F-3997

Ration Formulation
for Horses

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Bringing the University to You!
The Cooperative Extension Service is the largest,
most successful informal educational organization in
the world. It is a nationwide system funded and
guided by a partnership of federal, state, and local
governments that delivers information to help people
help themselves through the land-grant university
system.
Extension carries out programs in the broad categories of agriculture, natural resources and environment; family and consumer sciences; 4-H and other
youth; and community resource development. Extension staff members live and work among the
people they serve to help stimulate and educate
Americans to plan ahead and cope with their problems.
Some characteristics of the Cooperative Extension
system are:

The federal, state, and local governments

cooperatively share in its financial support and
program direction.

It is administered by the land-grant university as

designated by the state legislature through an
Extension director.

Extension programs are nonpolitical, objective,

and research-based information.

It provides practical, problem-oriented education

for people of all ages. It is designated to take the
knowledge of the university to those persons who
do not or cannot participate in the formal
classroom instruction of the university.

David W. Freeman

It utilizes research from university, government,

and other sources to help people make their own
decisions.

Introduction

More than a million volunteers help multiply the

impact of the Extension professional staff.

It dispenses no funds to the public.

It is not a regulatory agency, but it does inform

people of regulations and of their options in
meeting them.

Local programs are developed and carried out in

full recognition of national problems and goals.

The Extension staff educates people through

personal contacts, meetings, demonstrations,
and the mass media.

Extension has the built-in flexibility to adjust its

programs and subject matter to meet new needs.
Activities shift from year to year as citizen groups
and Extension workers close to the problems
advise changes.

Extension Equine Specialist

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets

are also available on our website at:
http://www.osuextra.com

Understanding the principles of how rations are formulated to

meet the needs of horses is important to all horse owners.
Acheiving production and management goals depends on
supplying proper amounts and types of nutrients for safe and
efficient use by horses. The first step is to identify the nutrients
that are needed by horses and how the needs of horses vary
between the different stages of growth and production.

Nutrient Requirements
Horses require feed to supply energy, protein, minerals
and vitamins for maintenance and production. Recommended
nutrient requirements, expressed as absolute amounts per
day, for a horse of 1,100 lb mature weight are shown in Tables
1 and 2. These recommendations are considered averages
because horses of similar body weight and production status
will vary slightly in their nutrient needs. The amounts of
nutrients needed depend on the size and production status of
the horse. The absolute nutrient requirements of horses of
different sizes, under similar production states, can be expressed as percentages of the amount of ration needed per
day. Recommended nutrient concentrations for typical rations
are listed in Tables 3 and 4. Nutrient concentration in rations
for growing horses are recommended to be higher than
mature horses because of the combination of increased need
and daily intake limits.

These recommendations are developed by years of

research at universities across the nation and are compiled by
the National Research Council Subcommittee on Horse Nutrition (Information on how to order the current edition of
Nutrient Requirements of Horses can be obtained by request
from the National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue,
NW, Washington, DC 20418).
Energy. Energy is needed to fuel various body processes. Energy sources must be digestible and needs are
provided efficiently in the form of carbohydrates and fats.
Researchers quantify the amount of energy needed by a
horse in units termed, Megacalories, which is abbreviated
Mcal. This term is related to the term Calories that is referred
to in human diets. Energy intake above the amount needed to
fuel the body for maintenance, production, and growth processes will be deposited as fat. Horses in good body condition
receiving insufficient daily energy intake will burn energy
stored as fat. Horses in poor body condition, receiving
insuffcient daily energy intake can quickly develop serious
health problems that may lead to death.
Mature horses of larger weight require more energy to
maintain their body than smaller horses. Working horses will
need more energy than horses not receiving forced exercise.
Mares producing foals, lactating mares, and growing horses

Table 1. Daily Nutrient Requirement of Horses at Maintenance and Production1

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its
policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.

