# Horse feeding chart by body weight > Pounds of hay per day for horses from 500 to 2,000 lb at 1.5, 2 and 2.5% of body weight, a worked example, hay flake weights and when a horse needs more or less than the chart. Canonical: https://lucernel.com/guides/horse-feeding-chart Last updated: 2026-10-26 Type: Guide. Publisher: Lucernel. ## Short answer A horse needs at least 1.5 to 2% of its body weight in forage a day on a dry-matter basis, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, and most horses eat at most 2 to 2.5%. For a 1,000-pound horse that is 15 to 20 pounds of forage, up to 25. The chart below does the arithmetic for 500 to 2,000 pounds. It is a starting point to adjust by body condition, not a ration. - **Choose this if:** Use the chart if you know the horse's weight and want a number of pounds to weigh out. - **Choose the other option if:** Trotley helps after the first week: it records each horse's weight as a chart over time and keeps feed and veterinary events with the horse, so you can see whether the amount is right. ## Side by side | | Forage floor: 1.5 to 2% of body weight | Upper range: 2 to 2.5% of body weight | | --- | --- | --- | | 500 lb horse | 7.5 to 10 lb | 10 to 12.5 lb | | 600 lb horse | 9 to 12 lb | 12 to 15 lb | | 700 lb horse | 10.5 to 14 lb | 14 to 17.5 lb | | 800 lb horse | 12 to 16 lb | 16 to 20 lb | | 900 lb horse | 13.5 to 18 lb | 18 to 22.5 lb | | 1,000 lb horse | 15 to 20 lb | 20 to 25 lb | | 1,100 lb horse | 16.5 to 22 lb | 22 to 27.5 lb | | 1,200 lb horse | 18 to 24 lb | 24 to 30 lb | | 1,300 lb horse | 19.5 to 26 lb | 26 to 32.5 lb | | 1,400 lb horse | 21 to 28 lb | 28 to 35 lb | | 1,500 lb horse | 22.5 to 30 lb | 30 to 37.5 lb | | 1,800 lb horse | 27 to 36 lb | 36 to 45 lb | | 2,000 lb horse | 30 to 40 lb | 40 to 50 lb | ## How the chart is calculated The percentages come from the Merck Veterinary Manual. It says current recommendations are that horses receive at least 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in forage per day on a dry-matter basis, and that the average maximum daily dry-matter intake is usually 2 to 2.5% of body weight, with ponies and weanlings sometimes exceeding that by 0.5 to 1%. For a weight gain diet, Merck gives a general goal of 2 to 2.5% for forage plus concentrate together. University of Minnesota Extension puts it in hay terms: horses need at least 1% of body weight in roughage, most should eat 2% in hay a day, and with free access they will willingly eat 2 to 2.5%. We multiplied each body weight by those percentages, so the table is our own arithmetic and neither Merck nor Minnesota publishes it. Forage here means pasture, hay, haylage, and substitutes such as hay cubes, hay-based pellets or beet pulp. Hay as fed contains water, so hay on the scale weighs a little more than its dry-matter figure; the chart is the right size for planning and your horse's condition decides the rest. ## A worked example A horse weighs 1,100 pounds. At 1.5% that is 16.5 pounds of forage, at 2% it is 22 pounds, and at 2.5% it is 27.5 pounds. The chart row for 1,100 pounds shows the same. Start in the 1.5 to 2% range, which is 16.5 to 22 pounds, and adjust by what the horse's body looks like after a few weeks. With a scale, the amounts are easy to set. Without one, flakes mislead: Penn State Extension says flake weight varies greatly with how compact the bale is. In its example, 5 flakes a day is about 25 pounds from a batch with 5-pound flakes and about 35 pounds from a batch with 7-pound flakes, and flakes within one bale differ too (it shows 4.57, 3.21 and 4.54 pounds). By our arithmetic, 22 pounds is about 4.4 five-pound flakes or 3.1 seven-pound flakes. Weigh a few flakes from each new batch. ## Work, weather and condition: move up or down the chart Merck says amounts fed should be adjusted to keep a body condition score of 4 to 6 on the 9-point Henneke scale. A horse that is too thin belongs in the upper range or above the chart with your vet's advice; our guide on helping a thin horse gain weight has the steps. A horse that is too fat does not go to zero: Merck says providing less than 1.25% of body weight in dry matter a day is not generally recommended for