Poll: Feeding legumes to horses

[PurBee]

Would like to get an idea on what us horsey folk think about feeding legumes in hay to horses. Legume family is large but im more focused on clover and alfalfa in hay for this poll.
It would be nice to get 100 responses to get an overall view - your answers are anonymous - you can select 2 responses - many thanks!

 

[milliepops]

interested to know why you're asking?

For me, i don't feed alfalfa hay as mine are mainly good doers and one gets lumpy from alfalfa, i do have access to a local (slightly sporadic) supplier of alfalfa hay but do not buy any in. Don't generally have clover in hay, the hay fields we cut don't have a lot of it at all and I had understood previously that the leafyness wasn't great from a quality POV in meadow hay anyway.

 

[PurBee]

Hiya mp,

I’m asking because there seems to be varying information out there from feed suppliers V‘s equine nutrition agencies and vets. So im curious what nutritional information on clover and alfalfa has filtered down to us horse owners.

 

[ihatework]

I’m pro legumes in a monitored quantity (horse dependant), but I wouldn’t supply them as part of the hay ration. I answered the poll for legumes but then realised it doesn’t reflect the actual question in the post and now can’t edit ?

 

[PurBee]

I’m pro legumes in a monitored quantity (horse dependant), but I wouldn’t supply them as part of the hay ration. I answered the poll for legumes but then realised it doesn’t reflect the actual question in the post and now can’t edit ?

what option in the poll do you think is missing?

 

[PurBee]

Do you want me to add ‘i feed measured legumes in hard feed but not in hay’?

 

[ihatework]

what option in the poll do you think is missing?

The poll question says ‘would you feed legumes to your horses’. It mentions nothing specifically about Alfa/clover or hay only. I happily feed Alfa, peas, soy depending on the horse

 

[PurBee]

I’m pro legumes in a monitored quantity (horse dependant), but I wouldn’t supply them as part of the hay ration. I answered the poll for legumes but then realised it doesn’t reflect the actual question in the post and now can’t edit ?

i made the poll with the option of being able to change your vote.

 

[PurBee]

The poll question says ‘would you feed legumes to your horses’. It mentions nothing specifically about Alfa/clover or hay only. I happily feed Alfa, peas, soy depending on the horse

I see -i didnt want a huge list of poll specifics as it could be confusing or off-putting to answer so many options- hence why asking about just clover and alfalfa

 

[PurBee]

Ive edited the poll by request to include other options - you can pick 3 options now.

 

[ycbm]

- your answers are anonymous - many thanks!

Poll says it's public, not private, and answers can be seen.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm just considering feeding pea protein to two of my neds, and peas are legumes, but from the title what you really want to know about is clover or alfalfa?

I wont bother with the poll but alfalfa and soy are a no, clover is an 'as little as possible' and pea protein is a possible but I haven't tried it yet.

The poll is currently set to public, which is unusual.

 

[PurBee]

Poll says it's public, not private, and answers can be seen.

I'm just considering feeding pea protein to two of my neds, and peas are legumes, but from the title what you really want to know about is clover or alfalfa?

I wont bother with the poll but alfalfa and soy are a no, clover is an 'as little as possible' and pea protein is a possible but I haven't tried it yet.

The poll is currently set to public, which is unusual.

the poll results can be seen by all - not who cast the vote - or have i got that wrong?
I cant see who cast each vote, when i click view results, can you?

 

[PurBee]

Poll says it's public, not private, and answers can be seen.

i think if i had set the poll to private ycbm, i’d be the only one able to view the results.

Whether its a ‘public or private‘ poll relates to who see the results and with either type of poll the name of the voter is anonymous - at least thats how i understand it, as i cant even see who specifically made the vote as the ‘poll poster’.

 

[milliepops]

I can see who has selected what.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I actively avoid & voted so. I can also see who voted for what when you click on the number of votes though.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have had too many horses react to alfalfa to risk feeding it these days. I have always been wary of allowing access to too much clover in the grazing and wouldn't dream of feeding soya. I have always thought of peas as being heating, in any quantity, so would avoid those too, although when we have grown peas, we sometimes give the stalks and leaves to the horses. I am very keen to be able to trace the origins of anything we feed to our stock.

 

[PurBee]

I can see who has selected what.