Maintenance
Pregnant mare
9 months
10 months
11 months
Lactating mares
First 3 months
3 months to weaning
Working, mature
Light work
Moderate work
Intense work
1

Body
weight
(lb)

Daily
gain
(lb)

Dig.
energy
(Mcal)

Crude
protein
(lb)

Calcium
(g)

Phosphorus
(g)

Vitamin A
(1000 IU)

1100

16

1.4

20

14

15

18
19
20

1.8
1.8
1.9

35
35
37

26
27
28

30
30
30

500
500

28
24

3.1
2.3

56
36

36
22

30
30

500
500
500

21
25
33

1.8
2.2
2.9

25
30
40

18
21
29

22
22
22

Adapted from NRC, 1989 for 1100 Ib horse

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Samuel E. Curl, Director of Cooperative Extension
Service, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. This publication is printed and issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences
and Natural Resources and has been prepared and distributed at a cost of 20 cents per copy. 0703

3997-8

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Oklahoma State University

Table 2. Daily Nutrient Requirement of Growing Horses1

Weanling 4 months
Weanling 6 months
Moderate growth
Rapid growth
Yearling, 12 months
Moderate growth
Rapid growth
Yearling, 18 months
Not in training
In training
Two year old
Not in training
In training
1

Body
Weight
(lb)

Daily
gain
(lb)

Dig.
energy
(Mcal)

Crude
protein
(lb)

Calcium
(9)

Phosphorus
(9)

Vitamin A
(1000 IU)

385

1.9

14

1.6

34

19

475
475

1.4
1.9

15
17

1.7
1.9

29
36

16
20

10
10

715
715

1.1
1.4

19
21

1.9
2.1

29
34

16
19

15
15

880
880

.8
.8

20
27

2.0
2.6

27
36

15
20

18
18

990
990

.4
.4

19
26

1.8
2.5

24
34

13
19

20
20

Adapted from NRC, 1989 for 1100 lb horse

Table 3. Suggested Nutrient Concentrations in Rations for Horses at Maintenance, Production and Work (90 percent Dry
Matter Basis)1

Diet
Proportion
Digestible
energy2
(Mcal/lb)
Maintenance
Pregnant mare
9 months
10 months
11 months
Lactating mares
First 3 months
3 months to weaning
Working, mature
Light work
Moderate work
Intense work

Grain
(%)

Crude
protein
(%)

Hay
(%)

Calcium
(%)

Phosphorus
(%)

Vitamin A
(lU/lb)

.8

100

7.2

.21

.15

750

.9
.9
1.0

20
20
30

80
80
70

8.9
9.0
9.5

.39
.39
.41

.29
.30
.31

1510
1490
1490

1.1
1.0

50
35

50
65

12.0
10.0

.47
.33

.30
.20

1130
1240

1.0
1.1
1.2

35
50
65

65
50
35

8.8
9.4
10.3

.27
.28
.31

.19
.22
.23

1100
970
800

Adaptcd from NRC, 1989

Values are specific for feeding a grain mix with 1.5 Mcal/lb and hay with 1 Mcal/lb dry matter.

will need large amounts of energy for maintenance and to fuel

their production state.
Rations designed for growing horses, broodmares in
production and working horses will need a greater amount of
energy per pound of ration as compared with rations for horses
at maintenance (Tables 3 and 4). In practical terms, this need
is met by feeding more grain as a percent of the total ration.
Protein. Horses need a certain amount of protein per day
for maintenance of their body; and as with energy, states of
production and growth will raise the protein requirements.
Rations designed for horses in production and growth will
typically need to be more protein dense (a higher percent of
protein) to meet their increased needs.
Proteins are made up of amino acids. These amino acids
are necessary for muscle deposition, enzyme synthesis for

the bodys chemical pathways, hormone synthesis, and other

vital body processes. Research has shown that the rations
need to supply certain levels of some amino acids for healthy
production and growth. Nutritionists regularly balance rations
for growth and production for the amino acid Iysine. Recommendations for Iysine concentration are .5 to .6 percent in
rations for growing horses and .3 to .4 percent for horses in
production.
Minerals. As with other nutrients, the requirements for
many minerals increase for growing horses and horses in
production, and rations formulated for these groups of horses
typically are more concentrated in minerals than those rations
for maintenance. Among other functions, minerals are important for development and maintenance of a strong skeletal
system. Rations are balanced commonly for calcium and
3997-2

3997-7

Table 4. Recommended Nutrient Concentrations in Rations for Growing Horses (90 percent Dry Matter Basis)1

Diet
Proportion
Grain
Hay
(%)
(%)

