Trying to save the trees

[celadon]

We just bought the next door neighbors place. We needed the land for pasture. They have some pretty maple trees growing. How can i keep the horses from eating the trees? Is there something to wrap the trunks with. I realize i can fence them off but i would rather use some kind of a wrap. I have cut the low branches down. Any suggestions?

[big rockpile]

2"X4" welded Wire should work.

big rockpile

[suitcase_sally]

Chicken wire, also.

My great-great-great-great-great grandmother lives in the great forests of what is now Arizona when she was young. Then the horses came. You can see how much forest land is left.

[Bearfootfarm]

Maple leaves are HIGHLY TOXIC TO HORSES
They WILL KILL THEM

There are a couple of recent threads about Maple leaf toxicity

DO NOT keep those trees if you have horses pastured near them

http://www.google.com/search?complete=1&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Maple+leaves+kill+horses

[haypoint]

I know that Jap. Maple are toxic to horses, but hadn't ever heard that regular maple was. Cheapest way to keep them from stripping the bark is to use the steel mesh that is used in concrete floors. Can get a 150 foot roll for 80 bucks. Cut off a 12 foot length and circle each tree.

[Maura]

Not all maple trees are toxic. What kind are they? Do a search.

The horses are not likely to want the leaves, but put a wide berth around each tree using cattle fencing or other wire type of fence.

[celadon]

These are not the red maple trees. I have checked every tree to make sure they were not a poison one. Thanks everyone.

[Wolf mom]

S. Sally: Please do not blame it all on the horse. Many, many other more major factors involved!

[suitcase_sally]

Originally Posted by Wolf mom

S. Sally: Please do not blame it all on the horse. Many, many other more major factors involved!

Wolf mom, I was only making a joke. I guess it wasn't a good one...