I actively avoid & voted so - it's not a state secret. I can also see who voted for what when you click on the number of votes though.

ohhh shuks! i didnt click on votes so couldnt see. its now private voting but results viewed by all....gawd!

 

[Equi]

I try to avoid alfalfa as i think it may have given my horse watery stool (he has not had any since eliminating this feed) I don't really know a lot about clover to be honest.

 

[Elno]

If the horse tolerates it alfalfa is great for putting weight on. It usually has a medium amount of easily digested protein, which is kind to the horses gut. Unfortunately it also has a high calcium content which doesn't always suit the other forages you feed unless you pair it with oats or barley, and some horses seem intolerant/allergic to it. Furthermore, it also contains phytoestrogens and some horses with pink noses are at risk of developing a photosensitivity from it.

Mine has no problem with pure alfalfa (has been given small amounts of unmollased alfalfa pellets without going mental), but I still try to avoid it because of the calcium levels and possible phytoestrogens it might contain. If my horse needed more than hay though, I would rather feed alfalfa and some sort of grain than a commercial mix or pellet.

Oh, I wouldn't feed clover or other sorts of legumes either.

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes I would certainly feed for example alfalfa forage to horse in very hard work if I ever have one that needed it it would be a good choice to keep grain intake low .
I doubt I would choose clover I spend a lot of time working to get out of my fields .
I avoid soya products more because of the risk its being grown where forests are being cleared in South America .
I grew up with horses in hard work getting peas I would not have an issue with feeding them but it extremely unlikely my crew would ever need them .
I like alfalfa for horses in hard work and would certainly try alfalfa haylege in that situation .

 

[Lois Lame]

Given a choice, I would prefer an excellent meadow hay over lucerne (alfalfa) hay.

We have had droughts where so much of the country was in drought that the only hay available was hay I wasn't particularly happy with: lucerne or clover or something called Teff. Teff was new, and looked rather awful. I did't buy a single stalk of it.

My favourite roughage is grass, and, for preference, I'd want native grasses and herbs. Let the horses make their selection. In practise, not many places have native grasses.

If I needed or wanted to supplement a grass diet, I'd add a little lucerne hay (or lucerne chaff).

If horse needed more energy (unlikely) I'd add a safe grain (not processed feed). So, some whole oats which I might soak beforehand. I do like a good quality bran.

I don't have experience in the feeding of any legume other than lucerne or clover. We do have a little clover in the paddock but I'm not worried about it. Beans and the like I have never fed.

 

[Lois Lame]

Here in Oz we can buy:
lucerne chaff
oaten chaff
or a mix of the two,
but none of this Honey Chop or Zero Chop. I don't know what those two are.

It seems odd to me that chaff is called some fancy name. What have they put in it? If I buy chaff, I want chaff and nothing else added to it. Nothing.

 

[PurBee]

Given a choice, I would prefer an excellent meadow hay over lucerne (alfalfa) hay.

We have had droughts where so much of the country was in drought that the only hay available was hay I wasn't particularly happy with: lucerne or clover or something called Teff. Teff was new, and looked rather awful. I did't buy a single stalk of it.

My favourite roughage is grass, and, for preference, I'd want native grasses and herbs. Let the horses make their selection. In practise, not many places have native grasses.

If I needed or wanted to supplement a grass diet, I'd add a little lucerne hay (or lucerne chaff).

If horse needed more energy (unlikely) I'd add a safe grain (not processed feed). So, some whole oats which I might soak beforehand. I do like a good quality bran.

I don't have experience in the feeding of any legume other than lucerne or clover. We do have a little clover in the paddock but I'm not worried about it. Beans and the like I have never fed.

Isn’t Teff stalk from the farmed grain teff? It’s a bit like quinoa and amaranth. Teff grows in drier regions as a good protein grain for the human food chain. So i imagine like other grain stalks, teff wouldnt have loads of energy and would be more fibre than high protein/sugar....similar to feeding straw. Unless teff is cut early before seed head stage, in which case it’ll be higher energy levels.

It’s amazing how many large feed suppliers dont offer native grasses. Most forage offered from sown fields with mainly fescue, ryegrass. Local farmers supply more native grasses, if you hunt around, the downside is the native leys oftentimes comes with undesired native weeds too.
One local farmer made gorgeous hay, but it was loaded with ‘cat’s ear’ weed - tall dandelion-looking plant, causes stringhalt in horses, he had no idea how toxic is was for horses. Neither do many horse owners as it was a local horse owner who recommended him to me for hay!