Digestible
energy2
(Mcal/lb)
Weanling, 4 months
Weanling, 6 months
Moderate growth
Rapid growth
Yearling, 12 months
Moderate growth
Rapid growth
Yearling, 18 months
Not in training
In training
Two year old
Not in training
In training
1
2

Phosphorus
(%)

Vitamin A
(lU/lb)

70

30

13.1

.62

.34

650

1.25
1.25

70
70

30
30

13.0
13.1

.50
.55

.28
.30

760
670

1.15
1.15

60
60

40
40

11.3
11.3

.39
.40

.21
.22

890
790

1.05
1.10

45
50

55
50

10.1
10.8

.31
.32

.17
.18

930
740

1.00
1.10

35
50

65
50

9.4
10.1

.28
.31

.15
.17

1080
840

Adapted from NRC 1989

Values are specific for feeding a grain mix with 1.5 Mcal/lb and hay with 1 Mcal/lb dry matter.

feedstuffs are major contributors to the total mineral content

of a mix. Oversupplementation or undersupplementation of
minerals can cause major health problems in all classes of
horses.
Vitamins. Like minerals, vitamins are necessary for
many of the chemical reactions in the body. It is suggested
that most vitamin requirements of horses are supplied by
grains and forages, although it is standard practice to include
vitamin premixes in rations for horses much like mineral
premixes.
A major vitamin of concern in horse rations is vitamin A.
While most if not all of the horses maintenance requirement
for vitamin A is met by a compound present in forages, vitamin
A needs increase in production and growth such that supplementation may be necessary. The B vitamins are thought to
be produced in sufficient amounts to supply the needs of most
horses, although it is recommended frequently to supplement
rations used for horses being heavily worked. While oversupplying B vitamins has little if any adverse affect on a horses
body, oversupplementing vitamins such as vitamin D can be
very harmful. It is cautioned to feed vitamin premixes only at
levels recommended on the label and to account for sources
added to grain mixes before topdressing with additional
supplements.

Hay Type1
Horse type

Mature
Lactating
Weanling

Alfalfa
Calcium Phosphorus
(%)
(%)
.2-.4
.4-.5
.5-.6

2-.3
.3-.4
.4-.5

Bermudagrass
Calcium Phosphorus
(%)
(%)
.2-.4
.5-.6
.7-.8

.2-.3
.3-.4
.4-.5

Alfalfa hay assumed to contained approximately 1.4% calcium, .24% phosphorus, and bermudagrass .4% calcium and .3% phosphorus on a dry matter
basis.

phosphorus. There should be 1.5 to 2.5 times more calcium

than phosphorus in diets of horses. This ratio is important for
proper absorption and utilization of the two minerals and phosphorus amounts should never be greater than calcium in the
total ration. To facilitate this need, suggested calcium and
phosphorus concentrations for grain mixes are listed in Table 5.
Many times salt is added to grain mixes at about the .5
percent level or supplied free choice in the form of blocks. It is
a standard recommendation to allow all horses free access to
trace mineralized salt blocks, especially those horses that may
have increases in loss of trace minerals because of high rates
of sweating.
Mineral nutrition is very complicated and further research
is needed before many of the requirements for minerals can be
defined. Other minerals receiving current research interest
include magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, and copper.
Because of increased needs to assist in body development or
replacement of losses, it a standard practice to fortify grain
mixes for growing, working, and producing horses with mineral
premixes. Care must be taken to account for all sources of
minerals before large supplementation begins because many
3997-6

Calcium
(%)

1.25

Table 5. Suggested Calcuim and Phosphorus Percentages for Grain Mixes when Fed with Different Hays.

Crude
protein
(%)

Nutrient Sources
Horses typically receive nutrients from grain, hay, pasture, or a combination of the three. Many times grain, hay, and
pasture selection is based on traditional beliefs and regional
preferences. Some horse owners believe barley is the only
grain that can be fed while others prefer oats. Actually, there
are many choices of grains, hays and pastures that can be
safely fed, and successful ration formulation requires a thorough knowledge of nutrient content of different sources.
Forage. All horses need long stem forage for both
physiological and behavioral reasons. If hays are the only
source of forage, rations should include hay at levels of .75 to
3997-3

Table 6. Example Nutrient Content of Selected Hays (Dry

matter basis)
Digestible Crude
energy
protein
(MCal/lb)
(%)

