Trees Poisonous to Horses

by Dr. Ann Swinker, Extension Horse Specialist 

The following commonly available trees may be potentially hazardous to animals if they are planted in or around barns and pastures. If you want to plant these tree on you property, it is important to plant the trees away from where animals can reach them. Remember to always provide a balanced nutritious diet to horses at all times so that animals will no eat unusual plant material, due to being hungry. Remember that the careless disposal of tree and plant pruning waste into a pasture causes animal poisoning.

Trees

Black walnut - Juglans nigra

Red Maple and its hybrids - Acer rubrum

Oak - Quercus spp.

Black locust - Robinia pseudoacacia

Golden chain tree - Laburnum anagyroides

Horse chestnut, buckeye - Aesculus spp

Chokecherry - Prunus spp.

Kentucky coffee tree - Gymnocladus dioica

Russian Olive - Elaeagnus angustifolia

Persimmon - Diospyros virginiana

Chinese tallow tree - Sapium sebiferum

(mildly toxic)

Wild black Cherry - Prunus