conifers

[clairehowlett]

Hi can anyone help I have a field which I am wanting to put two ponies on to graze.
The grazing is lovely not to much not to little but there is a few conifers spotted around the edge of the field.
Can anyone tell me if conifers are poisonous to horses?

[galadriel]

It looks like it depends on the particular conifer. Yew is extremely toxic. Pine should be all right, although if they rub on the trees they'll get sap ALL over themselves (and getting it off seems impossible, especially shaggy winter fur). Hemlock would be poisonous. It looks like cedar, cypress, and fir aren't poisonous, but I can't find definitive info one way or the other.

We (US) have county agricultural extension agents that we can call and ask to help us identify plants and find out whether or not they're poisonous. Do you have anything like that?

[NoviceNic]

Use electric fencing to keep the ponies away from the conifers if you are worried. I was told that the pony won't eat them unless really hungry. Watch out in Autumn time when the grass is not very good and you are umming and rrrr ing whether to start hard feed.