Is Alfalfa the Right Hay for Dobbin?
HORSEDOC NEWSLETTER 2002-11-30
 by Dr. Robert L. Leonard, DVM, AAEP [ Copyright HorseDoc.org 2002 ]

Last week we discussed "Storing Away the Winter Hay." This week let's continue the hay topic, and concentrate on a commonly held misconception: that we can never feed Alfalfa exclusively.
The standard by which hays are measured is alfalfa hay. This member of the legumes is high in protein, fat, and is very palatable for the horse: they like it a lot!
It is usually the most expensive hay to purchase.
Contrary to what you may have heard, horses can be maintained on it.
It can be the only hay fed once the horse is used to it, but only if it provides enough roughage for chewing and to tickle the gut lining.
It will not damage the horse’s kidneys, but it will make the urine thick and creamy colored, due to the high mineral content.
A straight alfalfa hay from the second or later cutting can cause trouble due to its high protein content and its leafy texture that is low in fiber or roughage. It does not work well for patients admitted to our clinic, because many are broodmares coming straight off pasture. They are not used to this rich food, and can suffer intestinal upset after only a day of eating straight alfalafa. If you start feeding a straight alfalfa hay, be very observant of the horse’s stool. If it becomes loose enough to pile up instead of form buscuits, and there is a great deal of gas, the hay may not be agreeing with him. Due to its leafy texture the hay moves through the horse's bowels very quickly. Therefore, the digestive process does not have time to slow down the hay and digest it thoroughly.
If it is high in protein, (and many samples have protein in the mid 20 % range), the lining of the bowel will become inflamed, stimulating additional bowel activity. With continued feeding of a high quality alfalfa, there are several conditions we must be alert for:
Of course, ulcers are a constant concern when feeding a high quality ration with little fiber. When the hay requires very little chewing, the bicarbonate level in the hay and stomach drops, allowing acid to build up in the stomach. This acid irritates, or eats into the stomach lining. Any stress, such as weaning, training, etc., further exaggerates this condition.
Other affects of a low fiber ration are seen on the lining of the stomach and intestine. The horse will become irritable and - if stalled - start looking for an outlet for its anxiety. This is usually seen as cribbing (the primary vice), stall kicking, weaving, etc.
On a straight alfalfa hay and grain diet, the stool will usually be loose and smell bad. When the stool is loose, it is moving through the bowel so rapidly that the digestion is incomplete. When this happens, not only will the tail and rear end of the horse be nasty and the stall more difficult to keep clean, also the horse will actually lose weight.
The urine will also have a strong odor due to the high amount of protein being excreted through the kidneys. Unless the stall is well ventililated, this ammonia will cause irritation to the eyes and lungs, predisposing the horse to respiratory problems.
Alfalfa is the ‘Cadillac" of hay and - when mixed with or fed with grass hay - will balance out an excellent forage mix for any horse. It will also provide more nutrients than the sedentary or over weight horse needs. It is an excellent choice for growing, breeding, and working horses. It will be the most expensive hay you can buy and will have the highest feed value. The horses you feed it to will clean up every single leaf. Print This Article Back to Top
 To shoe or not to shoe,
removing the shoes during winter...
"Whether or not to let the horses go barefoot." by Dr. Robert L. Leonard, DVM, AAEP [ Copyright HorseDoc.org 2002 ]

This is the time we may start thinking more about keeping the home fires burning rather than riding. With the great weather, and for self-serving reasons, we don't like to see your priorities move away from the horses, but it does happen. If you do not plan to ride as much, this is a good time to have Dobbin' s shoes removed and the feet trimmed. We like to see the horse spend some time without shoes. If there is to be little riding, or if the riding is to be on the farm with little road or hard riding, most horses will do just fine without shoes. Of course your farrier's opinion is important here, they know the situation with your horse's specific hoof condition. Our discussion today will address horses without hoof problems. As you have heard us preach before, the horse's foot acts as the heart of that leg. With such long legs, mother nature devised a system specifically for circulating the blood through them. The blood is propelled down the leg by gravity and the heart using the arteries as conduits. Within the foot, specifically under the sole, blood is allowed to pool. This pooling takes place when the horse raises the foot to take a step. When the foot is placed on the ground, the blood is forced up the leg thru the veins. Along the length of the veins, there are one way valves that close, preventing the blood from running back down the leg. This circulation provides the leg with the blood it needs for oxygenation and repairs. Part of the success of this system is the expansion and contraction of the hoof wall. When the foot is nailed to the shoe, movement is limited somewhat. The sole is also raised off the ground. However, in most cases circulation through the leg works just fine. It is just as important to trim the foot at the time the shoes are taken off as it is when putting shoes on. Now is the time for your farrier to balance the foot and correct any defects in the walls. If the wall is unhealthy as indicated by several cracks, it may be necessary to leave the shoes on. Treatment would also be indicated so wall growth could be stimulated and the old hoof grown out quickly. Supplementation with a concentrated biotin and lysine source will speed growth of the hoof wall by 50 %, to the amazing speed of 1/2 inch per month! It is important that the concentration of biotin and lysine is adequate to correct the shortages that, exist.
A few months of going barefooted will stimulate the tissue of the foot by allowing unlimited movement of the walls and sole. You will need to see your farrier just as often during the winter as the hoof growth will be even faster while Dobbin is barefoot. Print This Article Back to Top
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