?"

This is a common question from Customers who are interested in the new Real Salt from Redmond.  They are often drawn to the fact that the salt is not your ordinary bright white of table salt, but instead, it is pink!  That's right, you read that correctly-pink.  Real Salt is simply that,  salt.  It is mined deep in southern Utah, right here in the United States. No fillers or additives, which allows it to stay its natural color of pink.  Here recently, we at Horse Lovers Outlet and our sister store, The Distance Depot, have started carrying the Redmond salts for human consumption and boy is it delicious!  Kent and Kristen, the owners of The Distance Depot and Horse Lovers Outlet, have been using these salts for quite some time and have decided to share their love for it with their Customers.  The simplicity of Real Salt is great for your taste buds and for your health.

Real Salt consists of more than 60 natural trace minerals.  That is what you are seeing when you look at that beautiful pink color.  The pink comes from the calcium, potassium and magnesium found in real sea salt.  Your average table salts are stripped of these minerals and filled with anti-caking chemicals (such as aluminum) and sugar to keep it soft and easier to sift.  Table salt is chemically treated and has a bitter taste.  Not to mention, the sugar (dextrose) is what your body converts and causes that high blood pressure that the doctor is always on you about.  This conversion also causes water retension which can lead to hypertension and cardiovascular disease.  In short, sugar is the problem, not salt.

Salt consists of sodium and chloride.  We need both in order to survive.  Our blood, sweat and tears all consist of salt.  When our body absorbs salt, our kidneys job is to maintain the balance of what we use and what we take in.  When we eat a lot of salt, our kidneys will release it in urine, when we do not eat enough, it will store it to maintain the balance and keep our blood from becoming diluted.  This is where we end up with water in our blood vessels and develop other health issues.  In short, Real Salt helps to keep you healthy and energetic.  You can read all the little fascinating details about it here:

http://www.realsalt.com/  

Real Salt is all natural, unrefined and it has a sweeter taste than table salt.  You really have to try this salt for yourself.  It is some yummy stuff!

Get yours here!

www.horseloversoutlet.com

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ENDURE

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Toklat Woolback and Coolback

Ever wonder what the difference between the Toklat Woolback and Coolback is?  Let us answer all your questions!  Check it out!

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