Thanks for that. 
Unfortunately, they are definitely red maples. They are a beautiful green right now.
Damn. Was hoping that the people who put them all in were maybe smarter than that and you were confused because a LOT of people get confused about which ones are actually acer rubrum.
@sascha and @Pico_Banana I went back to check Red Maple (Acer Rubrum is the Latin name) on toxicity. Tufts and MSU both say the fresh leaves are not toxic, but wilted and dried leaves are. I changed my previous post because the leaves kill red blood cells, not cause kidney failure. I was thinking kidneys because horse may show reddish to brown urine after eating the leaves.
Both sites strongly recommend NO MAPLE LEAF of any kind, Norway, Silver, Sugar, etc, for consumption by horses!
When looking at trees to buy, always read the Latin name on the label or ask the worker at the nursery what the Latin name is. There are HUNDREDS of variety, local seller’s names for the red maple, but the Latin name is ALWAYS Acer rubrum. Do not accept the variety name, Sunrise, Super Red, Blaze, etc, as the proper identification of this tree! Leaf identification is good, but even the same tree can show “quirks” in shapes of leaves on it.
Our horses eat Vine Maple and Big Leaf Maple at all stages of growth and wilt and leaf color, with no ill effects.
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I grew up in Kentucky I do not believe there was ever a pasture that did nit have maples and walnut trees. The only horses I knew that died from those trees were when they were standing under them during storms. Lightening killed many.
Interesting how we have the variety of stuff “to look out for,” in our different locations! Must be something in maples that “can” affect certain horses, so ALL owners need to be wary of maples around the farm. Around me, the Red Maple (acer rubrum) is THE most popular seller because of cheaper prices and expected spectacular fall color. Everyone loves them, they are heavily planted in new housing areas.
As mentioned, I cut all the maple sprouts I find along the fence, small wooded area beside the neighbor who has planted several to replace his rotten Oaks that he removed. It helps finding them with their bright leaves among my plainer color Oaks and Hickory trees.
I never knew there was a problem with red maples until that horse died! Talking to the MSU Vet on toxic trees, she said just avoiding maples is safest for my horses. There are quite a few very attractive trees I wanted to plant here, but being toxic I could not have them.
I understand it is only red maples that are toxic. In a region where they are predominant it makes sense to eliminate all maples because most people suck at species ID. Where we live we don’t have red maples, certainly not growing wild, and the other species seem fine.
