Monthly Horse Hay Intake: What Every Owner Should Know
If you’ve got a horse, one of the biggest questions to consider when budgeting and planning is: how much hay do I really need to buy? Knowing how much hay you will need each month can help you avoid running out, paying a premium for emergency hay, or buying too much and wasting storage space whether you are buying hay for just one horse or for an entire barn.
Most horses eat 1.5% to 2.5% of body weight per day in forage. For an average 1,000 lb horse, that’s equal to 15-25 lbs of hay per day, 450-750 lbs of hay per month, and 9-15 regular 50-lb bales/month (depends on size of bale and size of horse).
A horse that is completely reliant on hay for forage (little or no access to pasture) will typically be at the higher end of that range, while a horse with good pasture grazing may require less supplemental hay.
Horses don’t eat all the same things. These are the biggest variables:
Body Weight. Larger horses require more feed. A 1,400-lb draft horse will eat a lot more than a 900-lb pony.
Activity Level. Heavy work horses (racing, eventing, ranch work) burn more calories and usually require extra hay or supplement feed on top of their regular forage.
Access to Pasture. Horses on good pasture may need hay less often, especially during the spring and summer growing seasons. Horses on limited pasture or dry lots are nearly totally dependent on hay.
Hay Quality and Type. Alfalfa hay contains more calories and protein than grass hay, so a horse may need to eat slightly less of it by weight to meet its nutritional needs. Hay of lower quality, with more stem and less leaf, may need to be fed in larger amounts.
Age and Health. Older horses, pregnant or nursing mares, and horses recovering from illness often require different amounts of forage than a healthy adult horse at maintenance.
Climate and Season. Cold weather will increase a horse’s caloric needs as digestion of forage helps produce body heat. Horses usually eat more hay in the winter months.
Sample Calculation of Monthly Hay:
Let’s say you have a 1,100 lb horse with no pasture and it is eating hay at 2% of it’s body weight per day:
Hay per day: 1,100 lbs x 0.02 = 22 lbs
22 lbs x 30 days = 660 lbs hay per month
That’s about 13 bales a month at 50 lbs a bale. If you have a barn with more than one horse, multiply this out for each horse, factoring in size and workload.
How many bales do you need for the year?
For example, one horse eating 660 lbs of hay per month would need approximately:
7,920 lbs. hay per year
* Approximately 158 standard 50-lb bales annually
The best way to save money and have quality and supply consistent is to buy in bulk especially during peak hay season. Hay can be scarce and prices can increase during the winter months.
Advice for Dealing with your hay supply. Buy them in bulk when they are cheapest, usually just after the summer harvest. Store hay covered and off the ground in a ventilated building to prevent mold and spoilage that wastes money and jeopardizes your horse’s health. If you have a large herd or horses with special dietary needs, test your hay for its nutritional content. Track usage over a few weeks to get a realistic number for your specific horse rather than just using averages. Plan for winter. When pasture is gone and temperatures drop, horses often eat more.
An average horse will consume between 450 and 750 pounds of hay per month. The correct amount for your horse will depend on his body weight, activity level, access to pasture and quality of the hay. Calculate early, and buy and store hay wisely, and you can save money and stress during the year.
Whether you are looking for quality hay and reliable storage options to keep your supply fresh all winter long, Ohana Hay can help you plan, stock up and keep your horses fed all season long.
