The red maple is a common tree of the America's and perhaps elsewhere. Its beautiful deep reed to purple color in the fall helps differentiate it from it's equally common brother the sugar maple. The foliage from this beautiful tree can become quite toxic when wilted and horses will eat them under certain conditions.

Horses initially go off feed, become icteric (yellow tint to the gums and sclera), decreased urine production, mild dehydration, and depression. As the disease progresses you have an elevated heart rate, elevated respiratory rate, and yellowish-brown mucous membranes. In severe cases the urine appears coffee brown and is considered a poor prognostic indicator