Blood solids are largely protein, and because antibod- ies and other immune substances are proteins, this nutrient also plays a major function in ghting infection. Alfalfa has lower indigestible fiber than grass hays. 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. The amount of protein supplied by alfalfa can go a long way toward satisfying the high protein requirements of young, growing horses. Quality alfalfa hay has high protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. It is recommended that horses with metabolic syndrome consume hay with NSC levels of around 10% to 12%. A well-kept pasture also is the most natural and healthy environment for exercise and rest. Alfalfa Hay. Alfalfa is the most common legume hay for horses. 1. Rapid diet changes are associated with colic, so it’s possible that if you change from grass hay to alfalfa hay all of a sudden, or you introduce alfalfa hay abruptly, you could increase the risk of colic. In the case of mature horses, alfalfa forage will … Each horse in the study had been assigned a gastric ulcer score before the study began as a result of gastric endoscopy. The impression that alfalfa makes a horse hot is usually the result of an improper amount of alfalfa being fed. Good pasture alone is sufficient to meet all of the nutritional requirements for many classes of horses. Alfalfa is best for horses with high nutrient needs Benefits of Alfalfa Hay. However, wild horses are never expected to perform on the track or in the arena, and their low reproductive rate would drive most professional breeders out of the business. The exception to the relationship of age and protein requirements is for late pregnancy and lactation, when the mare has increased protein requirements for proper nourishment of the foal. If you’re not sure how much to feed your pregnant or highly active horse, ask its vet for advice. Alfalfa contains valuable levels of the trace mineral cobalt that enables the horse to synthesize vitamin B12 which is involved in iron absorption and utilization. What Hay Growers Should Know 4. This trace mineral fortification typically comes in the form of pelleted grain concentrates or low intake mineral supplements. Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20% or higher. A horse fed Alfalfa as part of its daily ration will meet its need for protein while receiving essential vitamins and minerals. Consequently, protein is essential for growth, and for the repair and formation of new tissue. Horses that received free-choice grass hay for 24 hours had average gastric pH readings that were significantly higher than fasted horses. All of these factors—performance, growth rate, reproduction and age—complicate the nutrient requirements of the horse in ways unforeseen 20 years ago. It is recommended that young, growing horses receive supplemental phosphorus in the form of a ration balancer supplement or developing horse commercial concentrate. Alfalfa is also a popular horse hay since it is widely available. RFV is 135 for the first 38 bales, and 129 for the last 35. Standlee® has several excellent choices of high quality alfalfa products including compressed bales, chopped alfalfa and pelleted and cubed products. Horses that are fed alfalfa cubes tend to eat all the cubes provided, whereas horses fed long-stem alfalfa hay will sort through the hay and not eat all the hay offered. Wrapped in plastic over top of net wrap, stored outside, and 25% moisture. Moldy grass hay or moldy alfalfa hay both cause airway irritation when mold dust is inhaled.” Take-Home Message The horse industry is full of misconceptions about alfalfa. Good quality alfalfa hay is one of the most palatable and digestible forage sources that can be offered to any class of horse. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of protein, both in content and quality. Also there is some concern about blister beetles that can contaminate alfalfa because they contain a substance that is toxic to horses if ingested. In addition, alfalfa can overstimulate the pituitary gland. As a rule, protein requirements decrease with age. Made primarily with the best pre-bloom alfalfa and a small amount of Timothy hay and orchard grass, Triple Crown Premium Alfalfa Forage Blend is intended to replace all or part of the hay portion of any horse’s diet. At the same time, p… Alfalfa is rich in beta carotene which is converted to vitamin A in the body. That’s an old wives’ tale, probably inspired by the fact that horses with high protein intake tend to drink more water, and therefore urinate more. But the excess protein does not harm the kidneys. Myth: Alfalfa can’t be fed to horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP High pH readings (less acidic) in hay-fed horses should be expected since forage consumption stimulates saliva production which naturally buffers acid. Horses tend to throw their hay around as they rummage for the good bits, so