How Much Perennial Peanut Hay Should I Feed Per Horse, Per Day?
Short version: the standard rule for horses is 1.5% to 2.5% of body weight per day in forage, and perennial peanut hay fits into that range like any other hay. Below is the practical math, by horse type.
The starting point: 2% of body weight
For a 1,100 lb adult horse on average work:
- 1,100 × 0.02 = 22 lb of hay per day
- Our bales are 55 lb each
- 22 ÷ 55 = 0.4 bales per day, or roughly 2.8 bales per week, or ~12 bales per month
That's one horse. Multiply by your herd to figure your monthly order.
Feeding by horse type
| Horse type | Body weight | % of body weight | Daily hay (lb) | Bales / month (55 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pony / mini | 400–600 | 1.5% | 6–9 | 4–5 |
| Easy keeper | 1,000–1,100 | 1.5% | 15–17 | 8–9 |
| Average adult | 1,000–1,200 | 2.0% | 20–24 | 11–13 |
| Hard keeper | 1,000–1,200 | 2.5% | 25–30 | 14–16 |
| Senior (20+) | 1,000–1,100 | 2.0–2.5% | 20–28 | 11–15 |
| Broodmare (3rd trimester) | 1,200–1,400 | 2.5% | 30–35 | 16–19 |
| Performance / hard work | 1,100–1,300 | 2.5% | 28–32 | 15–17 |
| Growing yearling | 700–900 | 2.5–3.0% | 18–27 | 10–15 |
Round up to whole bales when ordering. Hay disappears faster than you think.
Adjusting for perennial peanut specifically
Perennial peanut hay is more nutrient-dense than coastal, so some horses can stay on the lower end of the body-weight percentage. Specifically:
- Easy keepers on peanut hay often do well at 1.5% of body weight. Above that, watch for weight gain.
- Hard keepers stay at 2.5% but typically drop concentrated grain — the protein in the hay does the work.
- Seniors with poor dentition appreciate peanut hay's leaf-heavy structure but may still need a soaked complete feed alongside.
Don't forget the pasture
If your horses are on grass pasture 6+ hours per day during the growing season, you can deduct roughly 20–40% of the hay calculation. Coastal pasture in the Southeast is usually low-protein, so the supplemental peanut hay carries the nutritional load.
In winter or drought, pasture contributes essentially zero — feed the full hay amount.
Quick monthly order rule of thumb
For a typical 5-horse boarding barn in the Panhandle:
- 5 horses × ~12 bales each × 1 month = 60 bales/month
- Add 10% for waste = 66 bales/month
That's a standing-order load right there. Most of our 4–10 horse barn customers run between 50 and 100 bales per month on perennial peanut.
Signs you're feeding too little
- Constant pacing at the round bale or empty hay net
- Manure thinning or accelerating
- Wood chewing
- Drop in body condition over 3–4 weeks
Signs you're feeding too much
- Refused hay piling up
- Horses going off grain
- Weight gain on easy keepers
- Soft, loose manure
See current peanut hay availability → or text (850) 573-0470 or (850) 573-0471 with your horse count and we'll suggest a monthly order size.