Hay
Alfalfa
Midbloom
1.04
Mature
.99
Clover
1.04
Bermudagrass .90
Bluestem
.90
Prairie
.70

18.7
17.0
15.0
7.8
7.4
6.4

Calcium Phosphorus
(%)
(%)
1.37
1.19
1.38
.40
.40
.35

.24
.27
.24
.23
.20
.14

Table 7. Nutrient Content of Selected Grains (Dry matter

basis)
Digestible Crude
energy
protein
Grain
(MCal/lb)
(%)
Barley
1.7
13
Corn
1.7
10
Oats, heavy
1.5
13
Sorghum
1.5
12
Wheat
1.7
13

Calcium Phosphorus
(%)
(%)
.05
.38
.04
.53
.06
.33
.03
.30
.05
.41

origins such as fish and milk. Protein supplements are utilized

to provide amino acids deficient in grains and hays. Supplements differ in the crude protein content and the amount of
different amino acids (Table 8). Usually, Iysine is the most
deficient amino acid in grains and hays, so protein supplements with high Iysine content are of most benefit. Supplements for growing horses and those in production should
have high concentrations of Iysine because of increased
needs. Soybean meal is an excellent protein source for
horses because it is relatively high in Iysine concentration.
Most animal source protein supplements are also good
sources of Iysine, but some may be less acceptable by the
horse.
Vitamins and Minerals. Various vitamins and minerals
are added routinely to grain mixes to insure that potential
deficiencies or imbalances do not occur. Sources of calcium
and phosphorus, such as dicalcium phosphate, are added
routinely to the grain portion of the ration. Mineral and vitamin
premixes are frequently recommended for horses in high
states of production or growth that are receiving low quality
grains and forages. Levels of supplementation of vitamins
and minerals are dependant on levels of vitamins and minerals supplied in grains and forages: caution should be observed against the overzealous use of supplements. Most
commercially prepared grain mixes are supplemented with
vitamin and mineral premixes, so additional supplementation
is not necessary. Excessive supplementation of vitamins and
minerals can be detrimental to the health of the horse.

Farm Ration Plans

2 percent of body weight per day. High quality hay and pasture
is important for efficient nutrient utilization. (See Extension
Facts F-3980, "Use of Forages for Horses," for information on
forage utilization.)
In general, forages are lower in digestible energy concentration than grains (Table 6), and legumes have more
energy per pound than grasses. Crude protein content will
vary greatly between forages, and in a forage at different
stages of growth. Forages also supply large amounts of
minerals and vitamins. Ration formulation should consider
these sources for accurate balancing of nutrients.
Grains. Grains are considered a high energy nutrient
source. Table 7 lists nutrient content of some selected grains,
but many others may be fed successfully. Grains differ in
amounts of energy, crude protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Most grains have six to eight times more phosphorus than
calcium. Grains such as corn may be too concentrated in
energy to feed as a sole source of grain under many feeding
management situations. Grain mixes, such as corn and oats,
are used to balance formulations to meet requirements under
different management situations (See Extension Facts F3973," Feeding Management of the Equine," for information
on feeding management).
Grains can be fed whole, coarsely processed, or pelleted.
Coarse processing such as crimping or rolling of hard seed
coated grains such as corn will increase digestibility. Feeding
fine-ground grains may lead to colic unless they are pelleted
before feeding.
Protein Supplements. Another class of feedstuffs is
feeds with high protein concentration. These feeds are made
up of byproducts of the wet milling, brewing, and distilling
industry, oilseed residues and supplements from animal

The number and types of grain rations needed will

depend on forage availability and farm management constraints. Some farms find it economical and safest to feed one
grain formulation designed to meet the needs of horses in
high states of production and growth. Horses receiving this
ration in low states of production or at maintenance may
receive surplus nutrients, but not at harmful levels. Other
farms have such a diversity of horses that two or three rations
need to be formulated. Another management condition that
can affect farm ration plans include how horses are housed
and fed. Group feeding requires more concern in developing
rations that aid in decreasing the potential for overconsumption of energy; furthermore, understanding intake limits of
different horses is important (Table 9).

