Abundant in protein and calcium, alfalfa is a good source of forage for young, growing horses and lactating mares. For most other horses, it can be too rich and lead to obesity. The high protein concentration can lead to excess nitrogen intake, which is excreted in the urine, causing a pungent ammonia smell in the stable. Western states in particular grow a lot of alfalfa and tend to feed it in the form of hay cubes because baled hay is harder to come by in these areas.
Another drawback to keep in mind if feeding alfalfa hay is blister beetles, which produce a poisonous substance called cantharidin that is toxic when fed to horses. Be sure to break open a few flakes and inspect them for traces of blister beetles before purchasing alfalfa hay.
Back to Horse Health Glossary
Back to Equine Nutrition A to Z
This article originally appeared in the 2010 issue of Horses USA. Click here to purchase a copy.
Holly Caccamise has been with Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines since 2007, and in 2019, she became Editor in Chief of both titles. Caccamise has a master's degree in Animal Science with a specialization in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She has also worked as a racing magazine ad copywriter and top-level show groom.
Is your horse cold in the winter? The following excerpt from Keeping Horses Outdoors by Iveta…
It's often what you can’t see that leads to trouble, and that’s definitely the case…
Equine ulcers are a significant concern for many horse owners. Ulcers can affect all types…
Consuming sand is not ideal for equine digestion because sand irritates and inflames the intestinal…
Horse owners who live in the United States, are 18 years of age and older, and currently own or manage…
Is your horse cold in the winter? The following excerpt from Keeping Horses Outdoors by Iveta Jebáčková-Lažanská helps answer that question…
Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the…
These four common horse training mistakes are easier to catch and correct when you’re aware of them. As a clinician,…
If you appreciate sport horses of many different breeding backgrounds, types and colors, the American Warmblood will unite you with…
LENNOX, S.D. — Every great innovation begins with a moment of clarity, and for ZahnTech's founder, Avery Zahn, it came…