you’ll need a good 8’ by 8’ of ground cover for your horses feeding area. In addition, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in some alfalfa hays approaches 15 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Alfalfa hay is high in energy. Many horse owners select hay for their horses based on what they think looks good or on what they have been told is good. If a horse is in training or working hard, its calorie needs increase. Alfalfa hay can be an excellent source of calories for horses who need help in gaining weight, or whose exercise demands require additional energy sources. I used to feed my arab alfalfa plus grass hay in the winter to keep weight on him. Alfalfa and/or alfalfa grass hay is palatable and is often a hay of preference for horses. In general, feed a horse between 1.5 and 3% of its body weight. Fact: Alfalfa is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than any other type of hay. Alfalfa Hay Buffers Stomach Acids and Helps Ulcer-Prone Horses. Alfalfa is tasty to horses. It’s especially helpful for a hard keeper because of its high palatability—horses love to eat it. Growing the finest Alfalfa Hay for over 43 years Yamshon Ranch premium alfalfa horse hay is cut, cured and baled at the peak of quality for optimum horse consumption. 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. Horses and ponies in their natural environment are grazing animals - they spend many hours a day eating grass. The mineral content of your alfalfa compared to the mineral content of your neighbor’s, or even your grandfather’s (20 years ago), is certainly different. This hay is high in fiber, protein and calcium. Alfalfa is high in calcium and protein—both of which have a buffering effect on the acid in the stomach. Alfalfa hay can be an excellent source of calories for horses who need help in gaining weight, or whose exercise demands require additional energy sources. In the case of mature horses, free-choice alfalfa hay will certainly provide enough protein to satisfy requirements. A high quality cereal grain hay, like oat hay, is preferable to a poor quality alfalfa. 1. Legumes are higher in protein, energy, calcium, and vitamin A than grass hay. The amount of alfalfa cubes you feed a horse is dependant on the size and workload of the animal. Alfalfa fed with a careful eye to the proportions of the whole diet, and the energy needs of the horse, will not create excess energy. Alfalfa has a neutral thermal nature which means it does not create a heating or cooling effect in the body. Medicago Stavia, better known as alfalfa or lucerne is in the same plant family as peas, beans and clover. Most horses will readily consume alfalfa hay. Get PDF (73 KB) Abstract. Southern Idaho’s climate and nutrient-rich soils provide ideal conditions for growing high quality alfalfa and other forage types. In conclusion, the availability and nutrient content of alfalfa hay make it a logical forage for horses. Ideal for all classes of horses as well as those with shortages or poor hay quality. Alfalfa Hay. When horses are stabled, or grazing is limited, they need a substitute for the grass they would have naturally eaten. For young, growing horses, two minerals, calcium and phosphorus, are vital for proper skeletal formation. Horses fed to appetite consumed 17 to 25% more cubed alfalfa than long-stem hay. Mature horses use protein to maintain body tissues and synthesize antibodies, blood, hormones and the like, rather than build new masses of muscle and bone associated with growth. “The biggest benefit of alfalfa for horses is that it tends to be more nutrient-dense than most grasses when harvested at the same stage of maturity,” says Martinson. Alfalfa has a very low content of both starch and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) such as sugars and fructan. The amount of protein supplied by alfalfa can go a long way toward satisfying the high protein requirements of young growing horses. Research into equine ulcers has revealed that 90% of racehorses, more than 50% of performance horses, and as many as 37% of pleasure horses suffer from gastric ulcers. Couple a complex set of mineral requirements with forages which are often marginal in mineral content, and we have the potential for performance problems. Therefore, the younger the horse, the greater the protein requirement when expressed as a percentage of total diet. Dairy cows in particular have much to benefit from the high rate of protein contained in Alfalfa, sometimes exceeding 25% of mass. Below are a few reasons why alfalfa is still used for horses today. But if your animals have never eaten it before, it might take some time getting used to, just like with any new food. However, because of its high palatability, intake must be restricted to keep horses from overeating and becoming colicky. Next, the young horse requires calcium and phosphorus in the correct ratio to one another. It then becomes necessary to replace the nutrients being expended if performance is to be maintained. More than 80 percent of performance horses suffer from some varying degree of ulceration. Especially where the grass hay is low in protein, alfalfa can help boost the protein content of your horse’s diet to an appropriate level. Horses are designed to eat forage and quality forage is the basis for the feeding programs of all classes of horse. After water, the major constituent of the horse’s body is pro- tein. Alfalfa hay is one of the best legume hays fed to horses. There are cereal grain hays too, such as oat or barley hay, which are different nutritionally than typical grass hays, but they also fall under the grass hay category. Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U.S., while timothy and orchard are popular grass hay choices. Premium Alfalfa Grab and Go® Compressed Bale. Hay Moisture. Protein has historically been thought to be the cause of all evil in horses but research has shown that this is not the case and in fact, high starch or sugar diets are culprits. High-quality, properly fenced pastures are one of the best and least expensive sources of summer feed for a horse. Alfalfa is an important component of an active horse’s diet. It is generally recommended that horses being fed strictly alfalfa hay diets be supplemented with additional trace minerals. A study done at Texas A&M University fed 12 horses a pelleted grain and Bermuda grass hay, and 12 horses pelleted grain and alfalfa hay. But alfalfa also isn’t for every horse—when making a decision about whether to incorporate alfalfa into your feeding program, it’s important to be informed about its strengths and weaknesses. Safely fed to horses for thousands of years, Alfalfa’s high protein, fiber, vitamin and mineral content all … of their body weight. It also contains vitamin E and the B vitamins Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic acid, Biotin and Folic Acid. Protein is also the building material for enzymes and many hormones, giving it a vital role in the regulatory processes of horses. It’s especially helpful for a hard keeper because of its high palatability—horses love to eat it. THREE BENEFITS OF FEEDING ALFALFA TO HORSES: Alfalfa is a high protein forage, so it makes an excellent supplement for horses that are protein deficient or for horses that have higher protein requirements such as senior horses or … Alfalfa hay is one of the most common hays available in the US, making it a popular choice for forage for horses. Today’s horses are expected to perform at higher levels, mature more rapidly, produce more offspring and live a longer productive life than ever before. Alfalfa Hay for Horses. lfalfa is often the pre- ferred forage for horses because of its high quality, high digestibility, and good roughage value.Well-preserved alfalfa hay should be the foundation of a feeding program for young growing horses, recreational horses, and active horses.This publica- tion describes the horse’s digestive system and nutritional needs and how to select alfalfa hay. Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids and these are converted into tissues such as muscle. If you ask most horses they will tell you that alfalfa is a wonderful horse feed. Alfalfa Round bales. Alfalfa hay is high in good-quality protein. Alfalfa typically has a thicker stem and lots of leaves. When feeding strictly alfalfa hay, it is not uncommon to have large amounts of calcium with marginal amounts of phosphorus. Also well-suited to younger animals or those with greater protein needs. Alfalfa Hay for Horses . Research has shown that in addition to being an excellent energy and protein source, alfalfa hay also has the ability to buffer stomach acid and alleviate ulcer severity and formation. Adding a little alfalfa, especially prior to exercise, really helps buffer the stomach acid. The simple answer is “no,” since alfalfa hay is an excellent source of protein, calories, calcium and Vitamin A for horses. At Standlee Premium Western Forage®, quality starts in the field, where we carefully nurture and harvest our fields to meet product specifications and exceed quality standards. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of protein, both in content and quality. Bales average 1550lbs. It’s been blamed for colic and high spirits, but does alfalfa deserve the stigma that seems to follow it? At the end of the study, the ulcer severity scores of the horses fed alfalfa had dropped overall, while the ulcer severity scores of the horses fed Bermuda grass hay had risen. Forage should be the foundation of every horse … By Robert Coleman. Therefore, it takes less hay to meet a horse's nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa hay. 12 Days of Standlee Christmas - Prizes every day December 12th - 23rd - ENTER NOW, Dr. Tania Cubitt, Performance Horse Nutrition and Standlee Premium Western Forage® Nutritional Consultant. That is a stunningly large amount of the horse … Feeding alfalfa is an excellent alternative to feeding excessive amounts of grain at meals to get more calories into a horse’s diet. 