How much hay does a horse need daily?

[Generally01]

I know that for a cow they estimate 3% of body weight, but what is it for horse?
I know it also depends on what type of hay and the condition of the horse.
Basically i want to know how much approx they need so as to minimize waste, horses anymore unless you are a breeder/racer/rodeo guy they really don't make much money for you.

 

[spin cycle]

depends on size of horse ,what other feed they're getting and what they're doing.....hay is the cheapest bit of owning a horse

 

[Hfd Cattle]

If your worrying about the amount of hay a horse wastes then you really can't afford to keep one . As above the cheapest part of horse ownership is the hay !

 

[Chopsy Varmint]

I know that for a cow they estimate 3% of body weight, but what is it for horse?
I know it also depends on what type of hay and the condition of the horse.
Basically i want to know how much approx they need so as to minimize waste, horses anymore unless you are a breeder/racer/rodeo guy they really don't make much money for you.

Rule of thumb is 2% of bodyweight for leisure horses. No less than 1.5% for fat horses and you can bulk up with oat or barley straw if they're still hungry.

 

[sticky]

my daughters one has a round bale in a ring feeder and when its empty i have to fill it again, I find it keeps the peace that way.

 

[Boohoo]

Less than most owners think they need.

 

[Cowgirl]

I have had horses all my life. We currently have a horse and a pony. Horse gets 3 fat leaves of a small conventional bale of hay at night and pony 2, but they are turned out during the day. If stabled all the time they would get the same in the morning. All my previous horses have had the same. If working or in poor condition get hard feed in addition but mine have never really needed it. Not sure what weight this is but can easily weigh it. Lack of mould more important than nutritional quality - horses won’t eat mouldy hay and gives them respiratory disease. Ours rarely waste any unless it smells of mould.

 

[Cowgirl]

Rule of thumb is 2% of bodyweight for leisure horses. No less than 1.5% for fat horses and you can bulk up with oat or barley straw if they're still hungry.

Horses are always hungry, hence obesity very common as horses rarely get enough work nowadays. Other old wives tale - horses like timothy hay - mine hate it. Sweet smelling meadow hay with lots of different grasses are what mine have always liked.

 

[Still Farming]

Wad

 

[blackieman83]

Wad

Of £20's???

 

[PSQ]

They won’t waste much feeding from a heck over a trough; but feeding rounds in the field under a ‘hay bell’, jeez oh, anything pulled out is trampled into the ground and there is a considerable amount lost.
Feeding rounds also crosses a line between the horsey lot taking care of their own jobs, and the dumb farmer (me) having to do their bidding with the loader when it suits them, not me. It’s a PITA.

 

[Generally01]

They won’t waste much feeding from a heck over a trough; but feeding rounds in the field under a ‘hay bell’, jeez oh, anything pulled out is trampled into the ground and there is a considerable amount lost.
Feeding rounds also crosses a line between the horsey lot taking care of their own jobs, and the dumb farmer (me) having to do their bidding with the loader when it suits them, not me. It’s a PITA.

Another reason i want to know how much they need is so i could estimate how much he will need this winter without overestimating or underestimating.