Horse feed calculator: how much hay — and what it costs

University extension guidelines recommend a minimum of 1% of body weight in forage daily (dry-matter basis), ideally 1.5–2%. A 1,000 lb horse therefore needs roughly 15–20 lbs of hay per day. Feeding less long-term risks colic and ulcers.

We estimate daily energy need from body weight and workload, subtract the energy the hay supplies, and convert the remaining gap to pounds of concentrate. Many horses need no grain at all — forage should always be the foundation, and grain is only a supplement.

It varies widely by region. A 1,000 lb idle horse on grass hay at $8 per 50-lb bale runs roughly $70–$100/month in hay; grain for a horse in work adds more. Enter your local prices above for your number.

Weigh it. Flakes vary enormously between bales, and bale weights range from 40–75 lbs (small squares) to 1,000+ lbs (rounds). A hanging scale costs less than one wasted bale.