REPLY: Gosh, I'm not completely sure about this one. But I think I would strongly suspect anything else in that field, like the leaves he's eating. They might be toxic. Might be worth your while to see what leaves, etc. are falling in that field and see if they are on any of these toxic-to-horses listings that I have on my web site on this page: http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/PoisonousPlants.html (also see the left sidebar of that web page -- it has a couple of data bases you can click on to search a particular plant/tree to see if it is toxic to horses). If you don't know the botanical or common accurate names of what is dropping in the pasture, call in a landscaper for the purpose of correctly identifying each particular plant/tree. That landscaping expert can also correctly identify what specific grasses/weeds you do have growing in your pasture as well. Some grasses/weeds are toxic to horses. For example: Johnson grass or Sorghum Grasses, Pokeweed, Jimsonweed, Yellow Star Thistle, etc.

Horses are more likely to eat toxic weeds/plantings in situations where a pasture or paddock is eaten down. Which is why I highly suspect this might be what's going on there. Also since this problem began after you moved him to his new pasture/new surroundings, that's indeed also why I think that may be what's going on there.

And if you do find a plant/tree/grass or weed is potentially toxic, have them removed immediately. Just have a feeling that might be what's going on there. Read this link on my web site too (and the links within there): http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips120.html

Hope this helps! I'm also going to run your questions here by a great breeding/foaling/horse care expert, Bob Claymier, who is featured in our Whispering Way™ Foundation Training Series: Complete Guide to Horse Breeding, Foaling and Foal Training, Featuring Bob Claymier DVD set.

INTERIM EMAIL REPLY FROM ABOVE QUESTIONER: Thanks so much, Sylvia, for your quick reply! I've thought of poisonous plants, too, have check the field and asked the vet about the oak leaves, etc. He didn't think that was the problem. Also, many of these plants would have made him really sick or killed him by now. But perhaps he is just into something that his body can't digest, so I will check further into this issue. Anyway, after I emailed you, I ran into a horse owner at the local farm coop who highly recommended the equine specialist vet that he uses so I am going to give her a call.  This has gone on for almost 6 months and although it really doesn't seem to be bothering my horse much, it's really bothering me! Thanks again. I'll let you know what we find out.

Bob Claymier's Response:

Good answers. In addition – I think I would immediately remove him from the field and put him in a dry lot/round pen or the like to try and get on top of the issue. The new vet might help. I would be especially careful of acorns – which some horses can eat in abundance with drastic results – or even wild persimmons which I have a lot of here [in Hume, VA] and have to be very careful of. His eaten-down pasture is very likely the cause of him getting into something that he just can’t tolerate. It is not unusual for horses to begin to have problems this time of year (winter) for just that reason, but it's also the time when most of that stuff has dried up and gone. Your suggestion of a really good landscaping or field expert (Southern States usually has some really qualified folks) is what I would ask for help from. I would be really careful of your horse not becoming dehydrated and be especially mindful that he has warmed water during the upcoming winter months. I’ve also heard of some unusual things happening as a result of ulcers – the horse has been moved and is in a pasture by himself now – stress? A buddy of some kind – goat even – might be necessary. Clearly – this is something a good vet should be able to get to the bottom of. I would have immediately jumped on a bad case of worm infestation, but she seems to have ruled this out. Horses have a way of seeming to be all too normal for a long time and then go into a steep dive, so this is not something to let linger and it has gone on for too long already. Back to the first part – get him out of the field so his body can start to get on top of the problem while working through all the other issues. -Cheers, Bob Claymier

Hope some of these additional suggestions from Bob's direction help you there. I do agree with Bob in that I think I'd want to get the horse out of that pasture asap and onto a dry lot so you can set down more "controls" there as you figure out the cause of this problem. Hope this helps!

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