Horse feed at West Slope Farm & Ranch starts with hay: good hay and pasture do most of the work, and grain fills whatever gap is left. We stock feeds and supplements for easy keepers, performance horses, and seniors, balanced protein, fat, and fiber options to support condition and coat for Western Slope trail, ranch, and arena horses.
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Horse Feed Feeding Guide
How much should a horse eat each day?
Start with hay: feed at least 1.5–2% of body weight in hay every day. That's about 15–20 lb of hay a day for a 1,000-lb horse. Total daily feed (hay plus grain) runs roughly 1.5–3.5% of body weight depending on the horse's job. A mature idle horse can hold condition on good hay alone, no grain needed. When you do feed grain, keep any single meal under about 0.5% of body weight (roughly 4–5 lb for an average horse) and split grain into multiple small meals. Too much starch at once risks colic and founder.
| Horse | Hay per day | Grain per day |
|---|---|---|
| Idle, mature | 15–20 lb (a 1,000-lb horse) | None needed on good hay |
| Light work | 10–20 lb | 5–10 lb, split into meals |
| Moderate work | 10–20 lb | 7–15 lb, split into meals |
| Mare, nursing a foal | 10–20 lb | 10–20 lb, split into meals |
What does a senior horse need?
Older horses may need softer, more processed feeds, senior feeds typically run 12–14% protein. Fat is a concentrated, gentle calorie source a lot of older horses do well on. A senior complete feed can replace the whole diet for a horse that can't chew hay well, and soaking feed cuts down on choking. And note: overweight is as real a problem as underweight in old horses.
What feeding mistakes should I avoid?
The common ones: too much grain in one meal; not enough hay (under about 15 lb a day for a 1,000-lb horse risks ulcers, colic, and bad habits); feeding by the scoop instead of by weight (always weigh it, a scoop's weight changes with the feed); switching feeds suddenly (blend over 10–14 days minimum); and moldy or dusty hay. Bring us your horse's workload and hay situation and we'll help you build the ration around the hay, not the other way around.