A horse digests small amounts of forage all day long; how much it needs depends on its weight and the work it does. This guide shows how to build a ration from those two facts, and when concentrate feed is worthwhile and when it isn't.
Start with the Weight
Almost every feed calculation starts with body weight. Few stables have a weighbridge, so most owners work with an estimate:
- Weight tape — a tape you wrap around the girth, gives a rough indication. Allow for a margin of several tens of kilos.
- Girth-and-length formula — girth and body length together give a more accurate estimate than the tape alone.
- Type and build — an average riding horse sits roughly between 500 and 650 kg, a pony considerably lower, a cold-blood breed higher.
The exact number doesn't need to be perfect. It serves as a starting point for basing the daily amount of forage on, and you then adjust based on what you see and feel on the horse.
How Much Hay per Day
Forage — hay or haylage — forms the basis of the ration. A widely used rule of thumb is 1.5 to 2 percent of body weight in forage per day, calculated on a dry-matter basis. For a horse in maintenance (little work), it sits toward the lower end; a horse that's gaining weight or moving a lot sits higher.
A few examples, converted to hay:
| Body Weight | Forage per Day (Dry Matter) | Roughly in Kilos of Hay |
|---|---|---|
| 400 kg (pony) | 6–8 kg | 7–9 kg |
| 550 kg (riding horse) | 8–11 kg | 9–12 kg |
| 650 kg (heavier horse) | 10–13 kg | 11–14 kg |
Hay itself still contains some moisture, so the weighed amount sits a bit above the dry-matter figure; hence the higher numbers in the right-hand column. Over a year, a riding horse easily adds up to five to eight tons of hay this way.
More important than the exact kilos is spreading it across the day. The stomach continuously produces gastric acid, even on an empty stomach, which increases the risk of gastric ulcers and restless behavior. So spread the forage over as many moments as possible, or provide it unlimited (ad libitum). A small-mesh hay net stretches out eating time without increasing the amount.
When Concentrate Feed Is Needed
Concentrate feed is a supplement to forage, not a replacement. It provides extra energy and protein for horses that genuinely do work. The question isn't whether you "have to" give concentrate feed, but whether your horse's work calls for that extra energy.
A rough breakdown by workload:
| Workload Level | Example | Concentrate Feed |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Ridden little or not at all | Often none, only minerals |
| Light work | Ridden gently a few times a week | Little to none |
| Moderate work | Training almost daily, lower classes | Limited, as needed |
| Heavy work | Intensive training, higher classes, many competitions | More, in small portions |
A recreational horse often manages fine on good forage plus a mineral and vitamin supplement. A horse in a demanding competition program is more likely to need extra energy. Match the amount to the work, not the other way around: a horse shouldn't have to work harder to burn off its feed. Adjust the concentrate feed downward on rest days.
Two practical points on concentrate feed:
- Keep portions small. The stomach is relatively small. Split concentrate feed over several feedings a day instead of one large scoop — a common guideline is roughly no more than around two kilos per feeding for an average riding horse.
- Give forage first or at the same time. That way the concentrate feed is absorbed more slowly and puts less strain on the gut.
Adjusting Energy: Gaining or Losing Weight
Whether the ration is right shows up mainly on the horse itself, not on the feed bag's scale. The body condition score is the handiest tool for that: you feel and look at the fat covering on the ribs, back, shoulder, and tailhead. A rule of thumb is that you should be able to lightly feel the ribs, but not clearly see them.
- Too thin (ribs visible, sunken): needs more energy. Increase the forage first, then adjust concentrate feed if needed; also check teeth and deworming.
- Too heavy (ribs not palpable, rolls of fat): needs less energy. Scale back sugar- and starch-rich feed and focus on more exercise rather than a strict starvation diet.
Always change gradually, over a week to ten days. Sudden changes in feed, or the switch to spring grass, disrupt the gut flora and increase the risk of colic (abdominal pain in the horse — always call the vet). Too much sugar and starch from young grass or generous concentrate feed portions also raises the risk of laminitis and metabolic problems in sensitive horses and ponies.
Water and Salt
Feeding doesn't stop at hay and concentrate. A horse drinks roughly 30 to 60 liters of water a day, more in heat, with heavy work, or with a lot of dry hay. Make sure clean water is available unlimited, and keep water troughs frost-free in winter — drinking too little is itself a risk factor for colic.
Every horse also needs salt. A salt lick or added table salt covers the basic need. Horses that sweat heavily, for example on a hot competition day, lose extra salts; electrolytes after exertion can be worthwhile in that case.
In Short
- Estimate body weight with a tape or formula and use that as a starting point.
- Count on roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of that weight in forage per day, spread over as many moments as possible.
- Give concentrate feed only as far as the work requires, in small portions and alongside forage.
- Adjust based on the horse's condition, not a fixed number — feel for the ribs.
- Always change feed gradually and keep clean water available unlimited.
A hay or grass analysis shows how much energy and protein your forage actually contains; your vet or a feed advisor can use that to tailor a ration that fits your horse's weight, age, and work. To recognize abdominal pain and other warning signs, see Recognizing Horse Emergencies and Colic.