Feed is 30-45% of the cost of keeping a horse at a stable. It’s bigger than everything else — box, bedding, vet combined. Yet most stable managers don’t know exactly what they spend per horse. They buy when it runs out. They don’t negotiate. They pay cash, invoice “in the background”.
This article shows real feed costs in 2026, how to calculate a daily ration for different horse types, where to buy and how to optimize without compromising horse health.
Real European feed costs 2026
After significant 2022-2024 hikes, prices have stabilized.
Base rates (May 2026)
| Item | Price per unit | Typical daily dose |
|---|---|---|
| Hay (dry, good quality) | €0.20-0.35/kg | 8-15 kg |
| Oats | €0.40-0.55/kg | 1-3 kg |
| Mill pellets (muesli feed) | €0.90-1.85/kg | 0.5-2 kg |
| Bran | €0.27-0.40/kg | 0.5-1 kg |
| Carrots, apples (extras) | €0.45-0.90/kg | 0.5-1 kg |
| Salt block | €1-2/kg | ad libitum |
| Specialist supplements | €7-35/kg | 30-100g |
Daily cost per horse
School horse (light work, 500 kg):
- Hay 10kg × €0.25 = €2.50
- Oats 1.5kg × €0.45 = €0.70
- Pellets 0.5kg × €1.40 = €0.70
- Bran + extras: €0.45
- Total: ~€4.35/day = €130/mo
Sport horse (intense work, 550 kg):
- Hay 12kg × €0.30 = €3.60
- Oats 3kg × €0.50 = €1.50
- Pellets 1.5kg × €1.60 = €2.40
- Supplements: €1.20
- Total: ~€8.70/day = €260/mo
Boarded horse (medium work):
- Standard ration ~€5-7/day = €150-210/mo
Where to buy
Local mills (best for hay)
- Hay quality matters more than price (mold = vet bills)
- Buy big bales (300-500kg) directly from a farmer in summer for next year’s stock
- Saves 20-30% vs retail in autumn
Wholesalers (oats, pellets, bran)
- 25kg sacks vs retail bag = 15-25% savings
- Annual contract with bulk supplier — additional 10% discount
Specialty stores (supplements)
- Online retailers usually cheapest
- Bulk packs for 6+ months at a time
Optimization checklist
- Hay quality test every batch — green color, no dust, smells fresh, no mold
- Weighing instead of “scoops” — same scoop has different weights for different feeds
- Per-horse profile — sport horse and pony shouldn’t get the same ration
- Vet recommendation for any horse with health issues — can radically change costs (and outcomes)
- Annual feed audit — is what you give actually what the horse needs?
Common mistakes
Mistake 1: Same ration for all horses
A pony getting a sport horse’s ration = obesity. A senior getting a beginner ration = underweight. Adapt per horse.
Mistake 2: Cheap hay, expensive supplements
If your hay is poor, no supplement compensates. Spend on hay first.
Mistake 3: Buying based on price, not test
Cheapest oats might have weed seeds, fungal contamination. Test before bulk order.
Mistake 4: No tracking
You buy “feed” as a category, no per-horse cost. After a year you don’t know why expenses jumped 20%.
How to track per-horse costs
In Hovera each horse has a cost profile:
- Daily ration logged
- Monthly cost calculated automatically
- For boarding: per-owner invoice generated based on actual feed used
Bookkeeping export distinguishes feed cost per horse → you see profitability per horse.
Or see horse profiles: Horse journal in Hovera →