Horses Chewing Cedar Bark: Can Trees Survive?

Horses stripped bark off cedar trees. Owner asks if trees can be saved.

Girdling = Death

If bark is removed entirely around the trunk (girdled), the cambium (living transport layer) is severed—tree will die. Partial stripping may heal if cambium remains intact.

Immediate Actions

• Fence trees with board or wire mesh (rabbit cage wire) to stop further chewing.
• No wound dressings help—cambium either lives or dies.
• If tree leafs out, it's alive for now.

Why Horses Chew

Boredom, fiber craving, or habit—even on full diets. Fencing is the only reliable fix.