Alfalfa Hay-Horses

[MelissaR]

I've always been told to go with the 2nd cut of alfalfa (up here in MN). It's not as rich as the first cut. First cut usually goes to the dairy farmers...

 

[Ang]

I have only ever fed my horses alfalfa. My horses are not performance horse. Heck, the one I have now serves as an overgrown lawn mower. The thing about alfalfa is to be smart about how much you feed. It is much more concentrated than a grass hay is. So a couple flakes morning and night is plenty. 2nd or 3rd cutting is fine. I usually stay away from 1st cutting. It is way too rich for my lawn mower.

 

[katrinag]

As far as the blisteer beetles go, here is some great info.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asp

Second cutting usually has less sugar. If you have a horse with cuchings you are best to feed grass hay only.

I love to mix up there diet with different hays. A pinch of this a splah of that. Gives them a varied diet.