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Misconceptions
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Japanese aple is not poisonous to horses. This confusion may arise from the fact that red maple, otherwise known as Acer rubrum, is highly toxic to horses.
Identification
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While the leaves of both the Japanese maple and the red maple turn red in autumn, they may appear very different from one another. There is a large expanse of leaf types in Japanese maple, and little variation in the leaves of the red maple, making a definitive identification of Japanese maple difficult without prior knowledge or a dichotomous key.
Significance
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The toxic compound in red maple is unknown but is believe to be gallic acid. Neither this compoundnor any others that may be harmful have been found in the leaves of the Japanese maple tree.
Considerations
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Japanese maples are native to Asia, but used throughout the world as ornamental plants. These trees are highly varied, and may be hybridized with red maple to cut down on the initial cost of the plant. Hybrids of red maple are not as toxic as their full red maple counterparts but still have the potential to cause distress.
Warning
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Horses who have ingested wilted red maple leaves, not Japanese maple, usually die within 18 to 24 hours after ingestion. The toxin in red maple causes the horse's blood cells to literally split apart. Identifying which maple your horse has eaten can save time in seeking emergency end-of-life care.
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Are Japanese Maple Trees Poisonous to Horses?
Horses, some of which will eat the most unlikely of plants, can be damaged by eating certain trees, making it important to know which are harmful. The toxicity of the decorative Japanese Maple, also known as Acer palmatum, is often questioned.