How much hay per day does an average horse need? Particularly how many flakes (sections of a bale) a horse needs if it isn’t getting other types of feed, and isn’t getting unlimited hay feed. I’m living near a stable and may be helping out a bit their and want a general idea. Easy keepers and hard keepers are both at the stable.

To be specific, a healthy horse needs to consume about 2% of its desired bodyweight per day. Increased to 2.5 – 3 % in winter if it is cold or if the horse is in hard work or needing to increase its weight.

So, if a 14.2hh pony of average build should weigh about 800lbs; at the 2% bdywght/day it would need to consume 16lbs of hay/feed per day. Less, of course, if the horse is out eating grass and only stalled for part of the time. Sections of hay vary between batches of hay and even between bales within the same cutting. But on average a section of hay weighs about 5lbs. So your 14.2hh pony would need 3 or 4 sections throughout the day if kept in and fed no hard feed. Tip: Your yard should buy a spring balance hook weigher. Cheap to buy and easy to fill a haynet and hang the haynet string on the weigh hook to check the weight of the contents.

A bigger horse, weighing 1200lbs would need to be eating 24lb of hay/feed per day. Maybe 6 lbs of sweet feed/course mix with 18lbs of hay split into a couple of feeds throughout the day.

The easiest way to estimate a horse's weight is to use a special equine weigh-tape which you can buy from saddlers. It measures around the horse's body behind the front legs and gives a weight measurement dependent upon the circumference.

And Wendy R, I DO weigh all my haynets and indivual hard feeds!!! Honestly! I always have since a little girl. Must admit, I am the only person I've ever known to do it! And the odd looks I get from other horse owners is incredible. Even the conscientious ones who think they are God's gift to the Equine World. :-)

Filed under: horse hay

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