Horse Feed Cost Calculator
Calculate monthly and annual horse feed costs including hay, grain, and supplements based on horse weight and feeding rate.
How horse feed requirements are calculated:
A horse’s daily feed intake is based on its bodyweight. Horses eat roughly 1.5–3% of their bodyweight per day in total dry matter — a combination of forage (hay or pasture) and concentrate (grain or pellets).
Daily intake formula:
Daily dry matter (lbs) = Horse weight (lbs) × Intake rate %
Intake rate by activity level:
- Maintenance (light work or retired): 1.5–2% of bodyweight
- Light to moderate work (trail riding, light dressage): 2–2.5%
- Heavy work or performance (eventing, racing): 2.5–3%
Forage first rule: At least 1–1.5% of bodyweight must come from forage (hay or grass). Grain should never replace forage — it causes digestive issues.
Worked example:
1,100 lb Quarter Horse in light work (2% intake rate):
- Total daily dry matter = 1,100 × 0.02 = 22 lbs per day
- Hay: 18 lbs/day × $0.15/lb = $2.70/day
- Grain: 4 lbs/day × $0.40/lb = $1.60/day
- Daily feed cost: $4.30 → Monthly: ~$129
Typical feed costs (US averages):
- Grass hay: $0.08–0.18 per lb
- Alfalfa hay: $0.18–0.30 per lb
- Sweet feed / grain mix: $0.30–0.55 per lb
- Pelleted complete feed: $0.35–0.60 per lb
Supplements to budget separately:
- Salt/mineral block: $5–15/month
- Joint supplement: $30–80/month
- Hoof supplement: $20–50/month
- Dewormer (rotational): $10–15/dose, 4–6 times per year
Total monthly horse ownership typically runs $300–1,500+ including board, farrier, vet, and feed combined. Feed is usually 25–40% of total cost.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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