Complete Horse Feeding Guide
Feeding your horse properly isn’t just about filling a bucket with grain. Every horse owner needs to understand the nutritional requirements that keep their equine companion healthy, energetic, and thriving. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about horse feed, from foals to senior horses.
Understanding Horse Food Basics
Horses are grazing animals by nature. Their digestive systems evolved to process small amounts of food continuously throughout the day. When we bring horses into domestic settings, we must replicate this natural feeding pattern as closely as possible.
The foundation of any horse’s diet should be forage, primarily hay or pasture grass. Quality forage provides the fiber necessary for proper gut health and prevents digestive issues like colic. Most horses need to consume approximately 2% of their body weight in forage daily.
Commercial horse feed supplements this forage base when horses need additional calories, protein, or specific nutrients. Performance horses, growing youngsters, pregnant mares, and lactating mares often require concentrated feeds to meet their increased nutritional demands.
Horse Feeding Chart by Weight
Your horse’s body weight determines the baseline amount of feed required. Use this practical feeding chart as your starting point:
Average riding horse: For a 1,000-pound horse
- Forage (hay): 15-20 pounds daily
- Concentrate (grain): 0-5 pounds daily depending on activity level
- Total daily intake: 2-2.5% of body weight
Smaller breed or pony: For an 800-pound horse
- Forage (hay): 12-16 pounds daily
- Concentrate (grain): 0-4 pounds daily
- Total daily intake: 2-2.5% of body weight
Larger breed or draft cross: For a 1,200-pound horse
- Forage (hay): 18-24 pounds daily
- Concentrate (grain): 0-6 pounds daily
- Total daily intake: 2-2.5% of body weight
Warmblood or draft horse: For a 1,500-pound horse
- Forage (hay): 22-30 pounds daily
- Concentrate (grain): 0-8 pounds daily
- Total daily intake: 2-2.5% of body weight
Remember that these amounts represent starting points. Individual horses vary based on metabolism, activity level, and environmental conditions.
Horse Feeding Chart by Age
Age dramatically affects nutritional needs. Growing horses require different ratios of protein, calcium, and calories compared to mature adults.
Foals (Birth to 6 Months)
Foals receive complete nutrition from their mother’s milk during the first months of life. Around 2-3 months, introduce creep feed—a specially formulated concentrate designed for young horses.
- Mare’s milk: Primary nutrition source
- Creep feed: 1-2 pounds daily starting at 2-3 months
- Quality hay: Free choice access
- Protein needs: 14-16% crude protein
- Growth rate: Monitor carefully to prevent developmental orthopedic disease
Weanlings (6 Months to 1 Year)
The weaning period presents critical nutritional challenges. Weanlings experience rapid growth and bone development.
- Quality hay: 1.5-2% of body weight
- Growth formula concentrate: 1-1.5% of body weight
- Protein needs: 14-16% crude protein
- Calcium to phosphorus ratio: 2:1 for proper bone development
- Feed smaller meals 2-3 times daily
Yearlings (1 to 2 Years)
Growth continues but at a slower pace. Proper nutrition during this phase prevents future soundness issues.
- Quality hay: 1.5-2% of body weight
- Growth formula or maintenance feed: 0.75-1% of body weight
- Protein needs: 12-14% crude protein
- Monitor body condition score closely
- Avoid overfeeding to prevent rapid growth spurts
Young Adults (2 to 3 Years)
Horses enter light work during this period. Nutritional needs shift toward supporting muscle development and sustained energy.
- Quality hay: 1.5-2% of body weight
- Maintenance or performance feed: 0.5-1% of body weight
- Protein needs: 10-12% crude protein
- Adjust concentrate based on training intensity
- Maintain access to fresh water at all times
Mature Horses (4 to 15 Years)
Adult horses in their prime require balanced nutrition matched to their workload.
Light work (trail riding, occasional lessons):
- Hay: 2% of body weight
- Concentrate: 0-0.5% of body weight
- Protein needs: 8-10% crude protein
Moderate work (regular training, showing):
- Hay: 1.5-2% of body weight
- Concentrate: 0.5-1% of body weight
- Protein needs: 10-12% crude protein
Heavy work (racing, eventing, intense training):
- Hay: 1.5-2% of body weight
- Concentrate: 1-1.5% of body weight
- Protein needs: 12-14% crude protein
- Consider adding fat sources for sustained energy
Senior Horses (15+ Years)
Older horses face unique challenges including dental wear, decreased digestive efficiency, and potential metabolic changes.
- Senior formula feed: Easier to chew and digest
- Hay: 1.5-2% of body weight (consider soaking or using hay cubes)
- Concentrate: 0.5-1.5% of body weight depending on condition
- Protein needs: 12-14% crude protein to maintain muscle mass
- More frequent smaller meals aid digestion
- Monitor weight carefully and adjust accordingly
Types of Horse Feed Explained
Hay and Forage Options
Grass Hay: Timothy, orchard grass, and brome grass provide excellent everyday forage. These hays contain moderate protein (8-12%) and work well for most horses.
