How much hay should I feed?
How much hay to feed really depends on what is being fed otherwise. If the horse is on a good pasture, there is little to no need to feed hay. If the horse is receiving a high fiber source in a processed mix such as hay cubes with a grain ration, then there may be little need for hay. Usually, however, any horse that is restricted from grazing because of no forage in the turnout or because of being stalled will need hay at a minimum of 1% of body weight per day. This means about 10 pounds per day for a 1000 pound horse. On the other end, most hays can be fed free choice so horses have a continual supply of nutrients throughout the day. Most horses cannot eat more than about 2.5 to 3% of their body weight in total ration per day, so upper limits may be about three times the minimal amount recommended.
