Is alfalfa a hay you prefer and have to purchase out of state? This article, written, by Dr. Miguel Castillo, NCSU Extension Forage Specialist, may be of great interest to you! Other articles, fact sheets and guides can also be found from our NC State Extension Forage Webpage.
https://forages.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/05/high-quality-alfalfa-also-comes-from-north-carolina/
My first horse was an ancient (28 year old), retired mare I inherited from my riding instructor when she moved barns. She was my favorite horse, and I was equal parts delighted I'd get to see her everyday and nervous I wouldn't be able to properly take care of her. The first couple of days (weeks, months, lifetime), I pestered my Dad with questions about anything and everything.
"Dad, her ears are drooping. Is that normal?" - She was just relaxed.
"Dad, she sneezed/coughed. Is she okay?" - That's what happens when they're eating hay and dust gets in their nose. While a little dust is fine, too much can cause respiratory problems, such as HEAVES.
"Hey Dad! How can I tell if she's colicing? I think she's colicing right now!" - She wasn't. She was scratching an itch. She never colic a day in her life and was offended I'd even entertain the thought. Never-the-less, knowing the signs and how to PREVENT COLIC is important.
"Dad, what are these weird bumps? Does she have cancer?" - They were bug bites. Use FLY PREVENTION.
"Dad, her poop is weird. It's green! That is not normal! Can you come look at it?" - That's what happens when horses eat a lot of fresh forages. However, ANALYZING YOUR HORSE'S MANURE can be a great health indicator.
My poor, patient Dad answered every question, and eventually I was able to establish a baseline of what is normal and abnormal. While it is funny (and a little embarrassing) to look back on this time, never-the-less, establishing a "normal", or baseline, is an important step when becoming a horse owner. It not only helps you detect signs of disease early, but also helps your vet form a diagnosis in critical or emergency situations.
Arizona Cooperative Extension has a great resource any savvy horse owner can use to establish a baseline on not only behavior and eating patterns, but also vital signs, gum color, and more (link below).
Knowing What is Normal for Your Horse
