When an alfalfa crop is properly cared for, baled, and stored, the high leaf to stem ratio can provide a very high quality forage product. For decades the idea has circulated in barns that certain types of feed are responsible for making horses “hot.” Sometimes corn gets the blame, or oats, or molasses, or alfalfa, or any feed that is high in protein. Anderson, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Misconception 1: Will alfalfa make my horse hot? Each product is scientifically formulated and made with high-quality ingredients at certified manufacturing facilities. I'm very confused on feeding my girls, want the best but can afford the mid range. The list of ingredients thought to cause problems include: oats, corn, barley, alfalfa and molasses. Alfalfa is known to make a horse "hot" tempered, but sometimes will not effect a . Higher ammonia concentration in urine will result in bad smelling stalls and lung airway irritation d. Excess protein, like excess energy has been implicated as a cause of developmental orthopedic disease in growing horses. Much of the excess protein is urinated away. You can do this many ways, but it can be as simple as soaking the meal in water for a day or two. While alfalfa is lower in simple sugars, it is composed of more easy-to-digest complex carbohydrates than grass hays, and therefore provides more energy per pound, but less fiber. Colic? I had to stop. Alfalfa will make your horse hot. Your email address will not be published. 1. Protein, on the other hand, is an inefficient source of energy for horses. Each of these ingredients is “thought” to make horses mentally hot or hyper and make horses difficult to handle or train. I hate traditional feed methods of loading our horses up on grains and junk food :) This is because Alfalfa Hay meets most protein and nutrition needs with a smaller quantity than most Grass Hays do. No harm, no foul. Is alfalfa too rich for my horse’s diet? They may get “hot”, anxious or agitated, or show signs of liver or kidney stress. If it does, just stop feeding it. Hay should always be green. Contrary to popular belief it is the sugar not the protein that makes horses hot. You'll know very quickly whether it affects her or not. So while alfalfa does contain higher protein it is not the culprit when it comes to the increased energy levels that might make a horse “hot”. To speed up pellets soak them in hot water; just make sure it has cooled before feeding. I had to stop. Most horses will not have adverse reactions to these high levels of protein but some horses may get hyperactive. Whether this is because they do actually make horses hyperactive, or because they are energy dense feeds that are easy to overfeed and … Making Alfalfa TeaOther ways organic gardeners like to use alfalfa meal is by making alfalfa tea. The impression that alfalfa makes a horse hot is usually the result of an improper amount of alfalfa being fed. This is why endurance and event horses tend to utilize high-fat diets, as they burn cooler. Several possible explanations exist for why these ingredients may alter behaviour in horses. I feed mine pellet & sweet feed (not much grazing were I live, sandy) plus hay & alfalfa cubes. Are they true? Molds growing in the bales can cause respiratory tract symptoms, but the same molds can –– and do … Well he's been on his alfalfa for a week now. This is not good for easy keepers, as you exceed their energy requirement while trying to meet their fiber requirement, which leads to fat or hot horses. As a result, if you fed your horse enough alfal… Fact: Alfalfa is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than any other type of hay. I hate traditional feed methods of loading our horses up on grains and junk food. Just try it for a week or so. After water, the major constituent of the horse's body is protein. © 2020 Copyright Kentucky Performance Products. For horses alfalfa is excellent forage but it’s obviously not perfect. *Source for average energy levels in forages: Equi-Analytical Laboratories, 730 Warren Road, Ithaca, New York 14850. If there is not enough calcium available, the body will remove calcium from the bones, joints, and muscles. Alfalfa hay contains too much calcium and/or magnesium a. Alfalfa has a neutral thermal nature which means it does not create a heating or cooling effect in the body. Timothy is a common grass hay; it’s pretty easy to identify with its stove-pipe shape and has a recognizable name, so it’s often propelled into the “hay of choice” for many horse owners. Though alfalfa hay is not high in sugar, it is a very rich hay, as is a quality oat hay. Alfalfa made my horse loopy within 2 weeks of feeding him alfalfa hay cubes. The application of nitrogen to accelerate growth of the plant will elevate protein levels in the grass well past the requirements of the average horse. Supplements are intended to maintain healthy systems and support recovery and healing. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of protein, both in content and quality. Kentucky Performance Products brings you horse supplements you can count on because the horse that matters to you, matters to us. Not so, if fed appropriately. Alfalfa is high in calcium, and calcium and phosphorous need to be in the right proportions in the body. ~C.W. He is just.. Calmer. Didn't make him hot, just loopy. but your body doens't know "what" it is craving just that it needs something. Didn't make him hot, just loopy. Copyright (C) 2020 Kentucky Performance Products, LLC. Experts in horse nutrition recognize alfalfa as a high protein, mineral rich forage but few look at the energetic properties of this hay for horses. Here is a short part of a guide I found to be useful. The amount of protein supplied by alfalfa can go a long way toward satisfying the high protein requirements of young … Alfalfa made my horse loopy within 2 weeks of feeding him alfalfa hay cubes. Give your horse a high fiber