HAY FOR WARMTH

Digesting grass or hay fiber, not grain, is what keeps your horse warm. The bulk of the horse’s diet should consist of forage (either hay or pasture).  A normal 1,000 pound horse that receives the bulk of his feed in hay should usually consume roughly 20 pounds of hay per day. In cold weather that same horse may need 25 or 30 pounds of hay per day to stay warm.  An average size horse, in average condition, will have to eat 2% of his body weight per day to maintain condition. Greater amounts, up to 3% body weight is needed for breeding stallions, pregnant mares and “working” or horses with a greater level of exercise.  Easy keepers may require less than the 2% body weight to maintain current condition.  Good quality grass hay has 800 calories per pound.  An average size horse needs 19,000 calories per day. Also remember to make sure the animals have plenty of clean water to go along with all that hay.