Legumes are plant species commonly used as a forages for horses. They typically have a higher nutrient content than grass forage species.

Alfalfa is the most common forage legume; however, clovers, birdsfoot trefoil, and lespedeza can also be fed.

Legumes have rhizobia (nodule bacteria) that fix nitrogen from the air into a plant-available form.

For more information, see:

•  Hays for Horses and Their Characteristics
• Feeding Forages to Horses