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How Much Hay Should You Feed Your Horse – and What Type Is Best?

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Feeding horses hay might seem simple, but choosing the right amount and type is one of the most important decisions you can make for your horse’s health. Hay forms the foundation of every horse’s diet, providing essential fiber, energy, and nutrients that keep the digestive system working smoothly. This can be crucial for maintaining good health and preventing health problems, such as horse colic.

How Much Hay Should a Horse Eat?

As a rule of thumb, most adult horses should eat 1.5%–2.5% of their body weight in hay (dry matter) each day.

A 1,000-pound (450-kg) horse needs 15–25 pounds of hay per day.
Horses that feed on rich pasture may do better with the lower end of that amount.
Performance horses, growing horses, or those in cold climates often need more hay..

Hay Should Be Measured in Weight – Not Scoops

Always weigh your hay instead of guessing by handfuls. Hay density can vary by bale type and forage type. A “flake” of light, fluffy grass hay can weigh half as much as one from a dense alfalfa bale, which can throw feeding estimates off by several pounds a day.

How to Adjust for Hay Amounts Your Horse’s Needs

Every horse is different. The right amount of hay depends on:

Body condition score (BCS): Keep most horses between a 4 and 6 on the Henneke scale.
Workload: Horses in moderate to heavy exercise burn more calories and may need additional hay or supplemental grain.
Weather: In cold or wet conditions, horses use extra energy to stay warm, increasing hay needs.

Choosing the Best Type of Hay

Hay quality is not just about appearance; the type of forage, harvest, storage conditions, and nutrient balance all affect how nutritious and safe it is.

Grass Hays — Ideal for Most Horses

Pros: Lower in protein and calories than legumes; good for maintenance or light work.
Best for: Easy keepers, ponies, and horses prone to laminitis or metabolic issues.

Legume Hays — High Protein, High Energy

Pros: Rich in protein, calcium, and calories — great for growing, lactating, or hard-working horses.
Cons: Too rich for idle or overweight horses.
Best for: Performance horses, broodmares, underweight or growing horses.

Mixed Grass-Legume Hays — Balanced Nutrition

Pros: Offers a good middle ground — more protein than grass hay but less than pure alfalfa.
Best for: Most horses, especially if you’re feeding a variety of activity levels.

How to Tell if Hay is High Quality

Good quality hay should:

Smell fresh and slightly sweet — never musty or moldy.
Feel soft and pliable, not brittle or coarse.
It should contain mostly leaves, since that’s where most nutrients are stored.
Be free of weeds, debris, or excessive dust.

Feeding Your Horses Outdoors

If feeding your horses outdoors, a hay saver feeder is a good option for maintaining hay quality and preventing waste. You can easily add a roof to the hay saver feeder, helping to further protect your hay feed from the elements.

Storing Hay

To maintain quality between feedings, horse hay should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area. Hay needs protection from moisture (both rain and condensation) and good airflow to prevent trapped heat.

Feeding your horse the right hay — in the right amount — is one of the simplest yet best ways to keep your horse healthy, happy, and performing at their best. Start with high-quality forage, feed by weight not scoop, and make adjustments based on your horse’s body condition and workload. When in doubt, consult an equine nutritionist or veterinarian — a little expert input can make a big difference in your horse’s long-term health and longevity.

The Benefits of Using a Hay Saver Feeder: A Smart Investment for Horse Owners

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Feeding your horses efficiently is essential for both horse health and your bottom line. If you’re tired of seeing hay trampled, wasted, or soiled, a hay saver feeder is a great solution. Designed to reduce hay waste and improve feeding conditions, hay saver feeders offer many benefits for horse owners.

1. Reduce Hay Waste by Up to 30% or More

Traditional feeding can lead to significant hay loss as horses pull hay to the ground, where it gets trampled or soiled. Hay saver feeders are designed to contain loose hay while still allowing horses to graze. This minimizes the amount of hay that ends up on the ground – saving you money in the long run.

2. Keeps Hay Clean and Dry

Our hay saver feeders are elevated to allow moisture to escape while keeping hay off muddy ground. It also has a floor in it, which keeps your hay bale off of the ground and fresh. You can also easily add a roof to help protect hay from the elements. This can reduce the risk of mold and contamination of the hay.

3. Supports Horse Health

Cleaner, fresher hay means better horse nutrition. When hay stays unsoiled, horses are more likely to eat their fill. The patented fold-down grills of our horse hay feeder are designed to make it impossible for your horse and animals to bury their head into the bale, thus eliminating breathing problems from inhaling hay dust.

4. Saves Time and Man Power

Less wasted hay means fewer trips to the field to replenish it. Hay saver feeders often require less maintenance and refilling, freeing up time for other tasks. And, because they help keep hay more contained, there’s less cleanup needed. In addition, the grill on our hay feeder can be locked into the upright position to make it safe for the horse and animals when you are loading a new hay bale. This feature also allows you to discontinue feeding at any time, and it makes this hay feeder a breeze to clean out

5. Durability and Long-Term Hay Savings

Our hay saver feeders are built from sturdy materials making them resistant to rust, weather, and horse wear-and-tear. While the initial investment may be higher than basic feeders, the reduction in wasted hay often leads to a return on investment within a single season.

