Alfalfa (lucerne) for horses: benefits and when to feed it

Alfalfa (also called lucerne) is a legume, not a grass — and that makes it very different from meadow hay. It's high in protein and calcium and relatively low in sugar, which makes it valuable for horses that need to build condition, topline or muscle, and for many metabolic horses that need low sugar.

But alfalfa is rich, and more isn't always better. It's best used as part of the ration — in rotation or mixed with grass hay — rather than as the whole diet.

When alfalfa helps

• Horses that need to gain or hold condition and muscle
• Sport horses in hard work needing quality protein
• Youngstock and broodmares with high protein and calcium needs
• Many laminitis-/EMS-prone horses, thanks to its low sugar — when analysis confirms it

When to be careful

Because alfalfa is high in protein and calcium, feeding large amounts alone can unbalance the ration, and the extra protein isn't needed by every horse. Introduce it gradually, feed it as part of a mostly grass-hay diet, and match the amount to the horse's workload. As always, a lab analysis tells you what you're actually feeding.

Prime Hay alfalfa

Our Luzerne/Alfalfa is lab-tested, low-sugar and low in dust, delivered and placed across Portugal and Spain — ideal in rotation with our French meadow hay.

Frequently asked

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