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Know Exactly What to Feed Every Horse in Your Barn

Science-based nutrition calculator built for equine professionals. Get personalized feeding plans based on NRC guidelines in under 2 minutes.

NRC 2007
Science-Based
10+
Health Conditions
2 min
To Complete
✓ Based on NRC Equine Nutrition Standards
✓ Trusted by Barn Professionals
✓ Powered by Schneider Saddlery (Est. 1948)

Build Your Feeding Plan

Enter your horse's details and we'll calculate an optimized daily nutrition plan.

1 Horse Info
2 Activity
3 Health
4 Feed Type

Horse Information

Tell us about the horse. These basics drive the nutrition calculations.

Activity & Work Level

The horse's current workload or reproductive status determines caloric needs.

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Pro tip: Be honest about work level. Overestimating leads to weight gain and health issues. A horse worked 3x/week at walk-trot-canter for 30 minutes is "Light Work." Most lesson horses are "Moderate Work."

Health Conditions

Select any that apply. This adjusts the feeding plan and adds supplement recommendations.

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Important: This calculator provides general nutrition guidance. Always consult your veterinarian for horses with diagnosed medical conditions.

Feed Preferences

Tell us what forage and concentrate you're currently using (or plan to use).

Used for cost estimate only.
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Not sure? "Mixed Hay" and "Commercial Pelleted Feed" are the most common combination and a great default. Browse feed and supplements at Schneiders →

Your Horse's Daily Feed Plan

Summary details here

Total Daily Feed
0
lbs / day
Total Forage
0
pasture + hay lbs / day
Concentrate
0
lbs / day
🌿 Daily Feed Breakdown
Feed Amount % of Diet Feeding Notes
📈 Daily Nutrition Requirements
Protein
10% CP
Calcium
20g
Phosphorus
14g
Vitamin A
15,000 IU
Vitamin E
500 IU
Selenium
1mg
💊 Supplement Recommendations
💰 Estimated Feed Cost
Daily Cost
$0.00
hay + concentrate (pasture not included)
Monthly Estimate
$0
30-day average

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Pasture costs are not included (not purchased feed). Actual prices vary by dealer, quantity, and hay quality. Buying feed and supplements from Schneiders can reduce costs significantly.
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides general nutrition guidance based on NRC (2007) equine nutrition standards. Individual horses vary. Always consult with your veterinarian or equine nutritionist for horses with specific health conditions, and have your hay tested for accurate nutritional analysis.

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How the Calculator Works

Built on the same science veterinary nutritionists use.

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NRC-Based Formulas

Calculations are based on the National Research Council's Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007), the gold standard in equine nutrition science used by veterinary nutritionists worldwide.

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Condition-Adjusted

Select from 10 health conditions and the calculator automatically adjusts calorie levels, forage ratios, and supplement recommendations. Built with input from equine professionals.

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Real Cost Estimates

Get realistic daily and monthly feed cost projections based on current national averages, so you can budget accurately for your barn operation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The calculator uses NRC (2007) equine nutrition standards, which are the same formulas used by board-certified equine nutritionists. It provides a strong starting point, but individual horses can vary by 10-15%. For the most accurate plan, we recommend having your hay tested and working with your veterinarian for horses with health conditions.
Weighing is much more accurate. Hay flakes can vary from 3-8 lbs each depending on how the bale was made. Invest in a hanging scale or fish scale and weigh a few flakes from each bale to calibrate your eye. This one step improves feeding accuracy dramatically.
Never drop forage below 1% of body weight (10 lbs for a 1,000 lb horse). Instead, use low-NSC hay, soak hay to reduce sugars, use a slow feeder to extend eating time, and replace grain with a ration balancer. The calculator accounts for this when you select "Easy Keeper."
Recalculate whenever there's a significant change: seasonal shifts (horses need more calories in winter), changes in workload, new hay source, weight gain or loss, pregnancy/lactation stages, or health changes. At minimum, review the plan every 3-4 months.
Select "Pasture (good quality)" as forage type. Keep in mind that pasture quality varies enormously by season, region, and management. Spring grass can have very high sugar content (risky for metabolic horses). Most pastured horses still benefit from a ration balancer to fill nutritional gaps, and may need supplemental hay during winter or drought.
This tool is powered by Schneider Saddlery, a family-owned equine supply company trusted since 1948. We built this calculator as a free resource for equine professionals because we believe that horses define who we are. The formulas are based on the NRC's Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007 edition).
Yes! Run the calculator for each horse individually, then use the "Email my plan" feature to get each plan sent to you. Many barn managers run this for all horses and keep the plans posted in the feed room. For bulk feed and supplement orders, check Schneiders wholesale pricing.