Alfalfa
hay
generally
runs
at
least
18-20%
protein,
often
higher.
Not
all
of
this
protein
is
usable,
as
we
will
discuss
later
in
this
article.
A
mature
working
horse
only
requires
about
12%
protein.
Dr.
Michael
Glades
concluded
after
a
study
at
the
University
of
Maryland
that
horses
with
excess
protein
in
their
diets
ran
slower
race
times
than
horses
receiving
the
NRC
recommended
amounts.
He
found
that
for
each
1000
grams
of
crude
protein
that
a
horse
ate
above
his
basic
needs,
the
racing
times
slowed
dramatically,
as
much
as
1
to
3
seconds.
Dr.
Kerry
Ridgeway
points
to
an
all-alfalfa
diet
as
the
cause
of
higher
body
temperature
in
working
horses,
caused
by
the
extra
work
required
by
the
internal
organs
to
convert
the
protein
to
usable
energy.
He
feels
this
leads
to
excess
sweating
and
electrolyte
loss,
which
can
in
turn
lead
to
dehydration,
impaction
and
colic.
According
to
Dr.
Ridgeway,
the
excess
calcium
in
an
alfalfa
diet
interferes
with
parathyroid
function
and
can
lead
to
"thumps",
muscle
cramps
and
tying
up.
Excess
calcium
interferes
with
absorption
of
iodine,
a
mineral
necessary
for
proper
thyroid
function.
Many
horses
on
alfalfa
become
hypothyroid
-
the
thyroid
gets
lazy.
Symptoms
can
be
a
cresty
neck,
a
horse
that
gets
overweight
very
easily,
develops
dry
and
flaky
skin,
etc.
Some
breeds
show
hypothyroidism
by
becoming
very
"cinchy"
and
skin-sensitive,
getting
cranky
when
being
groomed,
or
losing
topline
muscle
and
hair
condition.
Mares
that
are
hypothyroid
often
become
infertile.
Horses
that
are
hypothyroid
may
be
very
plump
and
shiny,
but
are
unhealthy.
They
are
simply
retaining
water
in
the
tissues,
and
this
inhibits
proper
movement.
Ask
any
woman
with
P.M.S.
how
she
feels
when
she
is
retaining
water!
If
your
horse
is
cranky
and
belligerent,
resists
bending
and
flexing,
is
very
lazy
or
reacts
emotionally,
it
may
be
hypothyroid.
Researchers
at
Colorado
State
University
and
in
Sweden
reported
on
the
effects
of
excess
dietary
protein
on
T4
thyroid
hormone
levels.
Feeding
protein
above
daily
requirements
decreases
the
T4
levels;
optimum
T4
levels
are
necessary
for
horses
to
metabolize
glucose
(blood
sugar)
properly.
Glucose
is
the
energy
source
used
for
work,
and
higher
glucose
levels
are
necessary
during
strenuous
exercise.
Higher
glucose
levels
also
delay
the
onset
of
lactic
acid
buildup
in
the
muscles
and
blood.
Lactic
acid
buildup
causes
the
muscles
to
lose
their
ability
to
contract
and
relax
properly,
and
to
stay
in
a
contracted
(tied
up)
state.
The
excess
calcium
in
alfalfa
suppresses
the
magnesium
levels
in
the
body.
Magnesium
is
necessary
for
muscles
to
relax
properly
after
the
contraction
phase.
In
the
Colorado
and
Swedish
studies,
higher
magnesium
levels
were
found
to
increase
the
T4
thyroid
hormone
production.
Mares
and
fillies
are
especially
prone
to
be
up
on
alfalfa,
since
they
become
magnesium
deficient
when
estrogen
levels
increase
during
their
heat
cycles.
Supplementing
magnesium
is
often
helpful.
Kidney
problems
and
Scratches
If
your
horse's
stall
smells
like
ammonia,
he
is
in
trouble.
Some
of
the
protein
in
alfalfa
hay
is
actually
non-protein
nitrogen
and/or
nitrates,
which
are
toxic
to
horses.
In
an
effort
to
get
rid
of
excess
protein
and
these
related
substances,
the
body
produces
ammonia.
This
is
very
hard
on
the
kidneys,
and
can
also
lead
to
respiratory
problems
from
inhalation
of
the
ammonia
fumes.
Healthy
urine
should
be
clear,
not
cloudy
and
foul-smelling.
The
tiny
tubes
in
your
horse's
kidneys
will,
over
time,
get
clogged
with
the
excess
protein
in
alfalfa,
and
then
the
calcium
will
begin
to
form
kidney
stones.
Alfalfa
is
particularly
hard
on
aging
horses
-
Karen
E.
Hayes,
D.V.M.,
feels
that
no
horse
over
age
15
should
have
any
alfalfa
at
all.
Scratches,
which
are
areas
of
open,
oozing
sores
usually
occuring
on
the
pasterns
and
legs,
seem
to
be
related
to
increased
photosensitivity.
