Miniature Horse — Feed Requirements Guide
Miniature horses are small equines standing under 34-38 inches at the withers, kept primarily as companion animals, therapy animals, and show horses. At 300 lbs, a miniature horse consumes approximately 6 lbs of dry matter daily, making them economical to feed but extremely prone to obesity and its associated health problems. Miniature horses have the same digestive physiology as full-size horses but with caloric needs that are easily exceeded by even small amounts of rich feed. The most common nutritional problems in miniature horses are obesity, equine metabolic syndrome, laminitis, and hyperlipemia, all of which are related to overconsumption of calories relative to energy expenditure. The ideal diet for most miniature horses consists of limited grass hay (1.5-2.0% of body weight), a vitamin/mineral supplement or ration balancer, and restricted or no access to pasture, particularly lush spring grass. Grazing muzzles are commonly used to allow turnout while limiting intake. Understanding the caloric density of different feeds is essential for keeping miniature horses at a healthy body condition score of 4-5 on a 9-point scale.
Miniature Horse Nutritional Requirements by Life Stage
The table below shows how dry matter intake, protein requirements, and feed costs change across the 4 life stages of miniature horse production. Life stage adjustments account for the dramatically different energy and protein demands of lactation, growth, gestation, and maintenance. Click any life stage for a dedicated page with detailed feeding recommendations and management tips.
| Life Stage | DMI Adj. | Daily DMI | Protein % | Daily Protein | Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 1x | 6.0 lbs | 10% | 0.6 lbs | $15.34 |
| Pregnant Mare | 1.15x | 6.9 lbs | 13% | 0.9 lbs | $17.64 |
| Lactating Mare | 1.4x | 8.4 lbs | 14% | 1.2 lbs | $21.48 |
| Growing Foal | 1.3x | 7.8 lbs | 15% | 1.2 lbs | $19.94 |
*Monthly cost estimated using grass hay at $150/ton. Actual costs vary by feed type and region.
Recommended Feeds for Miniature Horse
The following feeds meet both the minimum crude protein and TDN requirements for miniature horse at maintenance level (10% protein, 55% TDN) when fed as the sole feed source. In practice, most feeding programs combine multiple feed ingredients to optimize cost and nutritional balance.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | As-Fed/Day | Cost/Ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa Hay | 18% | 58% | 6.7 lbs | $250 |
| Haylage (Baleage) | 14% | 60% | 13.3 lbs | $80 |
| Oats | 12% | 70% | 6.7 lbs | $210 |
| Barley | 13% | 84% | 6.8 lbs | $230 |
| Soybean Meal | 44% | 84% | 6.7 lbs | $450 |
| Cottonseed Meal | 41% | 75% | 6.6 lbs | $380 |
| Distillers Grains (Dried) | 27% | 86% | 6.7 lbs | $200 |
| Wheat Bran | 16% | 67% | 6.7 lbs | $180 |
| Rice Bran | 13% | 65% | 6.6 lbs | $200 |
| Pasture Grass (Fresh) | 12% | 62% | 24.0 lbs | $0 |
| Corn Gluten Feed | 21% | 80% | 6.8 lbs | $200 |
| Canola Meal | 36% | 74% | 6.7 lbs | $350 |
| Layer Pellets | 16% | 70% | 6.7 lbs | $400 |
| Broiler Starter | 22% | 78% | 6.7 lbs | $450 |
| Horse Sweet Feed | 12% | 72% | 6.8 lbs | $350 |
| Brewers Grains (Wet) | 26% | 66% | 25.0 lbs | $60 |
| Alfalfa Hay Cubes | 17% | 56% | 6.7 lbs | $300 |
Feeds Requiring Supplementation
These feeds meet either the protein or TDN requirement but not both, and would need to be combined with other feeds in a balanced ration. The table indicates which nutritional requirement is met and which needs supplementation.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | Protein OK? | TDN OK? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Hay | 9% | 55% | No | Yes |
| Bermuda Grass Hay | 10% | 52% | Yes | No |
| Corn Silage | 8% | 70% | No | Yes |
| Whole Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Cracked Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Beet Pulp | 9% | 74% | No | Yes |
| Molasses | 5% | 72% | No | Yes |
| Fat Supplement (Bypass Fat) | 0% | 180% | No | Yes |
| Urea (Feed Grade) | 281% | 0% | Yes | No |
Feeding Miniature Horse at Different Body Weights
Body weight directly determines dry matter intake. The table below shows how daily feed requirements change across a range of body weights for miniature horse at maintenance level. Use the calculator for custom weights, life stages, and herd sizes.
| Body Weight | Daily DMI | Daily Protein | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180 lbs | 3.6 lbs | 0.4 lbs | 108 lbs | 0.66 tons |
| 240 lbs | 4.8 lbs | 0.5 lbs | 144 lbs | 0.88 tons |
| 300 lbs | 6.0 lbs | 0.6 lbs | 180 lbs | 1.10 tons |
| 360 lbs | 7.2 lbs | 0.7 lbs | 216 lbs | 1.31 tons |
| 450 lbs | 9.0 lbs | 0.9 lbs | 270 lbs | 1.64 tons |
Herd Size Feed Budgets for Miniature Horse
Planning feed purchases and storage requires estimating total feed needs for your herd over time. The table below shows monthly and annual feed requirements and costs for various herd sizes of miniature horse at maintenance level using grass hay at $150/ton.
| Head Count | Daily DMI Total | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 30.0 lbs | 0.45 tons | 5.48 tons | $933.24 |
| 10 | 60.0 lbs | 0.90 tons | 10.95 tons | $1,866.48 |
| 25 | 150.0 lbs | 2.25 tons | 27.38 tons | $4,666.19 |
| 50 | 300.0 lbs | 4.50 tons | 54.75 tons | $9,332.39 |
| 100 | 600.0 lbs | 9.00 tons | 109.50 tons | $18,664.77 |
| 200 | 1,200.0 lbs | 18.00 tons | 219.00 tons | $37,329.55 |
Other Animals
Browse feed requirement guides for other livestock species.