Posted 2007-04-05 12:45 PM (#58575) Subject: Switching hay
Member
Posts: 18
Location: indiana
We had boarded our daughter's horse for over a year. This fall we were able to bring him home. The horse had been on alfalfa hay so we kept him on it over the winter (we live in Indiana). We just purchased grass hay for the Spring and Summer. My daughter has been mixing 1 3/4 alfalfa with 1/4 grass to get him used to it. Planning on adding a 1/4 of grass every 3 or 4 days. My daughter is concerned because her horse is only eating the alfalfa. I say as time goes on he'll eat the grass hay.
We've started mixing it up a lot so it is hard for him to just "pick" out the alfalfa.
Is this common for horses to "prefer" the hay they are used to?
Posted 2007-04-05 2:30 PM (#58582 - in reply to #58575) Subject: RE: Switching hay
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544 Location: Claxton, Ga.
Boy that is typical. The little rascal eats the best hay first and wants more of the same. They will always eat the best grass out of the pasture, best feed in the trough, and so on. He'll get used to it. Just keep going.
Posted 2007-04-05 2:57 PM (#58584 - in reply to #58575) Subject: RE: Switching hay
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
Of course he is going to pick at the grass but chow down on the alfalfa...its tastes better. But there aren't many horses out there that will pass up on a meal so even if you just tossed out the grass, he'll eat. Maybe not clean it up and maybe not happy about it but he will eat. if you mix the hays, he will expect the good stuff to be there somewhere and seek it out. So just feed him the grass hay, if its soft and not stemmy and dry, he'll eat it.Ps...as you can tell i don't baby a horse...
Posted 2007-04-08 7:10 PM (#58837 - in reply to #58575) Subject: RE: Switching hay
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
One more thing to think about... Is your horse older or need to have it's teeth checked/floated? Alfalfa is easier to eat for older horses due to the small leaves and if you horse is having teeth pain it will refuse to eat the harder to chew stemmier hay. I have a 26 year-old gelding that gets 1 flake of Alfalfa and 2 flakes of very leafy brohm hay twice daily. He has some dental issues and is checked every six months. If your horse is older or suspect a tooth problem, you can try soaking the grass hay or chopping the grass hay in half for awhile.
It is most likely that your horse has developed a preference as others have stated. If you are worried about weight loss, you can also slowly introduce a senior feed or grain mixed with soaked beet pulp for added fiber/bulk in the gut until your horse gets used to the idea of eating grass hay. Gradually weaning off the alfalfa is your best bet. Just make sure your grass hay is palatable for the transition to be easier.
Posted 2007-04-09 9:55 AM (#58875 - in reply to #58575) Subject: RE: Switching hay
Member
Posts: 18
Location: indiana
He is a 9 yr old gelding, just had his teeth floated about 3 weeks ago. We just have a little of the alfalfa left now. I think he just prefers it. I figured once all he had was grass he'd eat it. My daughter was concerned so I suggested posting a question here. We are up to 3/4 grass hay and 1/4 alfalfa. My daughter is pulling the flakes apart and mixing them up pretty good and he's eating the grass. Wanted to switch him slowly as we had been told, but when he wouldn't eat the grass, she got worried.
Switching hay
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