A horse eats between 1.5% and 3% of its body weight in dry matter (feed) every day. For a typical 1,000-pound horse, this means eating 15 to 30 pounds of feed daily.
Feeding a horse correctly is vital for its health and well-being. It is not just about filling the bucket; it’s about giving the right balance of food to meet all its needs. This food includes hay, pasture, and sometimes grain. Knowing the daily equine feed requirements keeps your horse strong, happy, and free from common digestive issues like colic. This guide will help you figure out the right amounts.
The Foundation of Horse Nutrition: Why Diet Matters
Horses evolved to graze nearly all day long. Their digestive systems are designed for a slow, steady intake of fibrous feed. This constant chewing and slow digestion keep their guts healthy. Disrupting this natural pattern can cause major health problems.
A horse’s total feed intake includes everything it consumes. This is measured in “dry matter.” Dry matter is the weight of the feed after all the water is removed. Hay is about 80-90% dry matter, while fresh grass can be 70-80% water.
Deciphering Daily Equine Feed Requirements
The amount a horse needs to eat depends on several key factors. You must look at the horse’s weight, its work level, and its current body condition.
Body Weight is the Starting Point
The first step in calculating horse feed amount is knowing the horse’s weight. You can use a weight tape or a livestock scale for the best results.
| Horse Weight (Pounds) | 1.5% Body Weight (Maintenance) | 2.5% Body Weight (Moderate Work) |
|---|---|---|
| 800 lbs | 12 lbs | 20 lbs |
| 1,000 lbs | 15 lbs | 25 lbs |
| 1,200 lbs | 18 lbs | 30 lbs |
| 1,500 lbs | 22.5 lbs | 37.5 lbs |
Remember these amounts are dry matter. If you feed grass hay, which is mostly dry matter, the total weight you give will be close to these numbers.
Workload Dictates Needs
A horse’s energy needs change based on what it does each day.
- Maintenance: Horses at rest or doing very light activity (like walking a few hours a week) need the lower end of the range (1.5% of body weight).
- Light Work: Horses ridden a few times a week for short periods. They need closer to 2% of their body weight.
- Moderate Work: Horses in regular training or doing trail riding often. They need 2% to 2.5% of their body weight.
- Heavy Work: Racehorses or intense endurance horses need the top end or even more (up to 3% or more) to keep up their weight and energy.
The Importance of Roughage Intake for Horses
For any horse, the majority of the diet must come from high-fiber feed. This is known as roughage intake for horses. Fiber keeps the digestive tract moving properly. It slows down eating, which is natural for horses.
Hay: The Staple Food
Hay is the backbone of the horse diet when pasture is not available. It provides necessary fiber and energy.
Average hay consumption per horse varies, but it should make up at least half, and ideally two-thirds, of the total dry matter intake.
For a 1,000-pound horse needing 20 pounds of total feed daily (moderate work):
- Hay intake should be at least 10 to 13 pounds of dry matter.
- If the horse eats 20 pounds of hay per day, it is getting enough fiber.
Different types of hay offer different nutrients.
- Grass Hays (Timothy, Orchard Grass): Good for most horses. They are usually lower in sugar and protein.
- Legume Hays (Alfalfa, Clover): Higher in protein and calcium. Good for growing horses, pregnant mares, or hard keepers, but must be fed with caution to easy keepers due to higher energy.
Pasture Grazing
Fresh grass is excellent, but it is also very high in water. A horse grazing all day might eat 50 to 70 pounds of fresh grass. However, much of that weight is water. You must factor this in so you do not overfeed grain or hay supplements.
Fathoming Horse Daily Nutrient Intake
Horse daily nutrient intake involves more than just total pounds. You need to balance protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Protein Needs
Protein is made of amino acids. These are the building blocks for muscle, skin, and enzymes.
- Maintenance horses need about 8-10% crude protein in their diet.
- Working or growing horses need 12-14% crude protein.