There’s a native grass called sweet vernal here in Ireland. It makes the hay smell gorgeous! Almost fragrant! I have a small % of it in my fields, it’s not common to find it in hay by feed producers, as the seed costs over £70 per kilo compared to ryegrass costing £3 per kilo - so its rarely sown.

Like you, i like the horses to have a mix of grasses and wild plants. They do best on a native mix. If in hard work and more energy required i’d try 10% lucerne/alfalfa, out of all the legumes. But if that wasnt tolerated by them, i’d use dried grass pellets for extra energy.

 

[Zuzan]

I feed Halley's GreenGold Alfa Blox .. during winter 1 am and 1 pm (each is 1kg) I also use Dengie Alfa nuts (about 500g) as a base for feed .. soaked - horse is about 670kg CB x TB good doer who lives out. I adlib hay in winter and she is on unimproved permanent pasture.

Edited to add .. the high Ca from alfa is quite useful to balance the high P in the micronised linseed I also feed

 

[Lois Lame]

Isn’t Teff stalk from the farmed grain teff?

I haven't heard of a grain called teff, but the teff I saw was definitely stalks. Oddly-coloured stalks. To me they almost looked dyed.

It’s a bit like quinoa and amaranth. Teff grows in drier regions as a good protein grain for the human food chain.

That sounds right. I was told by the guy at the feed store that it was an African grass.

So i imagine like other grain stalks, teff wouldnt have loads of energy and would be more fibre than high protein/sugar....similar to feeding straw. Unless teff is cut early before seed head stage, in which case it’ll be higher energy levels.

Agreed, but the colour put me off. Also, it didn't smell good like other hays. Wheaten straw smells a little ordinary compared to oaten hay, lucerne hay, 'meadow' hay, but it isn't off-putting. I cannot remember what the teff hay smelt like and maybe I imagined it didn't meet my nostrils needs, but... when I'm put off, I'm put off.

It’s amazing how many large feed suppliers dont offer native grasses. Most forage offered from sown fields with mainly fescue, ryegrass. Local farmers supply more native grasses, if you hunt around, the downside is the native leys oftentimes comes with undesired native weeds too.

Agreed.

One local farmer made gorgeous hay, but it was loaded with ‘cat’s ear’ weed - tall dandelion-looking plant, causes stringhalt in horses, he had no idea how toxic is was for horses. Neither do many horse owners as it was a local horse owner who recommended him to me for hay!

The trouble with catsear is that it gives the true dandelion a bad name. We have both in abundance here. They are easy to tell apart if one is told, but I think a lot of people don't realise there is a difference. Sounds like you are in Australia. Yes, sometimes stringhalt caused by (or apparently caused by) false dandelion/catsear is known as Australian stringhalt.

There’s a native grass called sweet vernal here in Ireland.

Ah!

It makes the hay smell gorgeous! Almost fragrant! I have a small % of it in my fields, it’s not common to find it in hay by feed producers, as the seed costs over £70 per kilo compared to ryegrass costing £3 per kilo - so its rarely sown.[/QUOTE

That's fascinating. I've never heard of sweet vernal. Sounds lovely.

Like you, i like the horses to have a mix of grasses and wild plants. They do best on a native mix. If in hard work and more energy required i’d try 10% lucerne/alfalfa, out of all the legumes. But if that wasnt tolerated by them, i’d use dried grass pellets for extra energy.

Sounds good.
BTW, sorry I took so long to respond to your post. I started writing and was gasbagging away, driving myself nuts with my twaddle, so I put it off for several days and have only just come back.

 

[Rowreach]

Here in Oz we can buy:
lucerne chaff
oaten chaff
or a mix of the two,
but none of this Honey Chop or Zero Chop. I don't know what those two are.

It seems odd to me that chaff is called some fancy name. What have they put in it? If I buy chaff, I want chaff and nothing else added to it. Nothing.

It was one of those types of "chaff" (not the two you mentioned), fed to my horse by the YO without my consent and specifically against my instructions, that's caused my horse so many issues

It's worth noting that the ingredients listed on the bags are a fraction of the cr*p that's actually in them, and I'm sure many owners have no idea what they are actually feeding.

Same with compound feeds (and anyone wanting to avoid legumes should definitely avoid these).