How Much Hay Does a Horse Eat?

Many people have thought about owning a horse. What stops some of them is the cost. There's the price of the horse, the cost of boarding and veterinary care, the farrier has to come several times a year, and the tack is also costly. if you add a trailer and the truck to haul it, you're looking at a major investment. There is a lot that goes into owning any animal, but because of the size of a horse, everything is super-sized.

A bale of alfalfaHay is a generic term that is often used for horse feed. There are three types of hay: rye grass, oats, and alfalfa. Alfalfa provides roughage and several staple proteins and vitamins. Alfalfa is green, and comprises stems and leaves. Most bales of alfalfa are 70 lbs.

HayRye grass and oats have a yellowish cast and a bale ranges from 40-60 lbs. These are the cheapest types of horse feed and provide very little nutritional value. Many horse owners who feed their horse only rye or oats do so because the horse is allowed to graze in a pasture and is given nutritional supplements.

An average horse that gets moderate exercise will consume between 22-24 lbs of alfalfa per day. In addition they should be fed a vitamin supplement.

Generally, a horse should eat a minimum of 1 lb. of hay per 100 lbs. of body weight daily. A 900 lb. horse should eat a minimum of 9 lbs. of hay per day.

Clydesdale - The largest and working horse. (Not your average)Large working horses such as draft horses need 2 to 3 percent of their body weight in feed daily, and should be supplemented with grain to protect their muscle mass. Thoroughbreds in training and pregnant horses also need 2 percent of their body weight in hay and should be supplemented with grain and vitamins.