How Much Hay Does a Horse Need?
A horse's diet is built on forage, and the standard guideline is that horses eat 1.5-2.5% of their body weight in dry forage per day. For a typical 1,000-pound horse at 2%, that's about 20 pounds of hay daily — before accounting for any pasture grazing.
Body weight drives the number
Multiply body weight by your target forage percentage to get daily hay. Easy keepers and horses in light work sit toward the lower end; hard keepers, growing horses, and those in heavy work need more. If your horse has pasture access, that grazing counts as forage and reduces the hay you need to provide.
Weigh your hay, don't guess flakes
Bale and flake weights vary enormously, so 'a couple of flakes' is unreliable. Weigh a few flakes on a hanging scale to learn what yours actually weigh, then portion by weight. Slow-feed hay nets stretch feeding time and reduce waste and boredom, mimicking a horse's natural trickle-feeding.
Frequently asked questions
- How much hay does a horse eat per day?
- About 1.5-2.5% of body weight in forage — roughly 15-25 pounds for a 1,000-pound horse.
- Does pasture count?
- Yes. Grazing is forage; subtract it from the hay you provide.
- How many bales per week?
- Divide weekly hay by your bale weight — weigh bales, since they vary widely.