Is alfalfa good for horses feet?

Alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and adding it to the diet of horses with poor hoof quality can help improve structural soundness of the hoof wall. Zinc is important in formation of healthy skin, hair, and hooves because it plays a role in the formation of keratin and collagen.
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Can alfalfa cause sore feet in horses?

The horses do well on this year round. I personally don't have a problem with this as long as the alfalfa is fed in moderation to horses that don't exhibit hoof sensitivity related to diet, but for a while there our horses were being fed quite a bit of alfalfa, which could have contributed to Replika's sore feet.
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Can too much 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.
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Why is alfalfa not good 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.
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How do I toughen up my horses feet?

Topical Products

Venice turpentine is a popular ingredient that horse owners and farriers use to help harden soles. Other popular topical products include tea tree oil, iodine and pine tar.
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Is Alfalfa Hay Good For Horses - When



How can I thicken my horses soles?

To regain and maintain sole thickness, pour-in pads can be a helpful way to protect the remaining sole and allow more sole growth. When the soles are sealed off with pour-in pad material, they have a better chance of retaining thickness and re-growing.
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How do I keep my horses hooves healthy?

Quick facts
  1. Schedule regular trimming or shoeing.
  2. Maintain good hoof balance.
  3. Provide appropriate shoeing for different weather and footing conditions.
  4. Provide appropriate treatment when disease occurs.
  5. Maintain proper horse nutrition.
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Does alfalfa cause inflammation in horses?

THREE RISKS OF FEEDING TOO MUCH ALFALFA TO HORSES:

Horses that are on high protein diets become overly acidic which can cause inflammation in various body systems including the joints and hooves. They may get “hot”, anxious or agitated, or show signs of liver or kidney stress.
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Is alfalfa hard on horses kidneys?

Alfalfa (lucerne) products, whether hay, cubes, or pellets, are not known to cause kidney problems in horses.
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Can alfalfa make horses itchy?

We often find that Barley, Molasses and Alfalfa are ingredients that can cause unwanted reactions in some horses. For some horses, allergies and intolerances can take weeks, months or years to develop, meaning that their once favourite food could begin to cause unwanted and adverse reactions.
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Can alfalfa make a horse lame?

Some people, though, just don't want to feed alfalfa — they believe it causes laminitis. 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.
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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.
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Which is better alfalfa cubes or pellets?

There is no nutritional difference between alfalfa pellets and cubes, so the choice between the two is based on which type your horses prefer and which you prefer to feed and store. Alfalfa pellets, cubes, and hay provide the same essential nutrients per pound.
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Does alfalfa help with hoof growth?

Instead of feeding more protein to horses with bad hooves, consider feeding high-quality protein sources, which include alfalfa hay, soybean meal, and some milk proteins. Minerals such as calcium, zinc, and copper also affect hoof growth and quality.
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Can a horse with laminitis have alfalfa?

Feeds with a combined sugar and starch content of less than 10% should be fed to horses with laminitis. If horses are underweight and need to gain condition, consider adding alfalfa-based forages as they contain more calories per pound, but are low in sugars and starches.
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How much alfalfa does a horse need a day?

Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. of hay per day. The quality of the hay will determine how much is needed and if supplemental grain should be added. Good alfalfa can be 18-20% protein and 55% TDN or energy.
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Is alfalfa good for older horses?

Therefore, the key to feeding older horses is to use high quality protein from sources like alfalfa, soybean meal and canola meal without oversupplying their requirements.
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Does alfalfa make horses pee more?

Because alfalfa is high in protein and because excess protein will normally be converted to urea, a horse that gets more than its share will urinate more than usual.
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Does alfalfa make a horse hot?

Alfalfa hay will make a horse hot, or crazy.

Not so, if fed appropriately. Alfalfa provides a significant amount of calories; however, an excess of calories in any form, whether from alfalfa, grain or oil, without the exercise to burn them, can result in an excessively energetic horse.
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Can alfalfa put weight on a horse?

Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse. If your horse tends to be wasteful with his hay, he may eat more when offered alfalfa hay cubes or pellets.
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Can horses get laminitis from hay?

Feed a low energy forage

Hay is more suitable for horses and ponies at risk of laminitis than haylage. For those prone to the disease and/or overweight, feed hay that has been soaked for 12-16 hours.
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Will alfalfa make a horse colic?

Rich alfalfa hay can also cause colic, so we recommend feeding a grass hay or grass/alfalfa mix. Changes in management or a horse's routine can be stressful and contribute to colic risk as well. Water is also very important, as a horse with minimal exercise needs to drink 4-5 gallons a day to remain healthy.
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What is good for horses hooves?

Trace minerals (iodine, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium) and biotin, commonly found in feeds and supplements, also contribute to hoof health. All Legends® horse feeds have advanced amino acid formulation and three guaranteed amino acids to help build and maintain healthy hooves.
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How do you keep a horse hoof moist?

You can do that two ways:
  1. Keep Moisture Changes to a Minimum. Restrict your horse's exposure to excess moisture. ...
  2. Use a Proven Hoof Conditioner Regularly. Regularly apply a hoof conditioner that contains phospholipids to promote correct moisture balance. ...
  3. Phospholipid supplementation.
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How often should you oil your horses hooves?

If your horse has very dry or cracked hooves, soak them and apply some hoof oil two to three times each week. When your horse's hooves improve, apply the hoof oil just once each week. Be careful not to over-moisturize your horse's hooves.
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