Legume Hay: Alfalfa and clover offer higher protein (15-20%) and calcium. Best suited for growing horses, lactating mares, and performance horses with high energy demands.
Mixed Hay: Combinations of grass and legume hay balance nutrition and palatability for picky eaters.
Hay Cubes and Pellets: Convenient alternatives to long-stem hay, especially beneficial for horses with dental problems or respiratory sensitivities.
Concentrate Feeds
Sweet Feed: Traditional textured feed mixing grains with molasses. Palatable but high in sugar—not ideal for metabolic horses.
Pelleted Feed: Uniform pellets prevent selective eating and reduce dust. Available in various formulations for different life stages and activity levels.
Extruded Feed: Heat-processed nuggets offer enhanced digestibility and nutrient availability. Often more expensive but efficient.
Grain Mixes: Oats, corn, and barley provide quick energy. Oats remain the safest grain choice, while corn and barley require careful feeding due to high starch content.
Supplements and Additives
Fat Supplements: Rice bran and vegetable oils provide concentrated calories without excess starch. Excellent for hard keepers and performance horses.
Protein Supplements: Soybean meal adds protein when forage quality is poor or horses need extra muscle support.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements: Balance deficiencies in hay and pasture, particularly important for areas with selenium-deficient soils.
How to Calculate Your Horse’s Feed Requirements
Determining the right amount of horse food requires knowing your horse’s weight. Most owners don’t have access to livestock scales, so use weight tape measurements or this formula:
Weight Estimation Formula: (Heart Girth × Heart Girth × Body Length) ÷ 330 = Weight in pounds
Measure heart girth around the widest part of the barrel just behind the front legs. Measure body length from the point of shoulder to point of buttock.
Once you know the weight, calculate daily forage needs by multiplying weight by 0.02 (for 2%). A 1,000-pound horse needs 20 pounds of forage minimum.
Calculate concentrate needs based on activity level and body condition. Horses maintaining good weight on forage alone don’t necessarily need grain.
Feeding Schedule Best Practices
Horses thrive on consistency. Their digestive systems function best with regular feeding times and multiple small meals.
Ideal Feeding Schedule:
Morning (6-7 AM):
- Half daily hay ration
- Half daily concentrate (if feeding grain)
- Fresh water check
Midday (12-1 PM):
- Additional hay if needed
- Perfect time for turnout to pasture
Evening (5-6 PM):
- Remaining hay ration
- Remaining concentrate
- Final water check
Night Check (9-10 PM):
- Small hay serving for overnight
- Ensures horses aren’t without food for extended periods
Never feed large concentrate meals exceeding 5 pounds at once. Large grain meals increase colic risk and cause nutrient waste. Divide daily grain rations into 2-3 smaller servings.
Always feed hay before grain. Hay consumption produces saliva and stomach acid buffering that protects against ulcers when grain follows.
Horse Hay Food Quality Matters
Not all hay is created equal. Quality varies dramatically based on cutting time, weather during harvest, and storage conditions.
Signs of Good Quality Hay:
- Fresh, pleasant smell (never musty or moldy)
- Green to light green color (not brown or yellow)
- Soft and pliable texture (not brittle or dusty)
- Visible leaves rather than just stems
- Free from weeds, foreign objects, and mold
Red Flags in Poor Quality Hay:
- Dusty or moldy smell
- Excessive dust when flaked
- Black, brown, or bleached appearance
- High stem-to-leaf ratio
- Presence of toxic weeds like blister beetles
Test hay nutritionally if you’re unsure about quality. Extension offices and private labs analyze hay for protein, fiber, and mineral content for reasonable fees. These results guide supplement decisions.
First cutting hay typically contains more mature plants with higher fiber and lower protein. Second and third cuttings offer softer, more palatable hay with increased protein—ideal for picky eaters or horses with higher protein needs.
Special Feeding Considerations
Easy Keepers vs Hard Keepers
Some horses maintain weight effortlessly while others struggle despite generous rations. Understanding your horse’s metabolic type prevents both obesity and unwanted weight loss.
Easy Keepers (gain weight readily):
- Limit or eliminate concentrated feeds
- Use grazing muzzles during pasture turnout
- Feed lower-quality grass hay rather than rich alfalfa
- Increase exercise to maintain healthy weight
- Monitor for metabolic conditions like insulin resistance
Hard Keepers (struggle to maintain weight):
- Maximize forage quality and quantity
- Add fat supplements for calorie density
- Feed smaller, more frequent meals
- Check teeth for proper dental care
- Rule out parasites and underlying health issues
- Consider digestive enzyme supplements
Pregnant and Lactating Mares
Broodmares have dramatically increased nutritional requirements, particularly during the last trimester and throughout lactation.
Late Pregnancy (Last 90 Days):
- Increase concentrate to 0.75-1% of body weight
- Protein needs: 11-13% crude protein
- Enhanced calcium and phosphorus for fetal development
- Maintain quality forage at 1.5-2% of body weight
Lactation:
- Highest nutritional demands of any life stage
- Concentrate: 1-1.5% of body weight
- Protein needs: 14-16% crude protein
- May require free-choice quality hay
- Monitor mare’s condition carefully—weight loss is common
Metabolic Horses
Horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Cushing’s disease, or insulin resistance require special dietary management.
Key Feeding Strategies:
- Eliminate or drastically reduce sugar and starch
- Choose hay tested below 10% NSC (non-structural carbohydrates)
- Soak hay 30-60 minutes to reduce sugars
- Use ration balancers instead of traditional concentrates
- Feed frequent small meals
- Work closely with your veterinarian
Performance Horses
Athletes require strategic nutrition to support training, competition, and recovery.
Competition Day Feeding:
- Reduce concentrate on competition morning
- Provide hay 2-3 hours before performance
- Offer electrolytes in warm weather
- Post-competition: Hay first, then small grain meal
- Ensure adequate recovery nutrition in following days
Training Nutrition:
- Match calorie intake to work intensity
- Increase fat for endurance work
- Boost protein during muscle-building phases
- Time feeds appropriately around exercise
- Never work horses immediately after large meals
Common Horse Feeding Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced horse owners sometimes fall into feeding traps that compromise equine health.
Overfeeding Grain: Excess concentrate leads to obesity, laminitis, colic, and behavioral problems. Many horses don’t need grain at all if quality forage meets their energy needs.
Insufficient Forage: Horses need continuous fiber intake. Long periods without forage cause gastric ulcers, colic, and behavioral vices like wood chewing.
Irregular Feeding Times: Inconsistent schedules disrupt digestive function and create stress. Horses anticipate meals and produce digestive enzymes accordingly.
Sudden Feed Changes: Abrupt diet changes disturb beneficial gut bacteria, causing colic and diarrhea. Transition feeds gradually over 7-14 days.
Feeding Moldy or Dusty Hay: Compromised hay causes respiratory problems and potentially fatal colic. Never feed questionable forage.
Neglecting Water Access: Clean, fresh water must be available 24/7. Horses drink 5-10 gallons daily, more in hot weather or during lactation.
Feeding Immediately Before Exercise: Full stomachs during work increase colic risk and reduce performance. Allow 1-2 hours after grain meals before riding.
Monitoring Your Horse’s Nutrition Success
Regular assessment ensures your feeding program meets your horse’s needs.
Body Condition Scoring: Use the 1-9 scale monthly. Ideal scores fall between 4-6 for most horses. Adjust feeding if condition changes.
Weight Monitoring: Track weight monthly using the same method each time. Seasonal fluctuations are normal but dramatic changes warrant investigation.
Coat Quality: Shiny, healthy coats indicate proper nutrition. Dull, rough coats suggest deficiencies.
Hoof Quality: Strong, quick-growing hooves reflect adequate protein, biotin, and minerals.
Energy Levels: Appropriate energy for workload without excess nervousness suggests balanced nutrition.
Manure Consistency: Well-formed manure balls that break when hitting the ground indicate proper digestion. Very dry or very loose manure signals problems.
Vital Signs: Normal temperature (99-101°F), pulse (28-44 beats/minute), and respiration (10-24 breaths/minute) reflect overall health.
Creating Your Custom Horse Feeding Plan
Every horse is unique. Your feeding plan should account for individual factors:
- Calculate base requirements using weight and age charts
- Adjust for activity level and current body condition
- Select appropriate feed types for your horse’s needs
- Establish consistent feeding times that work with your schedule
- Source quality forage and store it properly
- Monitor and adjust based on your horse’s response
- Consult professionals including veterinarians and equine nutritionists
- Keep detailed records of feed types, amounts, and body condition changes
Seasonal Feeding Adjustments
Horse feeding requirements change with seasons. Cold winters increase calorie needs for maintaining body temperature. Hot summers may decrease appetite while increasing water needs.
Winter Feeding:
- Increase forage by 10-20% in freezing temperatures
- Hay digestion generates internal heat
- Ensure water doesn’t freeze
- Monitor weight loss under thick winter coats
- Add fat supplements for easy calories
Summer Feeding:
- Provide shade during feeding times
- Offer electrolytes with increased sweating
- Feed during cooler morning and evening hours
- Watch for decreased appetite in extreme heat
- Ensure adequate water consumption
Spring and Fall:
- Manage pasture access carefully during spring grass growth
- Transition between hay types gradually
- Monitor for seasonal laminitis risk
- Adjust concentrate as grass availability changes
The Bottom Line on Horse Feeding
Proper horse nutrition combines science, observation, and common sense. Quality forage forms the foundation of every feeding program. Concentrate feeds supplement forage when horses need additional calories or nutrients for growth, performance, or reproduction.
Your horse’s age, weight, activity level, and individual metabolism determine specific requirements. Regular monitoring and willingness to adjust your program ensure your horse maintains optimal health and performance throughout life.
Remember that no single feeding chart works for every horse. Use these guidelines as starting points, then fine-tune based on your horse’s response. When in doubt, consult with equine nutritionists or veterinarians who can provide personalized recommendations.
Investing time in proper nutrition pays dividends in your horse’s longevity, soundness, and quality of life. A well-fed horse is a happy, healthy partner ready for whatever adventures you share together.