Feeding & water

Forage-first feeding, how much hay and water a horse really needs, and the golden rules that keep guts healthy.

Nutrition6 min readIncludes calculator
General information only. Every horse is different. For health concerns, always speak with your veterinarian, farrier or equine nutritionist.

01The golden rules

  1. Forage first. Pasture and hay should form the bulk of every horse's diet.
  2. Little and often. Horses are designed to graze for most of the day. Long gaps without forage raise the risk of ulcers and colic.
  3. Change slowly. Introduce any new feed, hay or pasture gradually, usually over one to two weeks.
  4. Feed by weight, not volume. A scoop of one feed can weigh very differently from another.
  5. Clean water, always. Horses need constant access to fresh water.

02How much forage?

A general guide for adult horses is 1.5–2.5% of body weight in forage dry matter each day. For a 500 kg horse that's roughly 7.5–12.5 kg. Hay is usually around 85–90% dry matter, so the as-fed weight is a little higher.

Tool · Feed & water

How much forage & water?

Slide to your horse's body weight (a weight tape gives a good estimate). Figures are daily totals for an adult horse at maintenance.

Body weight
500 kg
Forage (dry matter) per day—

1.5–2.5% of body weight. Never below — kg.

Water per day—

Typical range at rest — much more in hot weather or work.

03Water

An adult horse commonly drinks around 5–10 litres per 100 kg of body weight each day at rest — far more in hot weather, when working, or when eating mostly dry hay. Reduced drinking in cold weather is a known colic risk, so keep an eye on troughs through winter.

Water quality on the property is tested weekly, with daily trough checks for full-care horses.

04Watching body condition

Weight and condition tell you whether the diet is working. Feel along the ribs, over the back and around the tail head every week or two. Ribs you can feel easily but not see are usually a good sign; a hard crest on the neck or fat pads over the tail head can signal a horse carrying too much.

Use a weight tapeMeasuring every couple of weeks with a weight tape shows trends long before they're obvious by eye — especially under a rug.

05Your written feed plan

If your horse needs hard feed or supplements, a clear written plan helps everyone. Include:

  • Each feed and supplement, the exact amount, and whether it's morning or evening
  • Any soaking or preparation instructions
  • Your horse's name on every bin, bag and container
  • Who to contact if supplies run low

Specialised feed and supplements may attract additional charges — talk to us about your horse's needs.

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