Because alfalfa hay is more nutrient dense than typical grass hay, more care needs to be taken when feeding alfalfa. Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed.

What should a foundered horse not eat?

Horses that have foundered should eat hay.

Horses that have foundered are prone to founder again, so feed your animal basic grass hay and a little alfalfa. Do not feed oats, corn, or molasses.

What to feed a horse that has foundered?

Feed grass hay, possibly a little alfalfa hay, or rinsed sugar beet, BUT stay away from corn, oats, barley, and especially stay away from sugar as molasses. Feed extra fat in the form of oil or rice bran if you need to get energy into the horse.

What hay is best for Laminitic horses?

Generally, a mixture of grass hay and alfalfa is the best hay combination for horses prone to laminitis.

What kind of hay should I feed my foundered horse?

Hay – The base of a laminitis diet

This can be achieved by feeding mature Lucerne hay that is typically lower in fructans and higher in protein than other hays. Avoid hays containing high amounts of fructan such as ryegrass, oaten, wheaten or barley hays.

Ask the Vet - Why you shouldn't feed alfalfa exclusively

What is the best feed for laminitic ponies?

Horses require a minimum of 1.5% of their bodyweight in roughage per day for optimal health and wellbeing. For a laminitic prone horse/pony, low sugar roughage sources may include Teff hay, Rhodes grass hay, lucerne hay, beet pulp or soaked grass hay. Some specialist feed suppliers have analysis available.

Can you feed carrots to a horse with laminitis?

Some owners add single minerals and vitamins to their horse's diet to make up for short falls in their forage, and carrots provide a very useful source of vitamin A. ... We know of many owners of horses with EMS and laminitis who give their horses a small amount of carrot (generally less than 100 g/day) with no problems.

Is alfalfa bad for laminitic horses?

Oat hay or other grain haysFor reasons that aren't clear, alfalfa hay can cause problems for some laminitic horses. Others are okay with it, and the sugar and starch level in alfalfa is often lower than in many grass hays.

Can horses with Cushings eat alfalfa?

Alfalfa can be a good option for a horse with Cushings if they are a hard time holding their weight because it is more calorie-dense than grass hay.

Is alfalfa high in sugar?

Alfalfa Has Low Starch and Sugar Content

When oil is added as a coating to alfalfa, sugar levels are typically less than 5%. Feeds are rarely (if ever) sugar free, as even straw contains some sugar, but the low-sugar and starch content does highlight the alfalfa health benefits for your horse.

Does alfalfa cause laminitis?

Because alfalfa hay is more nutrient dense than typical grass hay, more care needs to be taken when feeding alfalfa. Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed.

What treats can you give a horse with laminitis?

Made with strawberry, beetroot, parsnip, carrot, banana, pea and spinach, crunchits can be fed daily as a tasty treat or reward. Low in sugar – Can be fed to all horses and ponies, including those prone to laminitis. Crunchits horse treats are manufactured under the BETA NOPS scheme.

Can horses founder on oats?

Horses grazing cereal grains can be more prone to colic, laminitis, and founder, so it is important to limit their exposure, and the horse(s) must be monitored closely.

Is alfalfa good for horses with laminitis?

Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses' diets, even for those that are insulin resistant (IR). ... After years of working with horses, it appears that it may, in fact, lead to laminitis in some horses. I found this to be very puzzling since alfalfa is low in sugar and starch, even lower than most grass hays.

Is too much alfalfa bad for horses?

Alfalfa hay can cause diarrhea in a horse that overeats it because the hay is rich and full of nutrients. Overeating alfalfa can also cause a horse to have excess gas, develop laminitis, and founder.

Can beet pulp cause laminitis?

Beet pulp is high in fiber and low in sugar or non-structural carbohydrates. ... So, when consumed heavily, beet pulp is rich in energy but doesn't include harmful amounts of sugars that can cause laminitis. The fiber in beet pulp is very digestible, which is why some horses won't stop eating it.

Is alfalfa bad for older horses?

The digestive system in older horses tends to be less efficient at processing and absorbing nutrients. Older horses often have difficulty eating hay because their teeth are either worn down or missing. ... Coleman has found that mixed grass-legume hay, such as orchard-alfalfa or timothy-alfalfa, is often a good choice.

How does alfalfa affect horses?

Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of energy, protein, calcium and some other nutrients for horses. Its concentrations of protein and calcium meet the nutrient needs of horses in high levels of production, such as growth and lactation, but exceed the nutrient requirements of horses in other life stages.

What is the best feed for a horse with Cushing's?

Horses and ponies diagnosed with PPID/Cushing's Disease should be fed a low sugar and starch diet. As alfalfa is naturally low in both sugar and starch, there are a number of feeds in our range that are suitable.

Can you free feed alfalfa to horses?

Alfalfa or grain hays (such as oat or rye) can be fed free choice too, and most horses will probably regulate their intake of these as well. ... Alfalfa and oat hays are often somewhat higher in calories so will put weight on many horses.

Should horses eat grass or alfalfa?

While most horses do well and thrive on a grass hay diet, other horses with different needs and medical conditions are better suited to being fed a diet of grass/alfalfa mix, or an exclusively all alfalfa.

How much alfalfa can you feed a horse?

The amount and type of hay fed relates to the other feeds you use and the use of your horse. In general, feed hay twice a day; limit alfalfa to one-half of your roughage; and feed grain according to body condition and use of the horse.

Can apples cause laminitis in horses?

Apples and carrots both contain sugar, and whilst a single apple or carrot won't contain enough sugar to cause laminitis on its own, if a laminitis prone animal is also getting other sources of soluble carbohydrates then a few apples or carrots may just be enough to tip them over the edge.

Can horses eat prunes?

Most horses can safely eat prunes. A prune is simply a dried plum and it contains almost the same nutrients and vitamins as raw plums. Prunes do have significantly more fiber than raw plums, however. While raw plums have around 2 grams of fiber per plum, prunes have around 12 grams!

Can Apples Cause founder?

Just about anything fed in excess will cause a horse to founder. An occasional apple or carrot (one a day) won't harm your horse unless he/she is obese or has an allergy to those things. A bushel basket of apples or carrots could indeed make a horse founder.