Why Alfalfa Might Be the Best Thing You Feed Your Horse
If you’ve been around horse people for any length of time, you’ve most likely heard some strong opinions on alfalfa hay. Some swear by it, others are careful not to overfeed it, but almost everyone can agree on one thing: if used correctly, alfalfa is one of the most nutrient-dense forages you can put in front of a horse. Here’s why it’s worth a look for your barn.
More Protein for Performance and Growth
Alfalfa hay usually has more crude protein than grass hays like timothy or bermuda, often in the 15 to 20% range compared to 8 to 12% for grass hay. This makes it particularly useful for:
Foals and weanlings needing protein for muscle and bone growth
Broodmares, especially late in gestation and early in lactation when nutritional demands are increased
Energy and muscle recovery support for performance and working horses.
High in Calcium and Essential Minerals
Alfalfa is a natural source of calcium which helps in building strong bones and teeth. It is often a good source of magnesium and other trace minerals . A partial alfalfa ration can help round out the diet for horses eating calcium-poor grass hay. As always, the overall calcium-to-phosphorus ratio should stay balanced.
Increased Digestible Energy
Alfalfa is usually harvested at an earlier stage of growth than grass hay, so it tends to have less lignin (indigestible fiber) and more digestible energy. This means more usable calories for the horse from the same hay – a plus for hard goalkeepers, senior horses or those in heavy work who struggle to keep weight on.
Palatability to Enhance Intake
Alfalfa is well known to be tasty – many horses prefer it to grass hay. This can be a real boon for picky eaters, horses recovering from illness or senior horses with a diminished appetite that need a little encouragement to continue eating enough forage.
Possible Digestive Benefits
Some research has suggested that alfalfa’s buffering capacity may help reduce gastric acidity . This is part of the reason why alfalfa is often recommended as part of the diet for horses that are prone to ulcers. It’s not a magic bullet, but many vets and nutritionists use alfalfa as one component of an ulcer management feeding strategy.
A Few Things to Remember
Not every horse is a good fit for alfalfa. Alfalfa can be fed in moderation or mixed with grass hay instead of being the only source of fodder for horses that are easy goalkeepers, insulin-resistant, or prone to obesity. As with any feeding adjustment, it’s important to start out slowly and discuss what suits your horse’s age, workload, and metabolic requirements with your veterinarian or equine nutritionist.
The Bottom Line
Alfalfa hay is a powerful tool to help support growth, performance, weight maintenance and digestive health in horses when fed thoughtfully. The problem is quality — poorly cured, over-mature or improperly stored alfalfa loses much of what makes it valuable from the start and can even bring in mold or dust problems.
And that’s where the sourcing is as important as the decision to feed it, period. Ohana Hay offers premium, carefully cured alfalfa hay so you’re getting the nutrition your horse really needs – not hay that looked great in the field but lost its quality in transit or storage. To see the difference good alfalfa can make, check current availability at ohanahay.com or reach out and we’ll help you determine the right hay program for your horses.