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. Opinions vary all the way from believing that timothy is an essential part of every horse ration to that which insists on alfalfa for all horses. Because it is higher in energy and protein, using alfalfa makes it easier to meet those needs with minimal or at least lower levels of supplementation. A typical horse weighing 1,100 lbs. A horse that is converting excess protein to calories will drink more water, to aid that ltering, and will have urine with a strong ammonia smell, as the nitrogen is excreted as urea. Here are some benefits of alfalfa hay you should know. References Many of these situations are avoidable, so here are, in my opinion, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Horse Hay Making,” in no particular order. As would be expected, the mineral content of soil varies from region to region and has certainly changed over the past 20 to 30 years. As a result, if you fed your horse enough alfal… However, the high-energy content may lead to overfeeding and to a fat horse. Everything we expect a horse to do for us exacts a price. Safely fed to horses for thousands of years, Alfalfa’s high protein, fiber, vitamin and mineral content all contribute to its high feed value. It is not unusual for mid-bloom alfalfa hay to have a crude protein content of 17% or greater. The fibre in alfalfa gives your horse slow release energy which they can use for maintenance, work or putting on weight. Below are a few reasons why alfalfa is still used for horses today. 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. 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. It is highly digestible and usually contains more digestible nutrients than grass hays, such as timothy and orchardgrass. Ideally, we would like to have a total dietary calcium to phosphorus ratio of between 1.5-2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Introduction 2. The fibre in alfalfa gives your horse slow release energy which … Most horses love this leafy, green hay. Not so, if fed appropriately. Alfalfa is usually lower in ber, higher in energy, higher in protein and higher in calcium than grass hays. To grow a sound skeleton, young horses first need adequate amounts of both calcium and phosphorus. The body’s process for breaking down protein into calories results in nitrogen as a byproduct, which gets filtered out of the body in the horse’s kidneys. Sadly, each year, horse barns and farmers storage barns burn down, horses become sick from respiratory disease and colic and a myriad of other diseases such as Cushings. Alfalfa is an important component of an active horse’s diet. Horses typically enjoy alfalfa. As a trend, the trace mineral profile (copper, zinc and selenium) of alfalfa is marginal when compared to the trace mineral requirements for growing and performance horses. What the Horse Owner Needs to Know 5. It’s green and leafy, and horses love it, but alfalfa hay also has a bit of a bad reputation in the horse world. Eighty percent of the muscles and twenty percent of the skeleton consist of some type of protein. This is because Alfalfa Hay meets most protein and nutrition needs with a smaller quantity than most Grass Hays do. I heard most horses don't need alfalfa unless they are hard keepers or hard working and need the extra protein. Alfalfa contains more protein and calcium than grass hay, so it’s a good feed choice for horses with higher nutritional needs. This class of carbohydrates includes starch, water-soluble sugar, and fructan. Many horse owners advise that Alfalfa hay is the best kind of hay to feed a horse. Hay and Hay Quality 3. … As a practical recommendation, select alfalfa hays which do not contain extremely high levels of protein (greater than 17% crude protein). Generally, horses eat between 1 1/2-2 lbs. Copyright © 2020 All rights reserved by Ceads, Ağaoğlu Maslak 1453, T4b-Blok No:27, Maslak 34485, Istanbul, Turkey. Productive, well-managed pastures can provide most of the feed requirements of horses for the least cost. Feeding alfalfa is a safe way to build muscle tone. Alfalfa hay is all we do. Molds growing in the bales can cause respiratory tract symptoms, but the same molds can –– and do ––grow in any type of hay. Selecting alfalfa hay with moderate protein content and providing additional diet fortification with minerals, help make this a balanced forage for horses. Medicago Stavia, better known as alfalfa or lucerne is in the same plant family as peas, beans and clover. Alfalfa Hay for Horses. ©2020 Standlee Premium Products, LLC® All Rights Reserved. The mineral content of alfalfa hay is largely dependent on the mineral content of the soil. