Winter Hay Needs for Horses

The Winter Hay Needs for Horses calculator estimates the amount of hay needed per day for horses. 

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (`H`) Number of horses (average weight = 1000 lbs)
• (`P`) Number of ponies and miniature horses (average weight = 600 lbs)
• (`D`) Number of draft horses (average weight = 1600 lbs)
• (`G`) Amount of grain used daily
• (`F`) Hay feeder use
• (`B`) Square bale (50 lbs) or round bale (900 lbs)

Note: The assumptions for each variable listed and the math behind the estimations are stated below. 

Hay Needed for Winter: The calculator returns the daily amount of hay in pounds. However this can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu.

The Math / Science

Assumptions:

• The hay is of good quality
• Adult horses consume 2.5% of their bodyweight in feed per day.
• The average weight of a horse is 1000 pounds
• The average weight of ponies and mini horses is 600 pounds
• The average weight of a draft is 1600 pounds
• 13% of 50 lb square bale hay is wasted without a feeder.
• 3% of 50 lb square bale hay is wasted when a feeder is used.
• 57% of 900 lb round bale hay is wasted without a feeder.
• 19% of 900 lb round bale hay is wasted when a feeder is used.

Based on the above assumptions, the Winter Hay Needs for Horses calculator estimates the amount of hay needed per day for horses in these steps:

• Take in the amount of animals and find the amount of food based on their average bodyweights.

  • 4 horses x 1000 pounds per horse x 2.5% = 100 pounds of food for 4 horses

  • 2 ponies or miniature horses x 600 pounds per animal x 2.5% = 30 pounds of food for 2 ponies or minis

  • 3 drafts x 1600 pounds per draft x 2.5% = 120 pounds of food for 3 draft horses

    • 100 lbs + 30 lbs + 120 lbs = 250 pounds of food for all animals

• Subtract that amount of grain used per day from the amount of food found above.

  • 250 pounds of food - 30 pounds of grain = 220 pounds of hay needed for all animals

• Based on whether a hay feeder is or is not used and whether square or round bales are used, calculate the amount of hay needed to offset the hay waste.

  • Rounds bales with a hay feeder results in 19% hay waste

  • 220 pounds of hay x 1.19 = 261.8 pounds of hay needed to account for hay waste

Horse Calculators

• Daily Bales of Hay for a Horse
• Daily Hay Amount for a Horse
• How Long Hay will Last
• How Much Hay
• Weight a Horse can Carry
• Weight of a Horse
• Fencing Calculator

The most current US Hay and Straw Price Survey information data is as follows.  The prices listed are U.S. dollars per ton:

• Date: 7/17/24
• State: PA
• Region: New Holland
  • Alfalfa Price: $195.0 to $320.0
  • Mixed Hay Price: $75.0 to $460.0
  • Timothy Price: $0.0 to $0.0
  • Grass Price: $0.0 to $0.0
  • Straw Price: $130.0 to $165.0

Market Prices of Bales of Hay.  Since bales come in different sizes and not always sold by the ton, these compute the dollars per bale.

• Market Price of Bales of Alfalfa 
• Market Price of Bales of Mixed Hay
• Market Price of Bales of Timothy Hay
• Market Price of Bales of Straw

Reference

The Feed Room (https://www.horsefeedblog.com/2015/11/estimating-winter-hay-needs/)