Many horse owners feed alfalfa exclusively, while others avoid it entirely.
At Wild Fed we agree that horses should not eat an 100% alfalfa diet. A 20-30% diet seems totally appropriate and actually desirable for most horses, with some exceptions.
Alfalfa is rich in nutrients and in the herbal world it is a highly esteemed herb used for its high mineral content as well as its support for arthritic joints. When combined properly with grass hays, you get a perfect combo of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
To learn more about the debate on alfalfa read the article below written by a PhD and professor at the Department of Animal Science and Agricultural Education, California State University
Read up on the alfalfa debate here:
http://ucanr.org/alf_symp/2004/04-33.pdf?404;http://ucanr.org:80/alf_symp/2004/04-33.pdf