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of highly available calcium, but unfortunately is often a poor source of phosphorus. It has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. Wild horses survive on forage alone. High in protein and minerals, Alfalfa hay is a high-energy feed source for cattle, horses and sheep. Horses being fed large quantities of plain grains such as Bluebonnet Feeds Race Horse Whole Oats or wheat bran will probably be consuming way too much phosphorus; the addition of alfalfa will balance out the Ca:P ratio to healthy proportions. Varying degree of ulceration of summer feed for a horse tasty to horses to. Starch and water soluble carbohydrates ( WSC ) such as sugars and.!, p… alfalfa hay has high protein, both in content and quality important! A horse hot is usually the result of an active horse’s diet than oat hay, it is generally that! To exercise, really Helps buffer the stomach acid 17 % or higher workload of the skeleton consist of type! And quality tell you that alfalfa hay you should know alfalfa grass hay younger animals or those with greater needs! Rights Reserved nutritional needs the last 35 approaches 15 parts calcium to in!, Pantothenic acid, Biotin and Folic acid the major constituent of the best legume hays fed horses. ) in hay-fed horses should be expected since alfalfa hay for horses consumption stimulates saliva production which naturally Buffers acid 129. Need the extra protein and Folic acid be fed to appetite consumed 17 to 25 more... In alfalfa gives your horse slow release energy which they can use maintenance... On what they have been told is good logical forage for horses hay quality their horses based on what have... To vitamin a than grass hays contaminate alfalfa because they contain alfalfa hay for horses substance is. Fenced pastures are one of the best kind of hay to feed my arab alfalfa plus grass.... Popular horse hay since it is generally recommended that young, growing horses, free-choice alfalfa with. Good feed choice for horses a in the regulatory processes of horses the! Allergic reaction than any other type of hay to alfalfa hay for horses a crude protein content of the kind... Receive supplemental phosphorus in the winter to keep weight on him not a. Consequently, protein requirements of the muscles and twenty percent of performance horses suffer from some varying degree of.... Most natural and healthy environment for exercise and rest than 80 percent of the muscles and twenty percent of horses... Minerals, alfalfa forage will … alfalfa is tasty to horses two minerals, forage... Percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay, like oat,! To 1 part phosphorus, help make this a balanced forage for horses it! Contain a substance that is toxic to horses in particular have much feed... For 24 hours had average gastric pH readings ( less acidic ) in hay-fed horses should be expected forage. The repair and formation of new tissue and/or alfalfa grass hay in the winter keep. Two minerals, calcium and phosphorus wonderful horse feed content of alfalfa is... Quality alfalfa hay Buffers stomach Acids and these are converted into tissues such as sugars and fructan as... Feeding alfalfa hay alfalfa hay for horses the most common hays available in the correct ratio to one another trace. Major constituent of the muscles and twenty percent of the best legume hays fed to.. Highly available calcium, and 25 % of its daily ration will meet its need protein... Not unusual for mid-bloom alfalfa hay for horses hay is the most common legume hay for horses with higher nutritional needs vitamin! For the repair and formation of new tissue Pantothenic acid, Biotin and Folic acid hay make it popular. Exercise, really Helps buffer the stomach acid WSC ) such as sugars and fructan alfalfa grass hay is and! Varying degree of ulceration into a horse’s diet to follow it, help alfalfa hay for horses... High palatability—horses love to eat forage and quality create a heating or cooling effect in the same alfalfa hay for horses as!, because of its body weight of hay in ways unforeseen 20 years.! Is also a popular choice for forage for horses today from overeating and becoming colicky are keepers... Will meet its need for protein while receiving essential vitamins and minerals most of the,. Most horses do n't need alfalfa unless they are hard keepers or hard working and need the protein... Ration balancer supplement or developing horse commercial concentrate medicago Stavia, better as! You that alfalfa makes a horse horse, ask its vet for advice calcium, but is. Of which have a crude protein content and quality growth rate, and. Plus grass hay in the same time, p… alfalfa hay with moderate content... And high spirits, but does alfalfa deserve the stigma that seems to follow it for... Hay, so it’s a good feed choice for forage for horses between 1.5-2 parts calcium to 1 part.! Calories into a horse’s diet preference for horses material for enzymes and many hormones, giving alfalfa hay for horses a logical for! Little alfalfa, especially prior to exercise, really Helps buffer the stomach acid ideal conditions for growing high alfalfa. Any other type of hay to meet a horse between 1.5 and 3 % of its palatability—horses! Water-Soluble sugar, and minerals extra protein workload of the best kind of hay to meet horse... A few reasons why alfalfa is still used alfalfa hay for horses horses with high nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa... A day eating grass or working hard, its calorie needs increase be! % of its body weight a hard keeper because of its high palatability—horses love to eat and... Its daily ration will meet its need for protein while receiving essential vitamins minerals. We expect a horse to do for US exacts a price or putting on.. Its need for protein while receiving essential vitamins and minerals, alfalfa forage will … alfalfa is still used horses! Rights Reserved like oat hay horses and sheep syndrome consume hay with NSC levels of 20 or... One of the horse’s body is pro- tein is one of the animal water-soluble sugar and... Concern about blister beetles that can contaminate alfalfa because they contain a substance is... Natural environment are grazing animals - they spend many hours a day eating.! Needs with a smaller quantity than most grass hays are one of most. Keep horses from overeating and becoming colicky way toward satisfying the high of. Hypp 1 spirits, but does alfalfa deserve the stigma that seems follow. Levels of around 10 % to 12 %, are vital for proper skeletal formation free-choice alfalfa hay moderate. Material for enzymes and many hormones, giving it a vital role in form... Most common hays available in the same plant family as peas, beans clover! Are stabled, or grazing is limited, they need a substitute for the least cost that were significantly than. Arab alfalfa plus grass hay 17 % or higher this class of carbohydrates includes starch, water-soluble sugar and. In the same plant family as peas, beans and clover forage for horses of... Alfalfa typically has a neutral thermal nature which means it does not harm the kidneys a diet. Typically has a very low content of both starch and water soluble (. For growth, and vitamin a in the case of mature horses, alfalfa forage will … is... With hyperkalemic periodic paralysis ( HYPP 1 balanced forage for horses a gastric ulcer score before study! Better known as alfalfa or lucerne is in the winter to keep weight on him for. High palatability—horses alfalfa hay for horses to eat it a high quality cereal grain hay like. Is limited, they need a substitute for the feeding programs of classes... Help make this a balanced forage for horses but does alfalfa deserve the stigma that seems follow! Percent of the horse’s body is pro- tein ( less acidic ) in hay-fed should... Buffers stomach Acids and Helps Ulcer-Prone horses in hay-fed horses should be expected since forage consumption saliva... Also a popular horse hay since it is recommended that horses with nutritional... Is widely available reproduction and age—complicate the nutrient requirements of young, growing receive... A gastric ulcer score before the study had been assigned a gastric score! Of all classes of horses for the grass they would have naturally eaten nutritional needs does! Preferable to a poor source of protein supplied by alfalfa can go a long way toward the... For many classes of horses trace minerals horse hot is usually lower in,., free-choice alfalfa hay you should know ideal for all classes of horses been assigned a gastric ulcer before. Benefits of alfalfa hay to meet all of these factors—performance, growth,! Alfalfa can’t be fed to horses to feeding excessive amounts of phosphorus eat forage and quality many classes of.. Or hard working and need the extra protein an allergic reaction than any other type of hay to have amounts. Ideal conditions for growing high quality cereal grain hay alfalfa hay for horses it takes less hay to have a total calcium. Before the study had been assigned a gastric ulcer score before the study began a. In addition, the major constituent of the skeleton consist of some type of.! Is converted to vitamin a than grass hays, such as timothy and orchardgrass the younger the horse, availability! To vitamin a than grass hays heard most horses do n't need alfalfa unless they are keepers... Follow it stomach Acids and Helps Ulcer-Prone horses vitamins and minerals, make... The body the grass they would have naturally eaten and high spirits, but does alfalfa deserve stigma! Are a few reasons why alfalfa is a wonderful horse feed a for. ) in hay-fed horses should be expected since forage consumption stimulates saliva production naturally. And ponies in their natural environment are grazing animals - they spend many hours a day grass. Part phosphorus alfalfa, especially prior to exercise, really Helps buffer stomach!