Is it true that alfalfa can make some horses energetic? My horse has always been a real go pony, and we have had him 6 1/2 years but recently he has been very quiet even with 35 mph winds and cold weather. He is recovering from and injury but it is his entire demeanor that has changed. The only thing that has changed is about a month ago the barn switched to a timothy mix and not alfalfa. I was wondering if this could be it? Any opinions?
The higher protein levels in alfalfa can make some horses energetic. The loss of calories from the alfalfa could be affecting his energy level and demeanor, but itâs hard to say. How is his body condition? Has he lost weight? Is pain being managed in his injury recovery? Sometimes pain can really change a horseâs behavior.
There is no scientific basis for why alfalfa causes energy. It is an old wives tale. It is actually a very good food source. It is low in sugar and can help reduce/prevent ulcers. A simple google search on equine nutrition can pull up numerous quality sources, e.g.Tufts vet school, that go over this in detail.
For what you describe, in that weather horses shut down because they are keeping warm. And with your horse recovering from and injury, they lose body fitness and begin to be less energetic as well.
Ive has some insanely hot horses become very docile as they recover from injuries. They seem to know they need to settle to heal. The moment they went ballistic again, I knew they healed up.
A horse may be sensitive/allergic to the protein in alfalfa specifically (which is different from getting âhotâ on a high protein feed), just like people can be sensitive to a protein in wheat (which is the case with a lot of people who claim itâs the gluten), and like a horse can be sensitive/allergic to oats or corn or soy.
Most likely, most horses who are âhotâ on alfalfa are getting too much energy, and while some get fat, others bounce off the walls.
What is the injury? Any antibiotics? How old is he? Whatâs his management now, vs pre-injury?
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He is 23 and he injured his stifle. No tears just hyperflexion. He has responded very well to injections.He has always been forward not hot but full of energy except when it is 100 degrees out with 98 percent humidity. He goes if I ask him but I used to having to work on relaxation to get him slower. He just feels different thatâs all.
I know logically that energy is energy and it shouldnât make a difference, but I recall it did for one of my horses. I thought I was becoming a better rider, but in fact, I just took him off alfalfa, and when he went back on it, I discovered I was not, lol.
That said, I still feed 30% alfalfa for calcium and because itâs roughage helps balance out any finer-stemmed hay, which in our area, is thought to be a colic contributor.
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23 with a stifle injury can take its toll on a horse while they deal with the pain and try to heal.
He does not seem bothered when asked to go forward. We have not asked him to canter yet but he does it in the field on his own. It is more about attitude.
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He could definitely be missing the added protein from the alfalfa. Not sure the breakdown of your timothy mix, but he might need a few more calories in some source.
He does get grain also
Weâre big fans of alfalfa at our place, fed soaked with their other regular hay. The horses get it when theyâre in hard work, traveling in the trailer, standing at the trailer for a chunk of time, etcâŠ, and itâs always in front of them at events. We may taper it off some for extended down time or if there is abundant grass.
Personally I wouldnât pull an elderly recuperating horse off of alfalfa. And Iâd give it to him with his timothy mix, not instead of. Even 1 flake a day might perk him up!
He is more then perky most of the time⊠Relaxation is something we have had to learn to be able to ride him. Sometimes he is quiet but always energetic. He goes but is more relaxed now. He also has cushings tooâŠ
Cushings? Ok ignore my pro alfalfa post
Alfalfa is absolutely safe to feed a cushings horse!!! Legume hays, such as alfalfa, tend to be higher in calories and protein compared to grass hays (i.e. timothy, bromegrass, etc.). It is lower in carbohydrates than others. And, no, the body does not convert proteins into sugars (unless it is truly starving) [Read your biochemistry!!!].
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@RAyers was that for me? My post #13 references the fact that I have no experience with cushings (which was a late detail) therefore withdraw any advice.
Weâre big alfalfa fans as I described in post 11. Interesting to hear itâs safe for cushings.
Part of it was at you due to your apology. Your first post was correct. The biochemistry statement is there for anybody willing to research a Cushings diet for horses. You see a huge amount of misinformed opinions, e.g. the AFA thinks protein get converted to sugar.
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He has done fine with the alfalfa hay. He is on a diet that is good for cushings and he goes out on grass also; when we have some. He gets his pergolide, which he hates, and does okay. Yesterday was funny remember I aid he was relaxed, well yesterday was the first time my daughter asked him to canter, only one way with the injury on the inside leg, and he woke up! But he was still very relaxed.
My horse is a âworrierâ. Never scoped for ulcers but has a history of âulcer like symptomsâ. He is on Assure Guard but Started giving a flake of alfalfa before rides and he became much more relaxed and focused yet forward. Started giving alfalfa daily (usually 1 flake before rides) and chaffhaye as a main staple of his diet and he is overall/ generally more âhappyâ. Weâre actually grain-free now with the alfalfa, chaffhaye, timothy, and vit supplement.
Alfalfa is dense with nutrients in a smaller quantity than grass hays (generalizing- think one flake of alfalfa vs grass hay). Basically is has more easy-to-digest complex carbs and provides more energy per pound- but less fiber. You can exceed their energy requirement by trying to meet their fiber requirement, which is why some vets will tell you âno alfalfaâ during a laminitc event (esp if your horse is on stall rest). You still have to watch other factors with sugars, carbs in regular hay.
