How to calculate the right amount of concentrate feed for your horse

Why concentrate feed is needed at all

Roughage such as hay or grass forms the foundation of a horse's diet. But as soon as a horse does more work than a light trot a few times a week, its energy requirements increase. Roughage alone can no longer supply that extra energy without the horse having to eat enormous quantities. Concentrate feed — cubes, muesli, or pellets — is more energy-dense and fills that gap efficiently. Bear in mind: a horse that is fully rested or in light work often needs no concentrate feed at all if the roughage is of good quality.

Step 1: determine body weight

Everything starts with your horse's weight. Without that foundation, every calculation falls apart. The most accurate method is a weighbridge, but a weight tape also gives a reasonable estimate. Use the formula: (girth in cm)² × height at withers in cm ÷ 11,880. A warmblood of 600 kg has a very different energy requirement from a pony of 350 kg. Record the weight in your horse's profile in EquiSight so you can easily compare whenever you adjust the diet.

Step 2: calculate the energy requirement

Energy requirements are expressed in VEM (Feed Unit Milk). A horse at rest needs roughly 3.3 VEM per kilogram of body weight per day. With light work (2–3 hours per week) this rises to approximately 4.0 VEM/kg, with moderate work to 4.5–5.0 VEM/kg, and with heavy work or top-level sport to 5.5–6.5 VEM/kg. For a 600 kg warmblood in moderate work, this means a daily requirement of 600 × 4.7 = 2,820 VEM. Average-quality hay typically provides 750–850 VEM per kilogram of dry matter.

Step 3: hay covers part of the requirement

Suppose the same 600 kg horse receives 10 kg of hay per day with a VEM value of 800 per kg. The hay then provides 10 × 800 = 8,000 VEM — but that figure is already higher than the total requirement. In practice, a horse eats no more than 2–2.5% of its body weight in dry matter per day, so a maximum of approximately 12–15 kg. Calculate the shortfall by subtracting the VEM supplied by the roughage from the total daily requirement. That shortfall is then made up with concentrate feed.

Maximum amount per meal

Never give more than 400 grams of concentrate feed per 100 kg of body weight per meal. For a 600 kg horse, that means a maximum of 2.4 kg per serving. Always divide the daily amount over at least two meals to prevent overloading the digestive tract. Also check the label of your concentrate feed: the VEM value per kg is always stated. A cube with 900 VEM/kg delivers more energy per portion than a muesli of 700 VEM/kg.

Factors that influence the calculation

• Age: young horses (up to 3 years) and older horses (20+) have adjusted nutrient requirements.
• Pregnancy and lactation: a pregnant mare needs 20–30% more energy in the last trimester.
• Season: in winter a horse burns more energy to stay warm, especially without a rug.
• Body condition score: use the Henneke scale (1–9); aim for a score of 5–6 for most horses.
• Roughage quality: have hay analysed regularly — VEM values vary considerably between batches.
• Health: gastric issues, PPID (Cushing's) or EMS require an adjusted diet.

EquiCoach helps you calculate and keep track

EquiCoach in EquiSight can generate a calculation based on weight, workload, and roughage type, and adjust it when your circumstances change. Using the calendar, you can plan dietary changes and link them to health notes in the horse profile. This gives you an instant overview of whether a behavioural change or weight fluctuation is connected to an adjustment in the diet.