I'm not sure if you can graze horses on it, but if you can't why not find a rancher somewere to loan you some sheep or cattle, they should love it and it would clear up your land for more horse oriented grazing. But I don't farm, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Try a Google search for "alfalfa toxicity horses" or "alfalfa horses photosensitivity." I was reading about this just last night - whilst trying to check toxicity of plants for cats and rabbits. Apparently, when wet, alfalfa can cause many animals to be extremely susecptible to sunburn and sunstroke. So if dry, it may be safe... but only you can determine the degree of risk and decide if it is acceptable.

Watch out for bloat. It is a good idea to feed some dry hay before turning animals out on a lush alfalfa pasture.

I've been doing some on-line research today and several university studies indicate it is fine to graze horses on alfalfa. They say horses don't bloat like cattle. It still makes me nervous, but I think I will try them for very small intervals at first, and if they do okay will increase their time out on it by a small amount each day. We do have other pasture which is grass, so I can alternate them. We are also looking into getting some cattle to put out there to graze it down first. My problem is if we get cows, they will become pets. (We've been down this road before!!).

Don't name them, if they haven't got names you will find it harder to be attached.

Please don't graze your horses on alfalfa!! It can create some horrible issues and even death. I have included a link that you should read. I also suggest you do more research if you are still not convinced.

I would not graze my horses on alfalfa ever!! An occasional treat is one thing - sustaining them on it is quite another.

Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Feeding Horses Alfalfa

Well, this field is way past it's prime as the alfalfa is all bloomed out and drying up. So, I'm sure it's not as rich as some of the alfalfa baled for dairy cows. I also already stated I was going to introduce them to it very gradually. I wouldn't just turn them out on it and forget about them. I've read numerous University studies where horses were grazed on alfalfa with no adverse reactions. I do know the alfalfa grown in California is more prone to giving horses enteroliths. It has to do with the mineral content in the soil. But, I'm not in CA, I'm in Idaho. I do plan to check with the local vet and ag extension guy. I know of a lot of horses who are only fed alfalfa. I personally think they do better on grass hay, but everyone has their own preferences.

I'll tell you another reason I like the alfalfa over our coastal hay here in Texas. Moisture content. In the hot dry summer months if your horses arent drinking enough water, you run a greater risk of getting an impaction feeding dry coastal vice alfalfa which has a higher moisture content. I just like feeding it all the way around.

boobster, thank you for referring to my contributition to this discussion as ca - ca.

Here in New England too much grass can and too often does cause a horse to founder because of the high sugar content. Alfalfa has a much higher sugar and protein content than grasses such as timothy, brohm, etc. Dry alfalfa is tolerable in lesser amounts than hay but still too high protein which most horses don't need and cannot process efficiently. I don't know about horses in Texas but horse here simply cannot and should not be allowed to graze at will on any lush grass - especially alfalfa. Grass founder is a very serious condition often resulting in death.

NHsuzanne, I don't beleive you wrote that article did you? So technicaly it's not 'your contribution' As a matter of fact the guy that wrote the article is here in town, and I stand by what I said ca ca :) His article referred to feeding alfalfa hay. As I said I stand by feeding it, most vets will tell you it's a myth about the protien being hard on the kidneys etc...I feed/have fed alfalfa hay forever with no ill effects. And it is the forage/hay of choice for many people I know, from Texas to Cal. to Florida....and if you'll re-read my post, I cautioned against turning any horse out on a lush green pasture (no matter the forage) without monitoring.

Boopster, technically you aren't a vet or a good speller for that matter but what I am quite sure of is that you are an absolute expert in this matter and any other subject and no one else's opinion matters anyway. Apparently everything is bigger and better in Texas.

My my don't we have our knickers in a twist. Perhaps my spelling was a tad lazy,('Good Speller?" Poor grammer) however, it quite evident that your reading comprehension leaves something to be desired. I never claimed to be a vet, (although I do work for one) and I never claimed to be an expert. I only stated my feeding practices and my experience. Your Henny Penny the sky is falling, your horse will, lets see how did you put it, oh yes...'It can create some horrible issues and even death.' is quite simply wrong. I mean really, the article even says that alfalfa can cause navicular :O Really.... At the end of the day, the OP will have to decide what to feed her horse, for myself I will continue feeding that evil alfalfa to my guys LOL. Oh, you were right about one thing though,everything is bigger and better in Texas :)

The moisture content in alfalfa is higher but, it has a higher protein content so it takes more moisture to be digested or there can be kidney problems. I have always fed alfalf half and half with oat or grass hay. I would not put my horse on a field of alfalfa or clover. My dh was a horseshoer for 25 years and we saw bad results from too much of both.

