What happened with acorns? She ate them, fell on them, one stuck in her foot, or?

trying to founder. some horses just cant tolerate acorns, they'll founder, pack in their stomach etc.

Sounds a bit more like colic then founder. I have have two horses colic with acorns and only during dry seasons with no grass. Sometimes just because of boredome and the hay is not spread out for them to move around and eat such as pasture. Just my opinion,

Belinda

A friend told me of going on a walk and as she passed the pasture saw one of the horses eating under the oak tree.....later in the day....found the horse dead under the same tree ....from eating acorns. She said they are toxic to horses. Just passing on the story.

My vet says that acorns are poisonous to horses and cause thier kidneys to shut down. A few will probably not hurt them but a belly full is often fatal.

I THINK, as I can't remember where I read it, that it in part depends on the variety of oak, as some acorns have more of whatever in them than others, but in general, especially if the pasture grass is sparse, it is recommended that horses don't have access to acorns. I guess you should use a lawn vacuum of some kind to collect them or a rake and shovel. I have known one horse who colicked on acorns and needed surgery. I have also known a number of horses who have been pastured with oak treees in the pasture or along the fence line who have had no problems. So I would think that it does depend on the animal and on the type of oak. And I would think we all know the trouble-prone creatures who are, like the above mare, always into something, always reacting to whatever their pasture-mates aren't bothered by, and who we love dearly!!!

The tannic acid in acorns that often make horses sick, may cause founder. The acorns can impact a horse because they are too course. My mare Mire died at 30 from eating acorns she didn't have enough teeth to eat carrots I kept the horses off the pasture with the oak trees, thought the acorns were gone but I was wrong, I really miss her. Ralph her 29 year old son doesn't get to graze until Feb or March just incase.

Glad someone brought this back up, i'd forgotten i posted. update on the mare, she did founder, badly, vet wanted to put her down. its been a long hard road, but this morning she was bucking and snorting like a colt. she lost most of her hoof on 2 feet, but it was rather like a toenail, more was growing in as the old shed off.took 4 bottles of antibiotic, as well as bute for months(luckily she tolerates it well). but- i'm told she can never run on grass again, has to be dry lotted, which is a problem, as she refuses to be seperated from the other two.

You can try a grazing muzzle - they (I forget the brand name, but google for horse grazing muzzle and I bet it will come up) make one like a webbing bucket that has a 1 in. hole in the solid plastic bottom, which horses quickly learn to eat grass through. You need to remove it for grain and hay eating, but if she's in the dry-lot at night, then it can be off. They also make one with NO opening at the bottom, so she could be out with her friends, but couldn't eat any grass. That one might be hard to keep on her, though. Putting a fly mask on over the halter helps keep the muzzle on, and I would advise putting reflective tape on the sides of the muzzle and/or halter (break-away, I trust) so you can go out at dusk with a flashlight and hope to find it when she does get it off.

There is also an herbal combination (Hilton Herbs?) that I have read is very helpful for foundered horses - haven't tried it, don't know personally anyone who has - but the recommendations/testimonials seem to be positive. Well, they would be, but they aren't just airy-fairy, glowing, how-wonderful-it-is, but pretty solid tales of improved disasters. Again, try googling for horses, herbs, founder and see what comes up.