Timothy Hay vs Alfalfa Hay for Horses in Canada

It's one of the most debated questions in Canadian horse keeping: Timothy hay vs alfalfa hay for horses which one should you actually be feeding? Walk into any tack store in Rocky View County or Cochrane and you'll find horse owners firmly on both sides of this debate.

The truth is, neither hay is universally better. The right choice depends entirely on your horse's age, workload, body condition, and health status.

Timothy hay for horses and alfalfa hay each have specific strengths and limitations and understanding the difference gives you a major advantage as a Canadian horse owner. Here's the complete breakdown.

Nutritional Differences: Grass Hay vs Legume Hay

The first thing to understand is what category each hay falls into. Timothy hay is a grass hay — it grows from a grass plant and has the nutritional profile typical of grasses. Alfalfa is a legume hay — like clover or peas, it's a leguminous plant with a fundamentally different nutritional composition.

This grass hay vs legume hay distinction is the root of almost every practical difference between the two. Legumes like alfalfa fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, which drives higher protein synthesis in the plant.

Grass hays like timothy have a simpler nutritional profile — more moderate in protein and energy, higher in structural fibre.

Here's how the two compare nutritionally on a dry matter basis:

Nutrient	Timothy Hay	Alfalfa Hay
Crude Protein	8 to 11%	15 to 22%
Digestible Energy	0.85 to 0.95 Mcal/lb	1.0 to 1.1 Mcal/lb
Calcium	0.3 to 0.5%	1.2 to 1.8%
Phosphorus	0.2 to 0.3%	0.2 to 0.3%
NSC (Non-Structural Carbs)	8 to 18% (varies)	8 to 14% (varies)
ADF (Structural Fibre)	Higher	Lower
Palatability	Good	Very High

 

These numbers are averages actual values vary significantly by cutting, growing conditions, and harvest timing. For accurate nutritional data on any specific bale, a laboratory hay analysis is essential. At Horse Creek Hay & Feed, every bale comes with a full nutritional analysis so you know exactly what you're feeding. Browse our 2026 hay collection here.

Protein and Calorie Comparison

Alfalfa's most significant advantage over timothy is its protein content. At 15–22% crude protein vs timothy's 8–11%, alfalfa provides roughly double the amino acid density. This matters enormously for horses with elevated protein demands growing foals, performance horses, lactating mares, and horses rebuilding muscle after illness or injury.

The caloric difference is also meaningful. Alfalfa delivers approximately 10–15% more digestible energy per pound than timothy.

For horses that need to gain weight or sustain heavy athletic output, this extra caloric density makes a tangible difference. For horses that are easy keepers or metabolically sensitive, it's a reason for caution.

When thinking about the alfalfa vs timothy hay choice strictly from a protein-calorie standpoint: if your horse needs more of both, alfalfa delivers. If your horse is already at a healthy weight and doing light work, timothy's more moderate profile is the safer and more economical choice.

For a detailed look at how different hay cuts affect protein and calorie content within timothy specifically,

Read Our Guide: 5 Differences Between 1st Cut and 2nd Cut Timothy Hay.

Calcium Differences

Calcium is where alfalfa's legume hay nature really stands out. Alfalfa contains three to five times more calcium than timothy hay typically 1.2–1.8% vs timothy's 0.3–0.5% on a dry matter basis.

This is a significant advantage for horses with elevated calcium needs:

•        Growing foals and yearlings — calcium is essential for bone development and skeletal growth

•        Lactating mares — milk production draws heavily on calcium reserves; mares on pure timothy may need calcium supplementation

•        Horses with a history of metabolic bone disease

However, high calcium can be problematic in some situations. Mature horses with healthy kidneys process excess calcium efficiently, but horses with kidney issues may struggle.

More practically, calcium and phosphorus need to be balanced at roughly 2:1 Ca:P. Alfalfa's very high calcium can throw this ratio off, particularly when fed alongside grain that is high in phosphorus.

A mixed timothy/alfalfa ration is often the best way to hit the right Ca:P balance without supplementation.

