What Kind of Food Do Horses Eat?

Horses are herbivores, meaning they eat grass and other plants. The typical diet for a normal, healthy horse is a combination of roughage (hay) and concentrates (grains).

  1. Hay

    • There are several different types of hay including alfalfa, timothy, oat, bermuda, and orchard. Hay is sold in bales with each bale being made up of between 10 to 14 flakes. Hay is also sold in cube or pellet form.

    Concentrates

    • Grains like oats, barley and corn are known as concentrates. They are often pre-packaged in combinations designed for very specific needs. For instance, there are feeds for the older horse or the competing horse.

    Extras

    • Treats like apples and carrots are not just a good idea, they're good for your horse as well. Also, don't forget that your horse needs up to 12 gallons of fresh, clean water a day.

    Amount

    • As a rule of thumb, an active, healthy horse needs 2 to 2.5 pounds of feed for every 100 pounds of his weight. An average 1,000 lb horse needs 20 to 25 lbs of feed a day. A typical diet for a horse being ridden for one hour, five days a week would be 2 to 5 pounds of concentrates and 15 to 20 pounds of hay a day. Depending on the hay, that would be approximately three to four flakes a day, but it's best to weigh the hay to get an accurate measurement.

    Frequency

    • Because a horse has a small stomach relative to his size, he eats little and often. A horse kept in a stable needs her food spread out, preferably in two to three feedings a day. Horses should never go more than eight hours without food.