If you feed good quality hay, you often meet the protein needs without adding high-protein feeds.
Energy (Calories)
Energy fuels the horse’s life. It comes from fats, carbohydrates (sugars and starches), and fiber. Hay provides steady, slow-release energy. Grains provide quick, intense energy.
- A horse doing light work needs about 16.7 Mcal (megacalories) of digestible energy per day.
- A horse in hard work might need 30 Mcal or more.
How Much Grain A Horse Needs Daily
Grain (like oats, corn, or commercial pellets) is an energy supplement, not a replacement for hay. Only feed grain when hay and pasture cannot meet the energy demands of the horse.
If a horse is getting enough calories and nutrients from high-quality forage, how much grain a horse needs daily is zero.
When grain is needed, feed it sparingly. A horse’s small stomach cannot handle large meals of concentrated energy.
General Rule for Grain: Never feed more than 5 pounds of grain (concentrate) in one meal to an average-sized horse. Larger meals can overload the small intestine, leading to undigested starch reaching the large intestine. This causes gas, colic, or laminitis.
If you need to feed 10 pounds of grain total in a day, split it into at least three or four small meals.
Establishing a Proper Feeding Schedule for Horses
Consistency is key to gut health. A good feeding schedule for horses mimics their natural grazing pattern.
Horses thrive on small, frequent meals. Aim for at least two meals a day, but three or four are better.
- Morning Meal: Feed early.
- Mid-day: Allow grazing or free-choice hay if possible.
- Evening Meal: Feed later in the day.
- Overnight: The horse should have access to hay overnight to keep its stomach working.
Table: Sample Daily Schedule for a 1,000 lb Horse in Light Work (Total Feed: 20 lbs)
| Time | Feed Type | Amount (Dry Matter) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Hay | 5 lbs | Start the day with roughage. |
| 11:00 AM | Pasture/Hay | Free choice/2 lbs | Grazing time or a small hay snack. |
| 4:00 PM | Hay | 5 lbs | Second main hay meal. |
| 8:00 PM | Hay + Grain (if needed) | 8 lbs Hay + 2 lbs Grain | Distribute grain slowly. Ensure plenty of hay follows. |
Water Intake for Horses Daily: The Essential Nutrient
While we focus heavily on solid food, water intake for horses daily is arguably the most critical component. Dehydration causes many health crises, including impaction colic.
A horse needs at least 5 to 10 gallons (about 20 to 40 liters) of clean, fresh water daily. This amount goes up significantly with hot weather, heavy exercise, or if the horse is eating a lot of dry hay.
- Rule of Thumb: A horse should drink about one gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight daily, plus extra for work.
- Always ensure water buckets or troughs are cleaned daily. Cold weather requires monitoring to ensure water does not freeze.
Developing the Best Diet Plan for Horses
The best diet plan for horses starts with forage and is built up from there. Use this hierarchy:
- Forage First: Ensure the horse gets at least 1.5% of its body weight in good quality hay or pasture daily. This is non-negotiable.
- Identify Gaps: Does the horse need more calories for work? Does it need more protein for muscle building?
- Supplement Wisely: If forage alone is not enough, add a ration balancer or a measured amount of grain/concentrate. Do not simply add more grain if the horse is not underweight or in heavy work.
- Vitamins and Minerals: If the hay quality is low or if the horse is not eating a balanced commercial feed, a vitamin/mineral supplement ensures they get everything they need without overfeeding calories.
Body Condition Scoring (BCS)
Use the Henneke Body Condition Scoring system (a scale of 1 to 9) to check if your feeding plan is working.
- A score of 5 is ideal (neither too fat nor too thin).
- If the score drops below 4, increase the feed amount, starting with hay.
- If the score is above 6, slightly reduce the total feed, focusing on reducing grain first.
Cost Implications: Cost of Feeding a Horse Daily
The cost of feeding a horse daily varies wildly based on location and feed type. Hay is usually the largest expense.