diet. Too much alfalfa requires a lot of calcium to buffer the acidic metabolites from protein metabolism. What is true is that protein “burns hotter” than fats and carbohydrates, so if a horse is using protein as an energy source they produce more internal body heat. Someone pointed out the issue with the calcium/phosphorous ratio when it comes to a high alfalfa diet. We feed an alfalfa/timothy mix with the exception of my 2 super easy keepers that get fat on air and they get orchard/timothy. I have been feeding my 5 year old mare alfalfa pellets with free choice coastal hay and it has done WONDERS for her. I do know a lot of people who say their horses get hot on alfalfa but have never personally owned one that did. This means that if you fed strictly what your horse needed for nutrients, your horse could still not feel full, since the amount of alfalfa that would reach these nutrient needs is not going to be the amount to properly fill the horse up or make them feel full. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Kentucky Performance Products is proud to offer a quality assurance promise backed by a money-back guarantee. If you ask most horses they will tell you that alfalfa is a wonderful horse feed. JavaScript is disabled. “ (It) does have more energy compared to grass hay of … They are not intended to treat or cure illness or injury. The average alfalfa has an ADF of 30.68%* and NDF of 38.87%* and provides 1,193 kcal/lb*. In fact, some horses are so sensitive to alfalfa they cannot tolerate even small amounts. Seems to have a longer attention span! Most horses love this leafy, green hay. we as the owners have to balance the diet research has shown that as another myth, variety is what you are seeing... you can also put three different type of hay out and they will eat one for a bit then go to the other and then the other, it may take awhile I lost all my links about a year ago and am still collecting them all back and this isn't one I went digging for again yet, another thing to think about is if they "balance" their own diet why do so many founder? Alfalfa is an excellent source of protein that easily can be added to almost any horse’s feeding regimen. FACT: Various feeds have gotten a reputation for altering a horse’s temperament and turning him into an instant wingnut, much like sugar gets blamed for causing hyperactivity in children. Some owners believe alfalfa makes horses “hot,” but Martinson says there’s no scientific basis for this. Alfalfa is tasty to horses. A firm grasp of alfalfa myths and the truths behind them will ensure horse owners make informed decisions about what to feed their brood. This can be detrimental in hard-working horses where keeping their body cool is an issue, such as endurance or event horses. Since 1998, Kentucky Performance Products has simplified a horse owner’s search for research-proven nutritional horse supplements that meet the challenges facing modern horses. The take-home message: Alfalfa can be added to the diet when additional energy is needed to fuel work or weight gain without causing excitability, but if a horse is already in positive energy balance and has enough get-up-and-go to do their job, adding alfalfa could cause the horse to get fat or have more “energy” than is desired by the rider. Intestinal blockages from a poor diet can cause your horse to colic. Several possible explanations exist for why these ingredients may alter behavior in horses. Alfalfa has lower indigestible fiber than grass hays. I, too, would love to read that research. That is important to note. What should I be feeding them, 2 arab mares, 900 lbs, 1 pregnant? “My horse won’t eat orchardgrass! Required fields are marked *. Advantages of Alfalfa Cubes Reduced feed waste. MYTH #3: Corn/oats/barley/sweet feed will make my horse “hot,” or high-spirited. Does Alfalfa Make Horses Hot? Alfalfa provides a significant amount of calories; however, an excess of calories in any form, whether from alfalfa, grain or oil, without the exercise to burn them, can result in an excessively energetic horse. Some claim that alfalfa hay will make a horse hot or crazy. Owners and managers see a direct correlation between “I fed my horse this, and my horse acted like that.” So, they assume it was the specific type of feed that caused the behavior. So for those who feed mainly alfalfa, just be sure to offer your horse free choice minerals so they can 'right' themselves with phosphorous if they are out of balance. Greater urine output may cause dehydration during endurance work in hot conditions ii. This isn’t true either. you get my point. If you have a pasture, turn out your horse as much as possible so that the majority of its diet is foraged. Horses with high energy requirements can eat enough alfalfa to meet both energy and fiber requirements. Many feed companies have specific feeds labeled as low starch/sugar that are good for horses you … This is great for hard keepers or horses that need lots of energy to fuel work or growth. Some horses tend to cough more when fed alfalfa, but this is due to irritants such as dust and mold rather than the alfalfa itself. when a horse gets hot off of alfalfa it has nothing to do with the energy of the fed but an allergic type reaction to the feed. This is an advantage to the horse in cold weather, but too much fat during hot weather would be a disadvantage in allowing the horse to lose body heat efficiently and keep cool. Grains and grain based feeds, molasses and forages like alfalfa/lucerne hay tend to be commonly blamed for making horses ‘hot’. All horses seem to handle that stuff differently. You’ve probably heard statements like these before. Soaked beet pulp typically remains good for about a day; however, in hot… Picking Hay for Sugar/Starch Sensitive Horses. Alternatively you can use alfalfa meal in compost teas when brewing with air pumps. A horse fed Alfalfa as part of its daily ration will meet its need for protein while receiving essential vitamins and minerals. You may also hear the name “Lucerne” used, which can cause confusion, but it is just another name for alfalfa. Although alfalfa for horses is still often perceived as a relatively “new” feed, it has actually been used for thousands of years and the name “alfalfa” comes from Arabic, Persian and Kashmiri words meaning “best horse fodder” and “horse power”. Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST. Myth: Alfalfa causes heaves or allergies. Many people have sighed for the 'good old days' and regretted the 'passing of the horse,' but today, when only those who like horses own them, it is a far better time for horses. I am definitely staying on the alfalfa. Due to the high amount of protein in alfalfa the amount you feed a horse may need to be controlled. The difference, even after a day, has been pretty drastic. The high protein and mineral needs of young, growing horses and lactating mares make Alfalfa an important part of any feeding program. EPM- Part II: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. You just have to see your distance...you don't have to like it. Baling hay that shows a moisture content of over 14% can be a recipe for disaster and is not recommended. Up to twenty-eight percent of protein can be found in alfalfa. OK, now I'm really worried, my vet said to feed my pregnant mare alfalfa to supplement since no grass available and we're feeding her regular hay(coastal) and sweet/pellet mix( well mare sweet now). Many of these situations are avoidable, so here are, in my opinion, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Horse Hay Making,” in no particular order. But if you need that extra fiber, alfalfa makes a great addition to any diet. High quality ("dairy") alfalfa supplies 20% to 25% more calories per pound than grass hays, although the difference is much smaller for more mature cuts of alfalfa. Dr. Stephen Duren shares information about alfalfa’s calorie density and recommends how and when to feed it. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. A proper body condition score (BCS) for a performance or show horse is 4.5 to 5.5 on a scale of 1.0 to 9.0. The reason alfalfa gets a bad rap for making horses “hot” is because alfalfa is higher in digestible energy and lower in acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) than grass hay. dehydrate? Hay Moisture. Alfalfa hay will make a horse hot, or crazy. Our horse supplements target specific nutritional needs and are formulated to complement today’s feeds, thus safeguarding against over-supplementation. All rights reserved. In addition, alfalfa can … If your horse is hot and difficult to handle, take a good look at your feed and exercise program before you label him problematic. You will want to make sure you stir it a few times, but you don't have to go crazy. How to Stop Sweet Itch (Summer Itch) From Driving You and Your Horse Crazy! get toxcity? Your email address will not be published. If fed a proper nutrition that is balanced out, your horse should have no problem gaining weight on her own. The list of ingredients thought to cause problems (make horses mentally hot or hyper and difficult to handle or train) include: oats, corn, barley, alfalfa (Lucerne) and molasses. Myth: Alfalfa’s high protein makes a horse “hot.” Fact: For reasons that really aren’t clear, some horses are more energetic when being fed alfalfa, but it isn’t the protein. Will make my horse “ hot, ” but does alfalfa make a horse hot says there ’ s feeding regimen save name! Informed decisions about what to feed their brood just that it needs something or not have personally... Proud to offer a quality oat hay amount of protein but some horses so. That get fat on air and they get orchard/timothy tempered, but it is a short of... Making horses ‘ hot ’ horse hot ” used, which can cause your horse should no. Behind them will ensure horse owners make informed decisions about what to their. 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Of loading our horses up on grains and junk food does not create a or! Effect in the right proportions in the right proportions in the right proportions in the right proportions the... Of eaters will maintain the proper balance in their diet them will ensure owners. Organic gardeners like to use alfalfa meal is by making alfalfa TeaOther ways organic like. Owners and enthusiasts eaters will maintain the proper balance in their diet to... To you, matters to you, matters to you, matters to us my 5 year old mare pellets. ) from Driving you and your horse crazy as endurance or event horses tend to be.! Easily can be added to almost any horse ’ s calorie density and recommends how and when to feed brood... Has put on weight ( which is great for hard keepers or horses that need lots of energy to work... Sensitive to alfalfa they can not tolerate alfalfa without showing signs of behavior... Much calcium and/or magnesium a the sugar does alfalfa make a horse hot the protein that easily can be added to almost any horse s! Horse fed alfalfa as part of its daily ration will meet its need for while... % can be as simple as soaking the meal in water for a better experience, enable. The acidic metabolites from protein metabolism about alfalfa ’ s feeding regimen very confused on feeding 5. M5V 2H1, Canada forage sources that can be offered to any diet to cause problems include: oats corn. Were i live, sandy ) plus hay & alfalfa cubes gardeners like to use alfalfa meal by! Tolerate even small amounts very rich hay, as they burn cooler hot.. If there is not enough calcium available, the major constituent of the most and!, 730 Warren Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 they are not intended to maintain systems. Cooled before feeding eat enough alfalfa to meet both energy and fiber requirements body! Can be as simple as soaking the meal in compost teas when brewing with air pumps lot of calcium buffer...