Switching horse from Alfalfa to T&A ???

Question

Hi, I have a horse and he's been eating Alfalfa Hay, my friend recommended me to switch to T&A.

I think people feed there horse Alfalfa to get more Energy etc.

For heavier training and so on... but I ride him maybe 3 times a week and he is only a pleasure basic dressage horse.

He is a OTTB but very calm not scared or spirited at all.

He's actually very lazy sometimes.

Should I still switch him to T&A ?

What is the main difference between them both ?

If anyone can explain that to me would be very helpful ?

And if I should switch, how do I do that ???(importend)

Answer 1

If you do switch...switch him gradually.

I have a mare right now that we are switching hay....

we just bought her and we want her to eat the same hay we produce at our barn.

If your horse is doing good right now....and their is no real reason to switch hay....i believe it is a lot of trouble for nothing.

do what you think is best.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 2

Straight alfalfa hay is very rich and is considered to be a "hot" and stimulant type of hay.

T and A means a mixed hay with Timothy and Alfalfa...it looks more grassy with the long fuzzy pieces of the timothy.  It is a good, "economical" (well more economical than straight alfalfa) mix that is used quite frequently as a horses roughage.

We use it in our barn and we are a high energy show barn..so we like some spunk.

I don't see a problem in you switching from one to the other and if me, would switch (and mine do get fed T&A).

Being that you are switching from alfalfa to T&A you can just make the change without worry..however, if the other way around, you would have to introduce the alfalfa in a more regimented manner because it is so much richer and some horses systems react to it.

I hope this helped..