What percent of body weight should a horse receive in feed?

• A. 1-1.5%
• B. 6-7%
• C. 4-5%
• D. 2.5-3%

Answer: (D)

In feeding horses, daily intake is measured as a percentage of the horse’s body weight. For maintenance, a practical target is about 2 to 3 percent of body weight per day, with the majority provided as forage. The 2.5–3 percent range fits this guideline well, balancing enough fiber and energy to support normal activity without overfeeding. For a 500 kg horse, that translates to roughly 12.5–15 kg of feed each day.

If you fed only 1–1.5 percent, the horse would likely be underfed for most situations unless it’s grazing very high-quality forage. Feeding 4–5 percent or more would be excessive for maintenance and could lead to weight gain or other issues.