# Winter Hay Math: How Much Hay Does Your Horse Need?

> University extension feeding percentages plus a little arithmetic tell you how many bales stand between your horse and spring grass.

Canonical: https://horsebarnnotes.com/blog/winter-hay-math

---

## Step 1: The daily number

The University of Minnesota Extension recommends that most mature horses get at least 1 percent - and ideally 1.5 to 2.5 percent - of their body weight in forage each day, and notes that horses with free access to hay will willingly eat about 2 to 2.5 percent of their body weight daily. For a working estimate, 2 percent is a reasonable planning figure: a 1,000-pound horse eats roughly **20 pounds of hay per day**.

Don't have a current weight? A heart-girth-and-length tape formula gets you close - see [our post on estimating your horse's weight without a scale](https://horsebarnnotes.com/blog/estimate-horse-weight-without-scale.html).

## Step 2: Multiply by your winter

Count the days your horse will be on hay rather than pasture - that depends on your climate, not a calendar rule. Then: daily pounds x days = total pounds. Divide by your bale weight to get a bale count. A 1,000-pound horse eating 20 pounds a day for 150 hay-feeding days needs about 3,000 pounds - sixty 50-pound bales.

## Step 3: Adjust for reality

Extension guidance adds important nuance:

- Forage should make up most of the diet - at least half of the daily ration in UMN's example feeding programs, even for horses in heavier work.
- Feed each horse as an individual. Easy keepers, hard keepers, growing horses and seniors won't all match the 2 percent planning figure.
- Monitor body weight and body condition score routinely and adjust - UMN suggests a BCS between 4 and 6 as ideal, checked with your hands, not just your eyes.
- Hay varies. UMN recommends having hay laboratory-tested to identify nutrient gaps, since hay can be low in some vitamins and minerals.

## Keep the numbers with the horse, in PawLine

Weight estimates, bale counts, body condition notes - they belong with the horse they describe. Ordinary dated daily notes work for all of it in the PawLine app: log the tape measurement, jot the hay plan, and check next month whether condition matches the math.

[Get PawLine on iPhone](https://horsebarnnotes.com/go/app/?to=ios&utm_source=horse-companion&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=auxiliary-guides&utm_content=blog-winter-hay-math)[Get PawLine on Android](https://horsebarnnotes.com/go/app/?to=android&utm_source=horse-companion&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=auxiliary-guides&utm_content=blog-winter-hay-math)

Available for iOS and Android. Check the store listing for current offers.

## Questions about this guide

### Does the example tell me exactly what to feed my horse?

No. It is a purchasing estimate, not an individual ration. Minnesota Extension says nutritional needs depend on age, growth, work, condition and other individual factors. Work with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist on the actual diet.

### How do I turn a hay estimate into a bale count?

Multiply the planned daily pounds by the number of hay-feeding days, then divide by the actual weight of your bales. Bale weights vary. Recheck the plan against your horse's weight and condition rather than assuming the example fits every horse.

## Sources

- [Ten things you should know about feeding the mature horse - University of Minnesota Extension](https://extension.umn.edu/agriculture/animals-and-livestock/horse/ten-things-you-should-know-about-feeding-the-mature-horse)
- [Using hay in horse diets - University of Minnesota Extension](https://extension.umn.edu/agriculture/animals-and-livestock/horse/hay-in-horse-diets)

*General educational information, not a feeding plan for your horse. Work with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist on individual rations.*

Editorial team · Published October 20, 2026 · Not yet reviewed by a licensed veterinarian

[Editorial and sources policy](https://horsebarnnotes.com/editorial-policy.html)