Is alfalfa bad for older horses?

Is alfalfa bad for older horses?

Older horses often have difficulty eating hay because their teeth are either worn down or missing. ... Coleman has found that mixed grass-legume hay, such as orchard-alfalfa or timothy-alfalfa, is often a good choice.

Are alfalfa pellets bad for horses?

Alfalfa pellets do not affect majority of horses negatively. However, you should check whether your horse is allergic to them. Generally, alfalfa has more protein than grass hays. Therefore, it can be used to add protein to a diet.

Can alfalfa cause a horse to founder?

Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed. If switching from grass hay to alfalfa, generally less alfalfa is required to provide the same nutrients present in the grass hay.

Should alfalfa pellets be soaked?

The pellets can be fed dry, but many horses prefer them to be soaked in water and fed as a mash. For young horses, old horses, and those with dental issues, soaking the pellets first may be a necessity. Horses can be sensitive to diet changes, so always make any diet change slowly.

Can you feed straight alfalfa to horses?

Horses can successfully consume alfalfa, a good source of fibre and. protein. They can graze it in pastures or eat it as hay. ... Myth: Do not feed straight alfalfa to young, growing horses.

Do horses miss their old owners?

Many experts agree that horses do, in fact, remember their owners. Studies performed over the years suggest that horses do remember their owners similar to the way they would remember another horse. Past experiences, memories, and auditory cues provide the horse with information as to who an individual is.

Is it OK to feed alfalfa pellets to horses?

Good alfalfa hay for horses should be leafy, with minimum stems and bright green in color. Poor quality alfalfa may be used for pellets and any pelleting will destroy much of the whole food value of alfalfa while maintaining the high protein levels. Concentrated high levels of protein can lead to kidney stress.

Which is better for a horse grass or alfalfa?

Soaked alfalfa cubes are easier to eat, and they contain more nutrients than grass hay. Before feeding an older horse, soak the cubes for 10 to 30 minutes, or until they’re soft and soupy. Are alfalfa cubes or pellets better?

Which is better for a horse, pellets or cubes?

Soak alfalfa pellets when feeding to older horses. Alfalfa pellets and cubes fed wet are good alternatives for horses with dental problems. Pellets are small and easy for older horses to consume once they have been softened.

How much is a bag of alfalfa for a horse?

Most horse owners know the benefits of feeding alfalfa hay, but with limited room, pellets and cubes are great options. But, there is a lot to choosing the right application for your horse, and storage is just one consideration. Prices vary from 15-40 dollars per 40 lb bag.