Estimate your horse's daily hay and feed needs based on body weight and activity level.
Horses are generally fed a total of about 2-2.5% of their body weight in feed per day, with the split between forage (hay/pasture) and concentrate (grain) shifting based on workload.
Total Daily Feed = Body Weight × Feed Percentage (2.0-2.5% based on activity)
A 1,000 lb horse in light work needs about 20 lb of total feed per day, roughly 17 lb of hay and 3 lb of grain.
This is a general estimate - consult an equine nutritionist or veterinarian for a diet tailored to your horse.
It's commonly based on a percentage of the horse's body weight (often around 1.5-2.5% for total daily forage/feed intake), adjusted for workload and life stage.
Horses in heavy work need more calories and nutrients than those at rest or in light work, similar to how a more active person needs more food than a sedentary one.
Yes — most equine nutrition guidelines recommend forage (hay/pasture) as the foundation of the diet, with grain/concentrate feed supplementing as needed for additional energy needs.