As a horse owner, good quality hay, with protein levels around 10% is a must for horses. With protein levels around 10%, the horse will get full long before he eats so much it could hurt him. With higher protein hays/feed, a horse can eat enough to make himself sick before he gets full.
Good quality hay means very, very low weed content, properly baled and stored. No mold! Cows can tolerate moldy hay, but it can be deadly to horses.
Dick2 is right, leave the clover and alfalfa for the cows. Clover and alfalfa can have protein levels of 14% or greater.
When the protein levels of hay or feed gets over 12% for horses that are not being ridden or worked much, you can have problems. Too much protein and not enough work to burn it off can cause them to "bounce off the walls", be silly and hard to handle. It can also lead to health problems like founder in the feet.
You will figure out quickly if your drafts are what"s called "easy keepers". That means it doesn"t take a lot of food to keep them in good flesh. Good flesh means the ribs don"t show, but you can feel them easily with your fingers.
If your drafts are pleasure horses and not going to be driven or used much, you probably won"t need to give them anything but the grass hay. If you do decide to supplement with feed, again, keep the protein level low, 12% or less and small amounts or you can have problems.
Since I am in Tx, I can"t recommend what seed to use for your field. You would be very smart to pay a visit to your local agriculture agent. He should be able to give you good advice about what to plant and how to plant it.
Take soil samples on your field so you know what fertilizer ratios to use. The ag agent will be able to help you with this, too.
Once you cut your hay and its cured out, take a sample and send it in for analysis. Your ag agent should be able to tell you where to send it and how much to send. Here in Tx, it costs $10.00 + postage to have a sample analyzed. Its worth every penny. The analysis will tell you the protein level, etc.
You don"t say if you"ve had horses before, so I am assuming you are new to having horses. There"s a lot to learn about keeping horses. If you take the time to learn, your horses will be a pleasure and many hours of enjoyment.
Be sure to find a local vet. Horses can be like small children and find ways to hurt themselves you never expected.
If you are new to having horses, your vet may be able to recommend someone in your area who has horses that would be willing to help you learn about your drafts. It will be worth your while to talk to them. Books can be a good source, too.
If you haven"t already located one, your vet should also be able to recommend a local horse shoer.
I read the posts on this forum almost daily and will be glad to answer any questions I can.
I hope your experience with your drafts is one that will make many fond memories.
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