Horse Feed Calculator
A Horse at Rest and a Horse in Work Have Different Appetites
Unlike a simple body-weight percentage, a horse's dry matter intake requirement climbs measurably with workload — a horse in heavy work needs roughly 50% more daily dry matter than the same horse standing idle. This calculator applies workload-adjusted intake guidelines and then splits the result between forage and concentrate based on the diet composition you specify.
The Formula
Total Daily Feed (Dry Matter) = Body Weight × (DMI% ÷ 100)
Forage Amount = Total Feed × (Forage% ÷ 100)
Concentrate Amount = Total Feed − Forage Amount
Forage Amount = Total Feed × (Forage% ÷ 100)
Concentrate Amount = Total Feed − Forage Amount
Where This Calculation Matters
- Adjusting feed for training load — a horse moving from light to heavy work needs its ration recalculated, not just topped up arbitrarily.
- Forage-first feeding programs — equine nutrition guidance generally favors maximizing forage percentage where workload allows, reserving concentrate for energy needs forage alone can't meet.
- Boarding and stable budgeting — stables managing multiple horses at different workloads need per-horse feed volumes to budget hay and grain purchases accurately.
- Weight management — both underweight and overweight horses are managed in part by adjusting total dry matter intake relative to the maintenance baseline.
Daily Dry Matter Intake by Workload (500 kg Horse)
| Workload | DMI % of body weight | Daily dry matter |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance (idle) | 2.00% | 10.0 kg/day |
| Light work | 2.25% | 11.25 kg/day |
| Moderate work | 2.50% | 12.5 kg/day |
| Heavy work | 3.00% | 15.0 kg/day |
These reference ranges follow standard equine nutrition guidelines (NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses); individual horses vary and actual intake should be adjusted against body condition score.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the horse's body weight in kilograms.
- Select the workload: Maintenance, Light, Moderate, or Heavy Work.
- Enter the forage percentage of the diet (defaults to 100%, all-forage).
- Select Calculate to get total daily dry matter, split into forage and concentrate.
Related Calculations
For other livestock species, use the general Livestock Feed Calculator, or check pasture area with the Land Area Calculator.