6. Environmentally Friendly

By reducing hay waste, you’re also reducing your overall hay demand, which can help conserve resources and reduce the environmental impact of hay production and transport. Fewer trips to haul and distribute new hay also means reduced fuel usage.

A Smarter Way to Feed Your Horses

Whether you’re managing a small farm or a large-scale operation, a hay saver feeder is a smart, cost-effective tool to improve your horse feeding. It’s a win-win: your horses get clean, consistent access to hay, and you reduce costs, waste, and labor.

Looking to upgrade your feeding system? A hay saver feeder might be your best investment this season. Learn more about our Hay Saver Feeders.

Winter Horse Care: Why Your Horse Is More Energetic in the Cold

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Does your horse seem more energetic when turned out in the colder months? It’s likely not for the reason you think. Many horse owners assume their horses run around kicking and bucking in the winter as a way to stay warm but this isn’t necessarily true.

Staying Warm or Releasing Pent-up Energy?

Horses tend to act frisky in the winter, not because it’s cold, but because they have pent-up energy they need to get out. In the summer, horses are offered lots of physical activities and socialization with other horses that help to stimulate them and keep them busy. However, in the winter, most horses living in cold climates are kept indoors to keep them warm. This drastic decrease in physical activity means horses are going to act more lively when they do get to go outside in the winter. Even though it’s colder, it’s important to provide activities for your horse in the winter. If it’s not safe to bring your horse outside because of the weather, you need to provide them with mental stimulation to keep them from getting bored. Teaching your horse new tricks, hiding treats in their hay net, or adding apples to their water bucket, are great ways to keep your horse entertained when you can’t go outside.

Keeping Your Horse Warm

As the temperature starts to drop, there are some things you can do to prepare your horse for winter. Providing adequate shelter for your horse is one of the most important things you can do to keep your horse warm this winter. A three-sided run-in shelter is a great way to provide shelter while also letting your horse decide if they want to be outside. Horses can utilize the shelter to avoid wind, rain, and snow with the freedom to be active in the paddock if the weather permits. When using this kind of shelter for your horse, it is important to remember to provide them with clean, dry straw or shavings to help keep them warm. For the complete list of tips, read our blog post on Preparing Your Horse for Winter Weather.

Whether you’re providing shelter from the hot sun in July or cold, wet snow in January, a run-in shelter for your horse is a great year-round solution to keeping them safe and happy.

Saving Money with the “Hay Saver” Hay Feeder

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Since 2020, hay prices have been on a steady incline, reaching their highest levels in over a decade. Although the market has recently stabilized, the costs remain high. This rise in prices is due to several factors, including weather-related shortages, inflation, and fluctuating demand. With hay prices still near historic highs, maximizing every bale’s value is essential.

Our “Hay Saver” Hay Feeders are designed to minimize hay waste, ensuring more of it is consumed by your livestock rather than being trampled or left uneaten. Traditional feeding methods can lead to significant losses, and over time, this waste can add up, particularly when hay prices are as high as they are now. By reducing waste, these feeders allow you to stretch your hay supply further, making them a cost-effective solution for managing your resources.

Moreover, the narrow price gap between different types of hay means that efficiency in feeding is more critical than ever. Whether you’re using alfalfa or grass hay, the cost savings from reducing waste can be significant. The durability and reliability of our “Hay Saver” Hay Feeders ensure that this investment pays off not just in the short term, but for years to come.

In today’s economic environment, every dollar counts. Investing in a hay-saver feeder is not just a smart move—it’s a necessary one to maintain your farm’s profitability and sustainability. Protect your investment, ensure your livestock are well-fed, and keep your operational costs under control with our “Hay Saver” Hay Feeders.

Preparing Your Horse for Warm Weather

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The temperatures are rising, the sun’s out, and we don’t have to worry about the snow anymore. Spring and summer are on their way! Without proper preparation, warmer weather can lead to dehydration, lethargy, and added stress for your horse. As the weather continues to get nicer, here are some tips and reminders for getting your horse re-acclimated to the warmer temperatures.

Take it Slow – Your horse just spent several months taking it easy as we waited out the cold winter. The worst thing you can do is jump right back into the saddle (literally) and expect to train as usual. Slowly incorporate more riding time throughout the next few weeks. The heat can be especially fatiguing even without physical activity involved. It is important to monitor your horse to ensure they acclimate to the physical activity and the heat well before increasing riding time.

Prepare for Bugs – Everyone likes being outside when the weather is nice, including bugs. Besides being annoying, insects can carry diseases and irritate your horses. Make sure to treat outdoor horse shelters and portable shade structures for insects to keep them away.

Provide Shade – If your horses are outside most of the day, provide some form of shade for them to escape the hot sun. Run-in shelters and portable shade structures are great ways to offer shade for your horses away from the barn. Run-in shelters are also great at keeping your horses dry during spring showers and summer rain.

Electrolytes and Cold Water – Make sure you are changing their water frequently as it can warm easily in the sun. Not only do horses not like warm water, but it can also pose health concerns if left for too long. Make sure you provide them with cool drinking water that is easily accessible. Drinking water isn’t enough to maintain healthy horses when the temperatures are hot. Make sure to provide a source of electrolytes, too, like a salt block for added minerals.

Even if you follow all these tips, make sure to closely monitor your horses in hot weather as heat stroke can sneak up on them. If you are concerned that your horse could be suffering from heat-related issues, bring your horse into a cooler environment and contact your vet.