Question
I have a 30-year-old Rocky Mountain Horse gelding that can no longer chew hay, and I have been supplementing his grain with soaked alfalfa pellets. He also has problems with grass, as he quids most of it. He manages to consume some chopped hay but not enough. What is the maximum amount of soaked alfalfa pellets that can be given to a horse daily? I don't want to give him too much alfalfa, but he has gained weight and looks good. He urinates more frequently when fed alfalfa pellets, so I am concerned about potential kidney problems.
Answer
A behavior often displayed by horses with failing teeth, quidding involves taking grass or hay into the mouth, wetting it with saliva, rolling it around the mouth, and then dropping it to the ground partially chewed. A horse learns to quid gradually, understanding instinctively that it may be dangerous to swallow half-chewed wads of forage. The problem with quidding, as you point out, is that for all the work involved in the behavior, the horse derives no nutritional benefit.
Without knowing the type and quantity of grain fed, it is difficult to provide specifics about your gelding’s diet, so I will answer the primary questions you’ve posed.
Hay pellets can replace hay on an equal-weight basis, so for every pound (or kilogram) of hay fed, he can receive a pound (or kilogram) of forage pellets. If your gelding weighs 1,000 lb (450 kg), then he could be given 12.5-19 lb (6-9 kg) of alfalfa pellets daily, based on feeding 1.25-1.8% of body weight daily. Adjust this amount based on your horse’s actual body weight. When feeding hay pellets as a significant source of forage, as you are, divide the total amount into three or four meals daily.
You mentioned that you’re happy with the gelding’s weight gain. If he continues to gain weight on alfalfa pellets beyond the goal weight, consider feeding him grass hay pellets or timothy/alfalfa pellets, which will contain fewer calories.
Healthy horses can metabolize and excrete any excess protein found in alfalfa pellets without harm to their kidneys. Horses that consume high-protein diets may drink more water and produce more urine than other horses. While this is a general truth, I would encourage you to seek advice from your veterinarian regarding your horse’s kidney health.
Likewise, a comprehensive dental plan should be etched out for your gelding if you’ve not already done so. As horses age, their teeth often become problematic, sometimes to the point of causing severe pain, which can lead to decreased appetite and weight loss. A proactive dental plan for senior horses will help them age comfortably.
