Reading Horse Feed Directions – How Much to Feed?
When horse feeds are formulated, they are developed to provide nutrition to all sizes of horses – nutrient needs go up as the size of the horse goes up. So, feeding directions are often provided in the following format:
- Activity Level Lbs of feed per 100 lbs of bodyweight
- Maintenance 0.3-0.5
- Light Exercise 0.4-0.6
So, how do you figure out how much to feed your horse? Start with knowing the weight of your horse. Then, divide that weight by 100, and then multiply the result by both of the amounts of feed given in the directions above. The resulting two numbers will tell you the range of how much to feed your horse to give them the nutrition they need for both their size and their activity level.
Example Feeding Directions:
1200 lb horse, in light exercise.
- (1200 ÷ 100) = 12
- (12 x 0.4) = 4.8
- (12 x 0.6) = 7.2
In this example, this horse would need to eat between 4.8 and 7.2 lbs per day of this feed to receive the nutrition he needs. Some horses that are easier keepers can fall to the lower end of the range, while harder keepers may need to push the upper limit.
If you do this math for your horse, and find that you are feeding outside of the designated range, you should search for a feed that is more suitable to your horses needs. Hard keepers, for example, may require a feed that is higher in calories per pound, while easier keepers might require a feed with fewer calories and more concentrated levels of vitamins and minerals. Such a feed might cost more per bag, however the ability to pack more punch in a smaller feeding might actually result in a cost saving!