Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hello Della,
Frankly, alfalfa is just too high in potassium to be considered for an HYPP horse. The best approach is fresh pasture, since it contains mostly water but this time of year, that is a problem. I recommend soaking the hay to dissolve out potassium (it will solubilize other minerals as well, unfortunately, so a supplement without potassium is important). And then have the soaked hay analyzed after it has dried.
Diuretics can be used to remove potassium but they are potentially damaging to the overall water balance and kidney function so should only be used under medical supervision.
So, analyze, analyze and analyze -- that is the best way to be certain that the diet has no more than 1.5% potassium. And keep stress levels down to prevent any attacks.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Author of Feed Your Horse Like A Horse
If your hay is a alfalfa/orchard mix at 2.65% potassium, what would be the best way to feed a mature mare that is ridden with all day turn out, in order to get the potassium level to 1.5% of the total diet? I have a chance to purchase a very nice roan mare, to keep my other QH company also she is a dead broke horse and very calm. I know the person selling her, she has had no problems with her up to this point. I was also thinking we could put her on a diuretic? I have read they do this for them to help flush out the potassium? Thanks Dr Getty hope your doing well!
Della
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO