How Much Does a Horse Eat Per Day- Can a Horse Single Handedly Bankrupt You?

When I started owning horses for the first time, I always used to be worried about certain things. Not for the vet bills that were painful enough, but the new expense of “horse feed”. As a newbie, I could not figure out the actual quantity of food my horses consume each day. I always felt as if I was serving a whole army of horses.

Over time, when I became a mature horse owner, I discovered that each horse has distinct nutritional requirements. And you can not feed the same type and same amount of food to two different horses. Each of them requires specific nutrients according to their age, size, and health condition. Factors such as breed types, growth, and activity also influence their nutritional needs.

If you are like I was, you are probably wondering how much food your horses need. Let's get into the specifics of feeding these giants the nutrients and goodness they deserve.

What kind of foods do horses eat every day?

Horses like to eat roughage like hay, grass, pasture, and other plants during grazing in the field. Every day they have to take at least 1.5 % of roughage. You must also provide 22-55 liters of fresh water daily. Ponies need 15 liters of water each day. On the other hand, mature horses need about 30 liters of water in a single day. If you do not find enough hay to feed your horse, introduce beet pulp to their diet. Hardworking horses need to take grain and supplements in their diet. After a hard workout, you can give them 6-8 pounds of grain. Add salt, water, hay, and electrolyte supplements along with the grain. These can provide additional nutritional support. Horses with dental problems and older horses can not chew their regular feed. You can provide them with easily chewable food like soaked hay cubes, soaked beet pulp, or pellets.

Special Tip: If you want to include something new in your horse's diet, add it gradually over three to five days.

How can you create a feed budget for your horse?

You have to follow some steps to create a feed budget. Before creating a feed budget, you must understand your horse's needs and specific health issues.

First, you have to estimate the weight and condition score of each horse. You can use a weight tape to determine their weight.
Then, calculate the percentage of ideal body weight (1%IBW) to determine how much food your horses eat daily to fulfill their basic nutritional requirements. You can calculate this by using a formula. You have to add the total amount of pasture, hay, supplements, and other feeds that each of your horses consumes daily. Then divide the value with their separate ideal body weight.
Now, categorize each horse according to their age and level of activity. Suppose, you have 5 horses. 2 of them are used for ranch or roping work. The remaining 3 are used for trail riding. So, you can categorize them based on their activity.
Determine their nutritional requirement and check the nutritive content of their common food items.
Match the energy requirement of your horse to the energy provided by the feed.
Now, calculate the feed cost of your horse by using a calculator, which is found on the website of DPI NSW. You can calculate the daily, weekly, or monthly feed cost of your horse by using this calculator.

How often should you feed your horse in a day?

Always try to keep a consistent feeding schedule. Horses need to take food which is two percent of their ideal body weight. They eat smaller amounts throughout the day.

Try to provide at least two meals per day. If your horse has specific dietary needs, you must feed it more than four times a day. Horses that look unhealthy or need to gain some weight, must take more food.
You can provide them food which is more than 2.3% of their ideal body weight. Introduce corn into their diet because it can provide more energy.
If they suffer from digestive issues, their digestive organs can not digest more food at a time. So, you can divide their feed into smaller amounts and provide them more frequently throughout the day.
If a horse weighs 1,100 to 1,200 pounds give in 16 pounds of food at once. If you need to give it more based on its health condition, split the meal into three meals. And feed the horse every eight hours.
Just remember: Feed them at the same time every day. As a consequence, they will understand their feeding schedule.

What are the general guidelines for feeding a horse?

Follow some feeding guidelines while introducing food to your beloved horse.

Avoid putting their food on the ground. Eating from the ground can make them swallow worm larvae.
Divide the pasture into smaller sections and let the horse graze there. They will move one section to another as the grass regrows.This strategy helps manure spread evenly and provides horses better grass.
When feeding multiple horses at a time, ensure enough space for each horse. This will give every horse access to sufficient food.
Keep grains in a safe place away from pests and other animals. Take measures to control rodents for preventing disease.
Store hay in a dry and covered place to prevent the formation of mold.
Keep all food and supplements away from chemicals.
Check the teeth condition of your horses regularly.

Is it okay to give them treats daily?

Horses like to eat carrots, apples, and other fruits in smaller quantities as a treat. You can give them 1 or 2 pieces of treats every day as a reward for any positive response. Don't give them onions, dairy products, or avocados. These are not good for their health. Horses prefer to eat sweet things like molasses. Since molasses is not a healthy ingredient, you can prepare their treats using alternatives to molasses.

What happens if a horse does not eat enough?

Horses who can not eat enough food may suffer from nutritional deficiency. Lack of regular feed may lead to digestive issues like colic and ulcers. Certain rare horses, lactating or pregnant mares, stallions, and racing horses need extra nutrients containing food. You can give them lucerne hay instead of regular hay. As this type of hay contains a high quantity of calcium, it may increase calcium levels in the blood. Regular intake of excess calcium is not good for their health. So, you can add a phosphorus supplement to balance the high calcium level in lucerne hay.

What can you do if a horse needs to lose weight?

Sometimes horses may suffer from certain health issues that require them to lose weight. Laminitis is one such inflammatory disease that occurs in the hoof of horses. When a horse carries an excess weight that might be out of its ability, an inflammatory condition occurs between its hoof and coffin bone. We can call it “laminitis”. When horses suffer from such problems, they need to lose weight. In such cases, you have to reduce the quantity of forage that your horses consume every day. And help your horse to lose two percent of its ideal body weight.

To sum up

Feeding a horse properly involves how much they need to eat each day. They need a personalized feeding plan with correct nutrition. This is important to support their health and performance.

If you do not understand your horse's eating requirement based on specific health concerns, consult a vet. A well-known veterinarian can guide you to solve this problem. After that, you can make a feeding plan taking help from our discussion.

Now, let's keep the conversation going. Share your thoughts, ask questions, and join the discussion in the comments below.

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