Horse Feeding Chart by Weight (Forage & Feed)
Horse feeding chart by body weight: forage at 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight, example daily hay amounts from 800 to 1,300 pounds, and why to feed by weight not scoops.
Quick answer: A horse should eat roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of its body weight in dry feed per day, with forage (hay and pasture) as the foundation. For a 1,000-pound horse that is about 15 to 20 pounds daily. Easy keepers and weight-loss diets target the lower end (around 1.5 percent), while hard keepers and working horses need the higher end or more. Always feed by weight using a scale, not by scoops or flakes, and adjust to keep a Henneke body condition score of about 4 to 6.
Horse Feeding Chart by Body Weight
The table below shows approximate total daily dry feed at 1.5 percent (maintenance or weight loss) and 2 percent (higher needs) of body weight. Most of this should be forage. Use it as a starting point, then adjust to your horse's body condition and your vet's advice.
| Body Weight | 1.5% / day (lower) | 2% / day (higher) | Typical Forage Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 lb | 12 lb | 16 lb | ~12 to 16 lb hay |
| 900 lb | 13.5 lb | 18 lb | ~13 to 18 lb hay |
| 1,000 lb | 15 lb | 20 lb | ~15 to 20 lb hay |
| 1,100 lb | 16.5 lb | 22 lb | ~16 to 22 lb hay |
| 1,200 lb | 18 lb | 24 lb | ~18 to 24 lb hay |
| 1,300 lb | 19.5 lb | 26 lb | ~19 to 26 lb hay |
These figures are total daily dry matter intake including any concentrate. If a horse receives grain, senior feed, or a ration balancer, that amount counts toward the daily total, with forage making up the rest, generally at least 1.5 percent of body weight as forage whenever possible. A horse fed a complete feed because it cannot chew hay may get much of its fiber from that soaked feed instead of long-stem hay.
Why Feeding by Weight Matters for Senior Horses
Feeding by weight rather than by scoops or flakes is important for any horse, but it becomes especially valuable in the senior years, when small mistakes have outsized effects. An aging hard keeper that is quietly underfed by a couple of pounds of hay a day can lose condition through winter, while an easy-keeper senior with PPID or equine metabolic syndrome can tip into dangerous obesity and laminitis if forage is offered without limit. Knowing the actual weight of what you feed, and matching it to the horse's body condition, is how you avoid both traps.
Seniors also frequently shift between the two ends of the chart. A horse that maintained easily at 1.5 percent for years may need to move toward 2 percent or onto a more calorie-dense senior or complete feed as its teeth wear and digestion becomes less efficient. Others, especially metabolic horses, need careful measurement at the lower end with tested low-sugar hay. The body condition score, not the calendar, should drive these decisions, which is why pairing this feeding chart with regular Henneke scoring and veterinary input works best.
Putting It to Work
Estimate your horse's weight with a weight tape or girth-and-length formula, then use the chart to set a starting daily amount, weighing your hay and feed with a scale rather than guessing by flakes or scoops. Provide forage as continuously as your horse's condition allows, split concentrates into multiple small meals, and reweigh servings when you change products. Re-score body condition monthly and adjust the amount up or down to hold a 4 to 6, working with your vet on any dental or metabolic factors.
Related Reading
- Henneke Body Condition Score Chart - Scoring fat cover from 1 to 9.
- Best Senior Horse Feed - Complete feeds, balancers, and low-starch options.
- Horse Age by Teeth Chart - How worn teeth affect chewing and feeding.
- Best Cushing's and PPID Supplements - Support for metabolic seniors.
This chart is educational and provides general starting points only. It complements, but does not replace, your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist, who can tailor amounts to your individual horse.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a horse eat per day?
As a starting rule, a horse should eat about 1.5 to 2 percent of its body weight in dry feed each day, with forage (hay and pasture) forming the foundation. For a 1,000-pound horse, that is roughly 15 to 20 pounds of feed daily, ideally mostly hay. Easy keepers and horses on weight-loss plans sit nearer the lower end, while hard keepers and working horses need more. Always weigh feed rather than measuring by scoops, and adjust based on body condition and your vet's advice.
How much hay does a horse need by weight?
Forage should make up the bulk of the diet, generally at least 1.5 percent of body weight per day and often more. A 1,000-pound horse typically needs about 15 to 20 pounds of good hay daily if hay is the main forage. Larger horses need proportionally more and smaller horses or ponies less. Weigh your hay with a luggage or feed scale, since flakes vary a lot in weight. Free-choice or near-continuous forage suits the horse's digestive system best when body condition allows.
Should I feed by weight or by volume?
Always by weight, not by volume. Scoops and flakes vary enormously: a coffee can of one feed can weigh very differently from the same can of another, and hay flakes range widely in weight. Feeding by volume is a common cause of both underfeeding and overfeeding. Use a kitchen or feed scale to weigh a typical serving of your hay and grain once, then you know what your scoop or flake actually delivers. Reweigh when you change products, since density differs.
How do I estimate my horse's body weight without a scale?
A weight tape gives a quick estimate by measuring heart girth, and it is most useful for tracking changes over time rather than as an exact figure. A more accurate method uses a measuring tape for both heart girth and body length and a formula: for adult horses, body weight in pounds is approximately heart girth squared times body length, divided by 330. Whichever method you use, measure consistently and pair it with body condition scoring, since trends matter more than a single number.
Do senior horses need more or less feed?
It depends entirely on the individual horse. Many seniors need more calories or more digestible feed because worn teeth and less efficient digestion make it harder to maintain weight, so they may need senior or complete feeds. Other older horses are easy keepers or have metabolic conditions and need fewer calories with careful low-sugar feeding to avoid laminitis. The constant is to feed to body condition, aiming for a Henneke score of about 4 to 6, and to involve your vet, especially for dental or metabolic issues.
How should I divide a horse's daily feed?
Horses evolved as continuous grazers with small stomachs, so frequent small meals and constant access to forage suit them best. Provide hay or pasture as close to continuously as body condition allows, and split any concentrate or senior feed into at least two meals a day, more if the daily amount is large, as with complete feeds. Avoid large single grain meals, which raise the risk of digestive upset. Slow feeders and hay nets help stretch forage and slow down fast eaters.
Can I just free-feed hay to my horse?
Free-choice forage is ideal for many horses because it matches their digestive design and reduces boredom and ulcers, but it is not right for every horse. Easy keepers, ponies, and metabolic horses can become dangerously overweight on unlimited hay, raising laminitis risk, so they often need measured amounts or slow feeders and tested low-sugar hay. Hard keepers and many seniors do well with near-constant forage. Match the approach to your horse's body condition and metabolic status, with guidance from your vet.
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