Why no ALfa Alfa

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Ilovefoals

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I've read a few posts recently where people mention they don't feed Alfa Alfa. Just wondering why? I've started my boy on a new high fibre feed which is Alfa Alfa and is meant to be excellent for gut health so I just wondered why some people wont feed it?
 
Alfalfa (aka Alfa A) can be quite heating for some horses. I always fed it to my lad but he went off it quite quickly as it's very sharp and he would leave all the big sharp bits in the bottom of his bucket! Have now swapped to Mollichaff Extra.
 
just because my horse doesn't like it. she refuses to eat it and if i give it to her she will sniff it, pick the bucket up and chuck it at me showing me just how yucky it is :D so i dont give it her :)
 
My horse turns into Spook Maniac mode if it is part of his usual ration. Basic non molassed chop and a no molasses pasture mix keeps him well, bright and generally sensible. Usually . .!
 
My girl gets photosensitivity on it. Took me a while to figure out the cause, but since taking her off it 7 years ago it hasn't reoccured.
 
I don't feed alfalfa as my forage's calcium level is already high but matched to a high phosphorous level.

To add a high calcium feed like alfalfa or carob upsets that balance.

I started a diet based on alfalfa pellets for a long while and my horse's hooves were never right.

After addressing the whole diet and dropping the alfalfa in favour of Fast Fibre, they became right again.

The point is that alfalfa isn't the neutral, harmless forage it's being marketed as.

It's a rich, high protein and high calcium feed that should be treated with caution for some horses.
 
I used to feed alfa alfa but changed to Mollichaff calmer as its a bit nicer for them to eat. Saying that, stockist ran out of molli so i got a bag of alfa and it took him a new bucketfuls before he would eat it as it is quite coarse and hard and he, too, leaves the big bits!
 
Hmmmm, so what do people recommend instead of alfalfa? I want something high fibre but non heating, no mollasses, good for feet. In addition to the Healthy Tummy, I also feed micronised linseed. Recommendations? I'd rather not be feeding tons of seperate feeds if possible. Thanks.
 
Ilovefoals said:
Hmmmm, so what do people recommend instead of alfalfa? I want something high fibre but non heating, no mollasses, good for feet. In addition to the Healthy Tummy, I also feed micronised linseed. Recommendations? I'd rather not be feeding tons of seperate feeds if possible. Thanks.
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What are you feeding for, apart from good feet? Do you want to get weight on the horse, or do you just need a carrier for a supplement, or a token feed when others are fed? Are you feeding Healthy Tummy because you think your horse may have ulcers?
 
I'm trying to feed for good feet and good digestive health really. I doubt he has ulcers but I want to keep his gut healthy. He's a huge 4yr old ID with a lot more growing to do. Is in light work at the mo. He doesn't need any extra weight at the mo.
 
Ilovefoals said:
I'm trying to feed for good feet and good digestive health really. I doubt he has ulcers but I want to keep his gut healthy. He's a huge 4yr old ID with a lot more growing to do. Is in light work at the mo. He doesn't need any extra weight at the mo.
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OK - well the best thing for good digestive health is plenty of hay and haylage - preferably ad lib unless he is likely to get overweight. Whilst alfalfa can cause problems (itchiness/footiness) in some horses, it has found to be helpful for those with ulcers. But as you don't think yours has ulcers then probably not necessary for him.

As an alternative you could give him unmollassed beet, such as Speedibeet, which has only 5% sugar and neglible starch levels. You can adjust the levels according to his workload and condition and it can be fed alongside your linseed.
 
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