Factors affecting the cost:
- Hay Quality: Premium grass hay costs more than lower-quality grass/weed mixes. Alfalfa is often more expensive than grass hay.
- Concentrates: Commercial, balanced feeds are more expensive per pound than simple grains like oats.
- Regional Prices: Hay prices fluctuate heavily based on local weather and availability.
Example Cost Estimate (1,000 lb Horse on Maintenance):
This assumes the horse eats 18 lbs of hay daily (1.8% body weight) and no grain. If hay costs $250 per ton (2,000 lbs):
- Cost per pound of hay: $250 / 2,000 lbs = $0.125 per pound.
- Daily Hay Cost: 18 lbs * $0.125/lb = $2.25 per day.
If you add 2 pounds of commercial feed at $0.30 per pound:
- Daily Supplement Cost: 2 lbs * $0.30/lb = $0.60 per day.
- Total Daily Cost Estimate: $2.85 per day (plus salt, minerals, and water).
This shows that a good forage-based diet keeps the cost manageable. Adding too much grain or specialized supplements drives the daily cost up quickly.
Special Considerations for Feeding
Different life stages require specific adjustments to the standard plan.
Feeding Growing Horses
Foals and young horses need diets focused on steady, controlled growth. They require more protein and minerals like calcium and phosphorus for bone development. Overfeeding calories, especially from grain, can cause developmental orthopedic diseases (DODs). Always use feeds specifically formulated for growth stages.
Feeding Seniors
Older horses often struggle to chew tough hay or digest large amounts of coarse fiber.
- Switch very coarse hay to soft hay (like Alfalfa).
- Consider soaking hay or switching hard-to-chew grain mixes to soaked hay pellets or specialized senior feeds. These are easier to eat and digest.
Feeding Performance Horses
These athletes have huge energy needs. While forage remains important, they will need significant concentrates to meet their energy demands without overloading their gut with too much bulk. Monitor their BCS closely to ensure they are maintaining weight under stress.
Interpreting Feed Labels and Balancers
When you decide to supplement hay, look closely at the feed tag. This is crucial for calculating horse feed amount accurately.
Labels show guaranteed analysis for:
- Crude Protein (CP)
- Fat
- Fiber (Crude Fiber)
- Lysine (an essential amino acid)
A “ration balancer” is a pellet concentrated with vitamins and minerals. You feed only a small amount (often 1 to 2 pounds per day). This is perfect for horses getting enough calories from hay but lacking essential micronutrients. This is often a much better approach than feeding large amounts of high-energy grain when only vitamins are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I know if my horse is getting enough roughage?
Your horse should always have access to hay or pasture for most of the day. If your horse finishes its hay very quickly and starts looking for more between scheduled feedings, you likely need to increase the hay supply or switch to a slow feeder net. A healthy horse’s gut needs constant work.
Can I feed my horse only grain and no hay?
No. Never feed a horse only grain. Horses must have a minimum of 1% of their body weight in forage (hay or pasture) daily. Feeding only grain starves the horse’s digestive system of essential fiber, leading to ulcers, colic, and potentially life-threatening digestive shutdown.
How often should I weigh my horse’s hay?
You should weigh the hay at least once a week, especially when you first switch hay sources or if you are feeding a specific amount for a medical reason. Even flakes from the same bale can vary in weight. Weighing ensures you are truly meeting the daily equine feed requirements and not guessing.
What happens if I feed my horse too much grain?
Too much grain, especially high starch/sugar grain fed in one large meal, can cause severe digestive upset. The starch ferments rapidly in the hindgut, producing excess acid and gas. This increases the risk of colic (abdominal pain) and laminitis (a serious hoof condition). Always feed grain in small, frequent meals.
How much salt does a horse need daily?
Horses need about 1 to 2 ounces of salt per day, depending on work and weather. Always provide free-choice salt (a salt block or loose salt). If your horse isn’t consuming enough salt, it won’t drink enough water, which increases the risk of impaction colic.