For example, if you have a 1,000 pound horse who is in light work, a good diet might consist of 17 pounds of hay or hay cubes and 3 pounds of grain per day. The same 1,000 pound horse in a heavy work program may need 10 pounds of hay and 10 pounds of grain, since the grain is higher in energy.

One cup of this supplement is approximately ½ a pound.

The produce scale at the grocery store works great too! If you need an approximate place to start, 15-20 lbs of food, assuming a 3 lb scoop, is 5-6 full scoops per horse per day.

Many pleasure and trail horses don’t need grain: good-quality hay or pasture is sufficient. If hay isn’t enough, grain can be added, but the bulk of a horse’s calories should always come from roughage. Horses are meant to eat roughage, and their digestive system is designed to use the nutrition in grassy stalks.

They often only require a small amount per day – around 1 to 1.5 pounds for the average 1,000-pound horse. If a 50-pound bag of balancer costs you $35 you may only spend $0.70 per day, $4.90 a week, or $19.60 a month. Not bad.

DON’T feed more than 11 pounds of grain per day, or 4-5 pounds of grain per feeding, or the horse’s colic risk increases sixfold. DON’T worry about too much protein making a horse hot. Only 10% of the horse’s energy comes from protein, so it is a very insignificant source. DON’T feed supplements unless they are needed.

If you are attempting to figure the carrying capacity of land for a horse, then a good rule of thumb is 1-1/2 to 2 acres of open intensely managed land per horse. Two acres, if managed properly, should provide adequate forage in the form of pasture and/or hay ground.

Are Horse Expenses Ever Deductible on a Tax Return? Yes, they may be—and in a couple of circumstances. First, if your equestrian activities constitute a business, you can deduct any of your ordinary and necessary horse expenses as business expenses.

One Fee Covers All – this service includes all feeding, stall cleaning, possible minor care such as hoof care and parasite control. Partial board – the horse owner provides feed, bedding and stall clean-out and your responsibility is limited to providing the stall space and access to the pastures.

So, how much does boarding a horse cost? The average cost for horse boarding is $350 to $400 a month. This number can fluctuate depending on where you live, the facilities you’re interested in, and the type of board you choose.