Hay Calculator for Horses

What is Horse Hay?

Horse hay is the delicious sustenance that keeps our majestic equine friends happy and healthy. Hay plays a crucial role in horse nutrition, providing them with essential fiber, energy, and vital nutrients.

How Do You Calculate Horse Hay?

When it comes to calculating the amount of hay your noble horse needs, there’s a handy formula that can help. It’s called the “daily dry matter intake” formula.

First things first, you need to know your horse’s weight. If you don’t have access to a horse scale (they can be a bit tricky to find), you can estimate it by using a weight tape or consulting a veterinarian. Let’s say, for example, your trusty steed weighs 1,000 pounds.

Now, the next piece of the hay puzzle is the horse’s body condition score (BCS). It’s like assessing the horse’s overall health and fitness level on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being emaciated and 9 being obese. Ideally, you want your horse to fall around the 5 to 6 range, which indicates a healthy balance. This score helps determine the appropriate amount of hay to feed.

Next, we consider the horse’s activity level. Is your horse a high-energy athlete or a serene pasture grazer? For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume your equine companion has a moderate activity level, somewhere in the middle.

Now, let’s get down to some hay math!

Take your horse’s weight (1,000 pounds) and multiply it by their body condition score (let’s say it’s 5). So, 1,000 x 5 equals 5,000.

Multiply this number (5,000) by the activity level factor. For a moderate activity level, we’ll use a factor of 0.03. So, 5,000 x 0.03 equals 150 pounds.

Ta-da! We have our answer.

Your horse should consume around 150 pounds of hay each day.

To make things more manageable, divide this daily hay requirement by the number of feedings per day. It’s generally recommended to divide it into at least two or three feedings to mimic a horse’s natural grazing behavior. Let’s say you’re going with three feedings. That’s 150 pounds divided by 3, which equals 50 pounds of hay per feeding.

Oh, and one more thing! When selecting horse hay, look for good quality forage with a mix of grasses and legumes, such as timothy, orchard grass, or alfalfa. The hay should be free of mold, dust, and weeds. And don’t forget to store it in a cool, dry place to maintain its freshness and nutrient content.