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One size fits all is not a true statement when determining the correct amount to feed a horse. The unique structure of the horse digestive tract along with the size, age and activity of the horse influence the amount of hay to feed.

Horses are not ruminants, like animals such as sheep and cattle with a four-part stomach. They also do not have a simple stomach as is found in pigs. Horses have a simple stomach with a cecum. The cecum, a large pouch filled with microbes, digests fibrous feed (or roughages). With this digestive tract, horses eat a small amount of roughages often.

High fiber feeds such as hay and pasture make up a significant portion of a horse's diet. After a horse has chewed the feed, the bolus travels down the 4.5-foot esophagus to the stomach. The size of the horse's stomach is relatively small compared to overall body size. The stomach is a football shape and has a capacity of about 2 gallons. Most of the nutrients are digested and absorbed in the 70-foot long small intestine attached to the stomach. Hard to digest fibrous feeds move on to the cecum, located near the junction of the small and large intestine. The cecum is about 4 feet long and has a capacity of 7 to 8 gallons. Millions of microbes in the cecum break down the fibrous material. Undigested waste travels through the 20-foot large intestine and the 1-foot rectum. It takes an average of 1.5 hours for feed to travel from the mouth to the cecum.

In general, a horse should be fed 2% to 2.5% of the body weight in dry matter per day. A 1000-pound horse requires about 20 to 25 pounds of feed divided into two to three feedings.

Mature idle horses can maintain a desired body weight with a diet of all hay or pasture. Working or performance horses may require up to 50% of the diet as energy and protein feeds in the form of grain and protein supplements. Depending on the level of performance, a mature horse requires .5 to 1.5 pounds grain and 1 to 1.5 pounds hay per 100 pounds of body weight. Therefore a very active 1000-pound horse would eat up to 15 pounds grain and 15 pounds hay per day.

Growing horses require more nutrients than mature horses. Lactating mares require more feed than non-lactating mares.

Oats have been a very popular energy feed for years. Corn, barley and wheat are also used in horse feed rations to provide energy. Protein supplements such as linseed oil meal provide additional protein. An alfalfa and grass mixed hay or lush pasture provide a good balance of protein, minerals and vitamins. Free access to an iodized trace mineralized salt provides required minerals.

Feeding the correct of amount of hay or other feed is critical to the health of horses. Colic, an obstruction of the intestine, may be caused by overeating or moldy feeds. Laminitis or founder may result from overeating or a sudden change in feed. Without treatment a horse may die from colic or suffer permanent hoof damage from founder.

If a horse is fed the correct amount of hay and other feed, the horse will be of normal weight, healthy and active. The diet should be altered if the horse is under or overweight. Some horses are naturally "easy keepers" while others require much additional feed. Each horse has to be fed as an individual.

Learn more about this author, Kim Dieter.
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