So last night I went to a talk by Alex from Fyrnwy Equine Clinics at Battlefield Farm Shop on Atypical Myopathy.
I was particularly interested to go as we have about 15 Sycamore trees around the boundary of the turn out paddocks. Needless to say they will be coming out this weekend.
I think the main points that I took away from the talk are these:
1. It is a lottery as to whether or not the seed/leaf/sapling is toxic
2. The toxin affects the horses muscles and the pain is extreme
3. The survival rate is low at around 20%
Of these 3 it is the thought of the horse in pain that is often the deciding factor for people. Often the vets decide that the Welfare of the horse is paramount and that levels of pain are too high to try to put the horse through treatment.
One of the tests the vets do is to check the muscle enzyme levels. I think I have remembered these figures correctly...
Level in a normal horse
around 400
Level in a horse with Azotoria/tied up
4000 - 10,000
Level in a horse with atypical Myopathy
250,000 - 1,000,000+
The fact that these trees have been here for the 15 years I have and we have never had a problem is not enough of a reason to leave them in place. So, as mentioned at the start, the trees will be coming out this weekend.
If you do have any on your property please do think seriously about whether or not they need to be there. Whilst you may never have a problem they could blow into your neighbours and kill their horse.
I was particularly interested to go as we have about 15 Sycamore trees around the boundary of the turn out paddocks. Needless to say they will be coming out this weekend.
I think the main points that I took away from the talk are these:
1. It is a lottery as to whether or not the seed/leaf/sapling is toxic
2. The toxin affects the horses muscles and the pain is extreme
3. The survival rate is low at around 20%
Of these 3 it is the thought of the horse in pain that is often the deciding factor for people. Often the vets decide that the Welfare of the horse is paramount and that levels of pain are too high to try to put the horse through treatment.
One of the tests the vets do is to check the muscle enzyme levels. I think I have remembered these figures correctly...
Level in a normal horse
around 400
Level in a horse with Azotoria/tied up
4000 - 10,000
Level in a horse with atypical Myopathy
250,000 - 1,000,000+
The fact that these trees have been here for the 15 years I have and we have never had a problem is not enough of a reason to leave them in place. So, as mentioned at the start, the trees will be coming out this weekend.
If you do have any on your property please do think seriously about whether or not they need to be there. Whilst you may never have a problem they could blow into your neighbours and kill their horse.
So last night I went to a talk by Alex from Fyrnwy Equine Clinics at Battlefield Farm Shop on Atypical Myopathy.
I was particularly interested to go as we have about 15 Sycamore trees around the boundary of the turn out paddocks. Needless to say they will be coming out this weekend.
I think the main points that I took away from the talk are these:
1. It is a lottery as to whether or not the seed/leaf/sapling is toxic
2. The toxin affects the horses muscles and the pain is extreme
3. The survival rate is low at around 20%
Of these 3 it is the thought of the horse in pain that is often the deciding factor for people. Often the vets decide that the Welfare of the horse is paramount and that levels of pain are too high to try to put the horse through treatment.
One of the tests the vets do is to check the muscle enzyme levels. I think I have remembered these figures correctly...
Level in a normal horse
around 400
Level in a horse with Azotoria/tied up
4000 - 10,000
Level in a horse with atypical Myopathy
250,000 - 1,000,000+
The fact that these trees have been here for the 15 years I have and we have never had a problem is not enough of a reason to leave them in place. So, as mentioned at the start, the trees will be coming out this weekend.
If you do have any on your property please do think seriously about whether or not they need to be there. Whilst you may never have a problem they could blow into your neighbours and kill their horse.
I was particularly interested to go as we have about 15 Sycamore trees around the boundary of the turn out paddocks. Needless to say they will be coming out this weekend.
I think the main points that I took away from the talk are these:
1. It is a lottery as to whether or not the seed/leaf/sapling is toxic
2. The toxin affects the horses muscles and the pain is extreme
3. The survival rate is low at around 20%
Of these 3 it is the thought of the horse in pain that is often the deciding factor for people. Often the vets decide that the Welfare of the horse is paramount and that levels of pain are too high to try to put the horse through treatment.
One of the tests the vets do is to check the muscle enzyme levels. I think I have remembered these figures correctly...
Level in a normal horse
around 400
Level in a horse with Azotoria/tied up
4000 - 10,000
Level in a horse with atypical Myopathy
250,000 - 1,000,000+
The fact that these trees have been here for the 15 years I have and we have never had a problem is not enough of a reason to leave them in place. So, as mentioned at the start, the trees will be coming out this weekend.
If you do have any on your property please do think seriously about whether or not they need to be there. Whilst you may never have a problem they could blow into your neighbours and kill their horse.
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