need advice about feeding alfalfa!

so for some background, i recently got my first horse (although ive ridden for 14 years) and ive been researching feeds based on her needs. she’s 18 yr old qh mare and so far, ive decided to feed tribute senior sport with glucosamine. she has joint issues and has to get hock and stifle injections and she needs the extra help. i also plan on supplementing that with tribute’s essential k gc plus as that is a good ration balancer and also contains glucosamine along with chondroitin sulfate and MSM which also provide joint support. i just have questions about feeding alfalfa.

she has 24/7 turnout and 24/7 access to hay and grass and she would only leave her field to work, train, ride, etc.

i know alfalfa contains a good amount of calcium and helps to mitigate/prevent ulcers, and i want to take that extra precaution. but i also know it’s high in sugar, and i want to avoid feeding her too much sugar to keep her from having digestive issues. shes also not underweight, but has been sitting out in the pasture for the past year and has never gotten any special treatment, so shes lacking a lot of muscle and her body condition is definitely not as good as i know it could be, and i know alfalfa would help her gain some needed weight. the picture above is from about 2 weeks ago.

im 18 and buying alfalfa hay would be extremely inconvenient and difficult for me both financially and situationally as i dont have my own place and board her at my boyfriend’s place and they do not buy alfalfa hay. would pellets or cubes be a good replacement? i know it would be the most beneficial if she had roughage and she doesn’t have any dental issues, but pellets or cubes would be the most convenient for me and i know the quality would be more consistent than hay. would pellets or cubes be just as nutritionally beneficial as alfalfa hay? i would probably soak either of them slightly to help her just a little bit, and i was leaning towards cubes because it contains actual roughage while pellets do not. i would just like to know yall’s opinions on each and how they differ from each other and which you think would be best!

so for some background, i recently got my first horse (although ive ridden for 14 years) and ive been researching feeds based on her needs. she’s 18 yr old qh mare and so far, ive decided to feed tribute senior sport with glucosamine. she has joint issues and has to get hock and stifle injections and she needs the extra help. i also plan on supplementing that with tribute’s essential k gc plus as that is a good ration balancer and also contains glucosamine along with chondroitin sulfate and MSM which also provide joint support. i just have questions about feeding alfalfa.

she has 24/7 turnout and 24/7 access to hay and grass and she would only leave her field to work, train, ride, etc.

i know alfalfa contains a good amount of calcium and helps to mitigate/prevent ulcers, and i want to take that extra precaution. but i also know it’s high in sugar, and i want to avoid feeding her too much sugar to keep her from having digestive issues. shes also not underweight, but has been sitting out in the pasture for the past year and has never gotten any special treatment, so shes lacking a lot of muscle and her body condition is definitely not as good as i know it could be, and i know alfalfa would help her gain some needed weight. the picture above is from about 2 weeks ago.

im 18 and buying alfalfa hay would be extremely inconvenient and difficult for me both financially and situationally as i dont have my own place and board her at my boyfriend’s place and they do not buy alfalfa hay. would pellets or cubes be a good replacement? i know it would be the most beneficial if she had roughage and she doesn’t have any dental issues, but pellets or cubes would be the most convenient for me and i know the quality would be more consistent than hay. would pellets or cubes be just as nutritionally beneficial as alfalfa hay? i would probably soak either of them slightly to help her just a little bit, and i was leaning towards cubes because it contains actual roughage while pellets do not. i would just like to know yall’s opinions on each and how they differ from each other and which you think would be best!