Which Is Better for Maintenance Horses?

For the typical Alberta pleasure horse in light work trail riding, occasional flat work, or simply retired and living a good life timothy hay for horses is the clear default choice.

Here's why timothy wins for maintenance horses:

✔     Lower protein means less kidney stress — healthy kidneys process excess protein, but there's no benefit to feeding more than needed

✔     Lower caloric density — maintenance horses don't need the extra energy. Alfalfa on a maintenance horse often leads to weight gain and unwanted behaviour changes (the "hot" feeling some owners report)

✔     Lower cost per bale — timothy is generally more affordable than alfalfa or mix hay, making it the economical choice for the largest segment of the horse population

✔     Safe for metabolic horses — maintenance horses are more likely to be easy keepers. Timothy's lower NSC and calorie load is safer for this profile

The one caveat: maintenance doesn't mean nutritional neglect. Timothy-fed maintenance horses may benefit from a vitamin and mineral balancer to fill micronutrient gaps. Our Hi-Pro Step 7 Ration Balancer is designed exactly for this — a low-inclusion, low-calorie supplement that rounds out the nutrition of a timothy-based feeding program without adding unnecessary calories.

Which Works for Performance Horses?

For horses in regular training, competing, or doing consistent heavy work, the Timothy hay vs alfalfa hay for horses question shifts meaningfully.

Performance horses have elevated demands across the board more protein for muscle synthesis, more energy for athletic output, and more calcium for bone stress management.

Many Canadian performance horse owners feed a timothy/alfalfa mix as the ideal middle ground: they get the higher protein and caloric density of alfalfa combined with the structural fibre and lower NSC of timothy.

This combination supports performance without the risks of feeding pure alfalfa as the sole forage.

For horses in very heavy work barrel racing, eventing, endurance, or ranch work a quality feed supplement alongside good hay is usually necessary. Hay alone, even alfalfa, rarely provides complete nutrition for hard-working horses. 

Our Hi-Pro Step 2 Peak Performance is formulated for exactly this scenario pairing it with timothy/alfalfa mix hay covers both the forage and concentrated nutrition sides of the performance equation.

For a full comparison of feed options for different activity levels,

Read Our: Step Right Horse Feed Guide.

Which May Help Hard Keepers?

For hard keepers horses that struggle to maintain or gain weight despite seemingly adequate feeding alfalfa hay is often the most practical first step before adding expensive supplements. Its higher protein and calorie density means your horse gets more nutrition from every bite.

Is alfalfa good for horses that are hard keepers? Absolutely it's one of the most effective and natural ways to increase caloric and protein intake without adding large volumes of grain. Grain-based calorie additions carry risks (gastric ulcers, colic, laminitis) that alfalfa does not.

For senior hard keepers specifically, the softer texture of leafy alfalfa hay is also easier to chew than coarser timothy.

This matters significantly for horses over 18 whose dental wear may limit their ability to extract nutrition from tough long-stem hay. For a complete guide on feeding hard-keeping seniors, 

Read: 10 Best Senior Horse Feeds for Healthy Weight Gain.

Our Levante Timothy/Alfalfa Round Bales are an excellent choice for hard-keeping horses needing the nutritional boost of alfalfa blended with the structural fibre of timothy — available for local delivery across Rocky View County.

Can Timothy and Alfalfa Be Mixed?

Yes and for many Alberta horse owners, a timothy/alfalfa mix is the best of both worlds. Mixing the two hays lets you customize the nutritional profile to your specific horse's needs, hitting the right balance of protein, energy, calcium, and fibre.

Common mixing approaches used by Alberta horse owners:

•        70% Timothy / 30% Alfalfa — a gentle nutrition boost for horses needing slightly more energy or protein than pure timothy provides. Good for light-moderate work horses

•        50% Timothy / 50% Alfalfa — a balanced mix often used for performance horses and horses coming back from weight loss or illness

•        30% Timothy / 70% Alfalfa — a richer mix for hard keepers, lactating mares, or horses in heavy athletic training

 

Pre-mixed timothy/alfalfa bales simplify this significantly. Our Summit Forage Timothy/Alfalfa Cubes offer clean, consistent, pre-mixed forage in cube form easy to store, easy to feed, and a great option when your supply of loose bales is inconsistent. Round bale options like our Levante Timothy/Alfalfa Round Bales work well for free-choice feeding in paddocks and run-in sheds.

