A: Horses generally need 2 to 2.5 pounds of dry feed per 100 pounds of body weight daily. For a 1,000 pound gelding, this would be 20 to 25 pounds of total feed daily. The amount of hay needed will be the difference between his total need and the amount of feed concentrate you feed. If he needs 20 pounds of feed and you are feeding 6 pounds of concentrate daily, he will likely need at least 14 pounds of hay daily.

A small amount of hay can be replaced by the grass he consumes at turnout. An even better approach is to provide your horse with all of the hay he will consume. However, don't waste hay. If he leaves some hay in his stall, reduce the amount that you feed him.

Dr. Edgar A. Ott is recently retired from the University of Florida and is the consulting equine nutritionist for Seminole Feed.