Total Consumption
% of body weight
1.5-2.0
1.5-2.0
2.0-3.0
1.5-3.0
2.0-3.5
2.0-3.0
1.8-2.5

Class
Maintenance
Late gestation
Lactation
Working
Weanlings
Yearling
Two year old
1

livestock. Commercial grain mixes usually include combinations of grains, protein supplements, vitamins, and minerals.
One can determine many of the nutrient concentrations from
the feed tag. One exception is determining the energy content
of the feed. In many of the typically fed grains, the energy
content is inversely related to the crude fiber content. Crude
fiber content is given on the tag and one can use the relationship between crude fiber and digestible energy given in Table
10 to estimate energy content.
One simple ration check is to compare the amount of
nutrients provided in grain and hay to the amount recommended for the horse. For example, assume that a lactating
mare is estimated to need 3 pounds of protein per day, and she
is fed 11 pounds of an 8 percent crude protein hay and 15
pounds of a 12 percent grain mix. The check is done by
multiplying the amounts of feed by the respective percent
protein, and adding all sources for a total. In this example,
(11X .08) + (15 X .12) = 2.68 pounds of protein. The recommendation would be to increase the amount of grain if she also
needs an increase in body condition that will result from the
additional energy, or to feed a higher concentrated protein hay
or grain mix if her body condition is satisfactory.
A simple grain formulation can be shown by combining 10
pounds of oats and 8 pounds of corn. Nutrients of concern in
this example are energy (Mcal/lb) and protein (%).
Oats contain:
1.3 Mcal DE/lb
12% Crude protein

The energy concentration of the mix would be:

(1.3 X .56)+(1.5 X .44)=1.4 Mcal/lb DE

Feed

energy

protein

(MCal/lb)

Soybean meal 1.47

Lysine

Calcium Phosphorus

(%)

(%)

(%)

49

3.22

.40

.71

(%)

Cottonseed
meal

1.37

45

1.85

.18

1.22

Flax meal

1.38

38

1.28

.43

.89

Table 11. Sample Herd Ration Grain Mix for Horses

Ingredient
Oats
Corn, cracked
Limestone, Dicalcium Phosphates
Salt, Vitamin premix

Table 10. Crude Fiber and Digestible Energy Relationships of Commonly Fed Grains for Horses
Crude Fiber, %
2
4
6
8
10
12

Digestible Energy, Mcal/lb

1.55
1.50
1.44
1.40
1.34
1.29

Percent
69.0
29.0
1.0
1.0

Analysis
DE (Mcal/lb)
Crude Protein
Calcium
Phosphorus

Pounds/Ton
1390
580
20
20

1.3
11%
.4%
.3%

Table 12. Sample Supplemented Grain Mix for Horses

Ingredient
Herd Ration,
Supplement 2

Percent
90%
10%

Analysis
DE (Mcal/lb)
Crude Protein
Calcium
Phosphorus
1

Nutrient content of grains and hays can be analyzed

chemically, or values for typical samples of the feeds can be
found in textbooks and manuals about feeds and feeding

Crude

Example rations are given in Tables 11 through 13. These

rations are one way to meet average values for growing and
producing horses. Other grains and hays can be utilized.
Successful ration formulation entails an ability to understand
nutrient requirements of horses, how feedstuffs can be best
combined to supply needed nutrients, and farm management
practices that suggest feeding specific formulations for the
safety and well being of the horses.

Corn contains:
1.5 Mcal DE/lb
9% Crude protein

Example Ration Formulation

Digestible

The protein concentration of the mix would be:

(12 X .56)+(9 X .44)=10.7% crude protein

Adapted from NRC, 1989

Oats are 56% of the mix (10 Ibs/18 Ibs)

Corn is 44% of the mix (8 Ibs/18 Ibs)

Table 8. Nutrient Content of Selected High Protein Feeds

(Dry matter basis)

3997-4

Table 9. Expected Total Ration Consumption by Horses

Pounds/Ton
1800
200

1.3
11.0%
.4%
.3%

Table 11
Supplement contains 35% crude protein, 4% calcium and 2% phosphorus

Table 13. Horse Class and Rations

Grain to Hay2
Grain
Ratio
Grain
Hay
Class
Ration1
Mature horses,
moderate work
1
30
70
Lactating mare
2
50
50
Weanling
2
70
30
Yearling
1
60
40
1

3997-5

Grain ration 1 is herd ration in Table 11, grain ration 2 is supplemented mix
in Table 12.
Hay is a bermudagrass with 12% crude protein.