feeding my 3yr old thoroughbred filly

As far as the alfalfa, would you suggest an alfalfa mix or straight alfalfa?

50/50 is nice. The alfalfa gives her the added nutrition and the grass gives her something to do. Oat hay is a popular option that can't be overlooked. Most horses love it. The alfalfa should also decrease your need for adding concentrates. The problem with G/A blends is they can be all over the place. Some bales out of the same field, same cutting can be 10/90 while others are 90/10. I like to buy straight G and straight A so I can control the blend. Because G and A also tend to mature at different rates and optium cuttings are very different, it gives you the ability to buy it the way that works best for your situation.

I have had to feed only grass, only alfalfa or somewhere inbetween. Don't be so set in what you feed that you don't take advantage of what's a good deal and available. The pelleted products that she is being fed (G,A and BP) are all forage replacement products that can be convienient to haul and store but often cost twice as much as the equivalent in hay. I'd get her switched over to mostly hay and just use the pelleted products as fill in (plus the Vit/mineral).

The only time I shy from alfalfa is when a horse reacts to it which is more common then people think

It depends on the brand.. I feed Empower Boost and can feed up to 3lbs a day safely

Empoer boost is NOT just rice bran like some are it has other stuff in it so not the same thing

I will have to look at the label for my rice bran again.... I don't recall it saying there was a limit that should be fed daily, I believe it just said to add to regular diet. I will check again though. I did go ahead and split up her meals into 3 a day. Do I need to worry about her colicing from the hay as i'm working her up to free choice? Because she was getting only 1 flake before, my only concern is she will just consume as much hay as possible because she is not used to having so much.

As you increase the hay, your chance for colic will actually go down. The added bulk will improve gut motility and health. She will go through more water if you were soaking her feed before.

Feeding a high percentage of RB in the overall diet is first off expensive and very limited in what it offers nutritionally. Why is it being fed in such high amounts?

I purchased the filly about 2 weeks ago. The previous owners told me the types of feed and amounts that she was being regularly fed, I wanted to be sure she settled into her new home before making any changes to her diet. Her diet seemed strange to me as far as amounts which is why I seeked out some advice here. Thanks so much for all the info guys. Its been very helpful
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