How Much a Day Should You Feed a Draft Horse?

Draft horses are very large and muscular and as such have different feeding needs than other horses.

Proper Amount of Food

Horses typically need to consume about 2 to 2.5 percent of their body weight in food per day. "Food" generally means hay and grain that you provide or grass that comes from pasture foraging. Your horse should receive about 900 calories per pound of grass and hay each day. Horses that are fed improperly may develop equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM), a disorder of energy usage in the muscles.

Condition of the Horse Matters

The amount of food your draft horse requires depends on its age and condition. Draft horses that are being weaned or mares that are nursing need more digestible energy and protein than usual. Add protein by feeding these horses 6 to 9 pounds of alfalfa cubes daily. For horses with EPSM, add 2 cups of vegetable oil per pound of food.

Bottom Line

According to Oregon State University associate veterinary professor Beth Valentine, horses should be fed about 2.5 percent of their body weight daily. She warns that owners should monitor the feed of all of their horses--not just lactating mares and weanlings--for protein, fat, and starch content. All horses should be fed at least 3 cups of vegetable oil daily--or about 2 cups per 1,000 pounds--to regulate fat intake.

References

• Eqqus Caballus: Feeding Draft Horses