weight loss without veterinary guidance. Work and cold raise energy needs. Merck's estimates put light work such as pleasure trail riding at 1.2 times maintenance energy and heavy to very heavy work at 1.6 to 1.9 times, with amounts adjusted to keep condition between 4 and 6. It also says cold weather increases the energy requirement, especially for horses with thin or clipped coats or without shelter. The chart gives forage only; extra energy for work is a feed question for your vet or an equine nutritionist. ## What the chart leaves out Pounds of hay are only the energy and fiber part of a ration. Merck says sodium is not found in notable concentrations in forages and most commercial concentrate feeds do not provide enough salt, so it recommends a free-choice salt source. It also says a horse's needs differ from one individual to the next, which is why the chart ends in a range and not a single number. Treat the first week as a trial: weigh the hay, look at the horse, and move up or down within the range. ## Where to get the weight The chart needs a body weight. Merck says weight tapes tend to underestimate and are the least accurate tool, though useful for tracking change, and that a girth and length equation is closer. Our guide on weighing a horse without a scale shows the calculation, and our guide on average horse weight gives typical ranges by breed. If the horse's weight is a guess, the chart is a guess too. ## When the chart does not fit Ponies, donkeys, seniors, pregnant mares and growing horses need different plans. Merck says donkeys and mules require less energy than horses of similar weight and cites 1.5% of body weight on a ration of mostly barley straw as an example, which is not the same as a horse's hay. For older horses, see our senior horse feeding guide; for hay by the month and year, see how much hay a horse eats; for the daily routine of forage, water and grain, see our horse feeding guide. If a horse is at risk of laminitis, or has been on little feed, ask your vet before changing amounts. Disclosure: Trotley is made by Lucernel, the publisher of this article. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much hay should a 1,000 pound horse eat a day? At least 15 to 20 pounds of forage on a dry-matter basis, which is 1.5 to 2% of body weight. Merck says most horses eat 2 to 2.5% at most, which is 20 to 25 pounds. ### What percentage of body weight should a horse eat? Merck recommends at least 1.5 to 2% of body weight in forage per day on a dry-matter basis, with 2 to 2.5% as the usual maximum intake. ### How many flakes of hay is that? It depends on the flake weight, which varies by bale. Penn State Extension gives 5-pound and 7-pound flakes as examples, so 20 pounds is 4 or about 3 flakes. Weigh a few flakes from each batch. ### Does a horse in work need more than the chart? Usually more energy. Merck says to adjust feed to keep a body condition score of 4 to 6 and notes that work and cold raise energy needs. Ask your vet or a nutritionist about concentrate. ### Is Trotley available? See the official app page for current availability and pricing. ## Our pick: Trotley, to see whether the amount is working A chart gives you a number; the horse's weight over time tells you if it is right. Trotley keeps weight history as a chart for each horse, logs feed, veterinary and other care events, and works offline in the barn. It keeps several horses in one stable and exports a PDF or CSV report for your vet. It does not calculate rations. - Weight history chart for each horse - Feed and vet events with the horse - Works offline, PDF report for the vet [See how Trotley works](https://lucernel.com/apps/trotley) ## Sources (checked 2026-10-01) - [Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Requirements of Horses and Other Equids](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-horses/nutritional-requirements-of-horses-and-other-equids) - [University of Minnesota Extension: Using hay in horse diets](https://extension.umn.edu/agriculture/animals-and-livestock/horse/hay-in-horse-diets) - [Penn State Extension: The Importance of Weighing Horse Feed](https://extension.psu.edu/the-importance-of-weighing-horse-feed)