When
the
scratches
are
on
white
areas
of
the
body,
removing
alfalfa
from
the
diet
usually
clears
them
up.
Dr.
T.W.
Swerczek
at
the
University
of
Kentucky
feels
that
a
diet
high
in
protein
and
low
in
fiber
can
predispose
stressed
horses
to
become
ill.
Among
the
disorders
he
listed
are
Potomac
horse
fever,
strangles,
salmonella,
ulcers,
abortions,
epiphysitis,
etc.
'Stress
factors
can
be
weather,
hauling,
competing,
even
changing
pasture
companions.
Dr.
Swerczek
experimented
with
the
diets
on
research
horses
that
he
infected
with
strangles.
He
divided
them
into
two
groups,
and
fed
one
group
alfalfa
and
the
other
group
grass
hay.
The
horses
fed
alfalfa
became
so
ill
that
even
vaccines
and
antibiotics
did
no
good.
Yet,
when
he
took
away
the
alfalfa
and
high
protein
supplements,
the
disease
disappeared
on
its
own.
The
horses
on
grass
hay
experienced
a
very
mild
case
of
strangles
that
did
not
require
any
treatment.
He
also
feels
that
in
the
lactating
mare,
if
the
mare's
kidneys
are
overloaded
with
high
protein,
the
toxic
metabolic
wastes
may
be
passed
on
in
the
milk
and
affect
the
health
of
her
foal.
Unhealthy
foals
with
lowgrade
colic
or
muscle
aches
from
coughing
can
develop
abnormal
holding
patterns
in
their
bodies,
which
lead
to
faulty
muscle
development
and
crooked
legs.
California
and
the
west
where
straight
alfalfa
diets
are
common
have
the
highest
incidence
of
"stones"
in
the
country.
Intestinal
stones
are
formed
from
ammonium
magnesium
phosphate.
The
ammonium
comes
from
the
excess
protein
in
the
alfalfa.
Another
contributing
factor
is
the
low
fiber
in
alfalfa,
which
keeps
the
gut
from
functioning
properly
and
allows
the
stones
to
form.
Dr.
Robert
Bray
at
Cal
Poly
University
recommends
cutting
back
on
the
alfalfa
portion
of
the
ration
as
a
means
of
helping
to
prevent
stones.
Research
has
shown
that
horses
with
a
history
of
forming
stones
cannot
tolerate
any
alfalfa
without
a
recurrence.
Developmental
Bone
Problems
-
Disease
Too
much
calcium,
as
found
in
straight
alfalfa
hay,
interferes
with
the
absorption
of
copper
and
zinc.
These
two
trace
minerals
are
important
for
healthy
bones.
Too
much
calcium
can
also
lead
to
a
calcium
deficiency,
strangely
enough.
When
the
circulating
levels
of
calcium
are
too
high
in
the
blood,
the
body
has
an
automatic
mechanism
which
kicks
out
the
calcium
before
it
can
be
used
to
build
strong
bone.
Because
much
of
the
calcium
in
alfalfa
is
unusable
by
the
body,
it
can
either
lead
to
an
actual
calcium
deficiency,
or
be
deposited
in
inappropriate
places
as
splints,
spavins,
etc.
The
safest
form
of
calcium
supplementation
is
a
supplement
of
amino
acid
chelated
(bio-available)
calcium,
combined
with
chelated
trace
minerals.
Researcher
T.
J.
Hulland,
a
researcher
at
the
University
of
Guelph-Ontario,
feels
that
most
"contracted
tendons"
in
young
horses
are
the
result
of
contracted
muscles
in
the
forearm
and
gaskin.
The
tendons
and
ligaments
themselves
are
not
capable
of
shortening,
but
it
is
possible
for
a
young
horse
that
is
getting
too
much
calcium
and
protein
to
have
the
tight
muscle,
or
borderline
"tie
up"
condition
described
previously.
If
the
problem
is
caught
early
on,
dietary
changes
can
often
prevent
permanent
damage.
By
reducing
the
protein
content
of
the
ration
(diluting
alfalfa
hay
with
mostly
grass
hay)
and
bringing
the
calcium/phosphorous
ratio
closer
to
the
ideal
1:1,
and
providing
balanced
minerals
in
a
usable
form,
the
foal
is
allowed
to
develop
more
normally.
Another
bonus
associated
with
a
diet
of
primarily
grass
hay
is
the
high
levels
of
organic
silica
found
in
grass.
This
mineral
is
necessary
for
bone
and
connective
tissue
(collagen)
to
be
properly
formed.
It
is
also
essential
for
calcium
absorption
as
bone
is
being
formed.
Current
research
is
being
done
at
Texas
A
&
M
University
on
the
benefits
of
adding
silica
to
the
diets
of
growing
horses.
(An
additional
benefit
of
feeding
grass
hay
-
your
horse's
teeth
may
not
need
to
be
floated
as
often
-
the
silica
content
of
grass
hay
tends
to
keep
the
sharp
edges
worn
down.)
Bone
is
a
living
organ,
constantly
being