As I said earlier, I think most vets will tell you that alfalfa and related kidney problems has pretty much been discounted. You don't actually see many horses with kidney ailments. Impactions due to dry coastal hay and horses not drinking enough water, is a BIG problem here in Texas. And this last year has been especially bad, as we've been in a drought, and there is basically no forage,and consequently no hay. I do agree that one should always use caution when turning horses out (especially ones that are usually stalled) on new grass, whatever the forage might be, coastal, alfalfa etc...I just recently went from feeding grain and alfalfa to just straight alfalfa, plus they are out 24/7 on what little coastal I have :( but they are all doing really well. And I have everything from a 2 yr. old on up to a 20 something. Here's an article from a county extention agent, in Texas :) touting the benefits of Alfalfa. I only wish it wasn't so expensive :( I just paid $10.50 and it had been as high as $12.50! with the drought there was very little coastal available and if you could find it it was near $10 !!!! COuld not bring myself to pay $10 for a bale of coastal LOL.

Here is a link that might be useful: alfalfa hay

My goodness, I did not mean to start such discord. Everyone seems to be talking about feeding alflafa hay (which is very common in many areas), and my question was in regard to grazing on bloomed out, dried out alfalfa mix pasture. I have both Quarter Horses and Welsh ponies. I do not feed my Welsh alfalfa, as they have slow metabolism, and do much better on grass hay or drier grass fields. I do feed my QH's alfalfa and they do great on it. My dad raised Quarter Horses for 40 years in Minnesota, and fed grass hay once a day and alfalfa once a day, and we never had any problems. I was only going to put the QH's on the alfalfa field for a few hours a day to try to get it grazed down. We do plan on re-seeding to grass this fall. I am not talking about irrigated, rich, ready to bloom alfalfa. I'm talking about past it's prime, dry land alfalfa that is turning brown. I have read several University studies where they grazed horses on fresh alfalfa fieds 24/7 with no adverse results. Google: grazing horses on alfalfa and you will see the studies. Sorry to caused so much discord with a simple question.

LOL, No discord here, I promise you :). But just to be clear, I stated right off that I was not familiar with the protocol for 'grazing' an alfalfa field. The link that was posted referred to feeding alfalfa hay... and as you stated you have no problem with that. I just wish we had your alfalfa! You can send me as much as you like!

My experiance has been that it is better to have them graze on alfalfa than on fescue. As long as they are in reasonably fit condition. As you have already mentioned, the thriftier Welsh breeds are more likely to over eat.

For the benefit of those who are not in favor of grazing on alfalfa:

Different areas of the country, those with more rainfall for instance, have different issues with grazing pastures. While New England's lush grazing would fatten a horse to founder, the MidWest and Southwest have problems with fescue fungus that caused retained placentas, delayed births, abortions and so forth in horses.

So technically, the same horse on the same species of grass could have different health problems in different areas of the country. A great deal depends on how much work the horse is doing. For example, a non-working horse in New England could do fine on Fescue, take that horse to Texas work it 4 hours a day and it may starve to death on fescue.

Put that horse on alfalfa in Texas, it will work great, look great and stay healthy. Take it to New England, it may founder on alfalfa.

My horses, Quarter horses with lots of TB blood, are healthier now on a timothy/alfalfa pasture than they were on straight fescue. I have to be careful that my lazy herd doesn't get fat enough to founder. I bring them inside during the day to get them to stop eating for a few hours.

I've been around long enough to hear Alfalfa vilified in favor of fescue, then seen the fescue cause problems with the foal crop here in Kentucky back in 2000. Now Fescue is out and orchard grass and timothy are back in favor.

As always, the touch of the horseman is the greatest medicine.

Thanks for the voice of reason. I agree that it depends greatly on the area. Where we are in Idaho, it is drying out a lot now in July. I think there is a huge difference in the protein/moisture level now versus 6 weeks ago. We are getting several cows to graze it down some first before we try the horses out there. Thanks for everyone's input!

From Boopsters article, qualities of good hay  high in legume content to provide a higher intake, thats where it stops, it goes on to the next bullet point, that makes no sence at all!

BTW, the Texas is so much bigger and better attitude is thuroughtly off putting, Alaska is a big place, but you don't hear Alaskans trying to back there arguments up with the size of the state.

I'm sure you're right Miss Kitty. Most of our alfalfa comes from New Mexico, Nebraska...not New England. And most folks won't feed alfafla grown in TX or OK because of the Blister beetle danger. I'm sure the prot. min. moisture content of the alfalfa varies greatly. I've only seen the Timothy hay one time, it sure looked pretty and horses seemed to love it. I wonder why no one ships it down here?

B of B, that is just one article from an extention agent ( I can find you more if you like, from vets etc..) But I probably don't need to bother. I lived in Alaska for 3 years, I'm sorry it seems that it appears that Alaskans have lost their sense of humor! Or at least one has LOL. My comment was tongue in cheek, as Texans are known to brag about the state, sheesh, lighten up.

I live in Wyoming and we graze horses on alfalfa that has been frozen at least once. Our Vet told us it would be safe to feed after a hard freeze. We have 10 horses (all ages) and have not had a problem with this grazing practice. Hope this helps

We have 8 acres of fresh and lush alfalfa/orchard grass. I have older horses and they are so desperate to get out to forage on the pastures. But we have had so much rain here in Southeast OH that I'm concerned it will mak them sick. We feed the same hay to them as soon as it's cut n baled. Also let them out on the pastures after the cutting as well..just not sure what to do now.