For horses who need a completely controlled low-sugar forage option, our Hi-Pro Step 3 GenAPro is an alfalfa-based complete feed that can partially or fully replace hay with precisely known sugar, starch, and protein levels in every bag.

When Alfalfa May Be Unsuitable

Despite its nutritional advantages, alfalfa hay is not appropriate for every horse. Understanding when to avoid it is just as important as knowing when to use it.

•        Easy keepers and overweight horses — alfalfa's higher caloric density accelerates weight gain in horses that already maintain weight easily. Combined with limited exercise, alfalfa can push an easy keeper into obesity territory quickly

•        Horses with insulin resistance or EMS — while alfalfa's NSC isn't dramatically higher than timothy, the overall caloric load is greater and can worsen insulin dysregulation in metabolic horses. Pure timothy or a low-NSC tested hay is a safer default for these horses

•        Horses with kidney disease — alfalfa's very high protein load increases the burden on kidneys to excrete excess nitrogen. Horses with diagnosed renal issues should avoid alfalfa except under veterinary guidance

•        Horses prone to enteroliths — alfalfa's high calcium and alkaline-forming nature can contribute to intestinal stone formation in susceptible horses, particularly in certain geographic regions

•        Idle horses with no elevated nutritional demands — feeding alfalfa to a horse that doesn't need the extra protein and calories can result in "hot" behaviour (excess energy), weight gain, and unnecessary kidney processing of excess protein

For metabolic and easy-keeper horses specifically, our full guide on Low-Sugar Hay for Horses: What Canadian Owners Should Know covers the complete approach to low-NSC feeding in detail.

How to Transition Between Hay Types

Whether you're switching from timothy hay for horses to alfalfa, from alfalfa to a mix, or from one supplier to another sudden hay changes are one of the most common causes of digestive upset and colic in horses. The equine hindgut microbiome adapts to the type of forage being fermented, and abrupt changes disrupt that microbial balance.

Safe hay transition protocol — 10 to 14 days:

✔     Days 1–3: 90% old hay, 10% new hay. Introduce the new hay in small amounts at the same feeding time

✔     Days 4–6: 75% old hay, 25% new hay. Watch for any loose manure or reduction in hay consumption

✔     Days 7–9: 50% old hay, 50% new hay. Monitor body condition — you may see subtle changes in energy level

✔     Days 10–12: 25% old hay, 75% new hay. Most horses are well adapted by this point

✔     Day 13+: 100% new hay. Transition complete

Signs that a transition is going too fast: loose manure, reduced appetite, pot-bellied appearance, or signs of discomfort. Slow down and spend more time at the 50/50 stage if needed.

If you're transitioning to a significantly richer hay (like moving from 1st cut timothy to alfalfa), also reduce concentrate feed temporarily you don't want the combined caloric increase of both a richer hay and full grain ration at the same time.

Not sure how much of any hay type to feed by body weight and workload? Read our complete guide: How Much Hay Does a Horse Eat in a Day? Alberta Owner's Guide.

Shop Timothy Hay and Timothy/Alfalfa Mix in Alberta

The timothy hay vs alfalfa hay for horses debate doesn't have a single winner — it has a right answer for each individual horse. Timothy is the safe, economical, versatile default for most Canadian horses. Alfalfa is a powerful nutritional tool for horses that genuinely need its higher protein, calories, and calcium. And for many horses, a well-balanced mix of both delivers the best results.

At Horse Creek Hay & Feed in Rocky View County, we carry a full range of Alberta-grown timothy and timothy/alfalfa options from square bales and round bales to convenient cubes with full nutritional analysis on every product.