Barn operations guide
How to make a clear horse feed chart
A good horse feed chart turns approved feeding plans into instructions that barn staff can follow quickly and consistently. This guide focuses on organizing those instructions—not deciding what an individual horse should eat.
What should a horse feed chart include?
At minimum, include the horse's name, feeding times, hay, supplements, medication and concise preparation notes. The chart should answer three questions at a glance: which horse, what instruction and when it must happen. Avoid relying only on colors because printed copies, low light and color-vision differences can make them unreliable.
1. Start with one row for every horse
Use the horse's everyday barn name and keep it consistent with stall signs, buckets and medication records. If two horses have similar names, add a short identifier such as a stall number. A new staff member should be able to match each row to the correct horse without guessing.
2. Separate instructions by feeding time
Put morning, noon and evening instructions in separate columns. Write the actual amount and unit instead of using vague notes such as “usual feed.” If your barn uses scoops, make sure everyone knows which scoop is meant. When accuracy matters, record feed by weight and follow the ration approved by the owner and qualified equine professionals.
3. Give hay its own column
Hay instructions are easy to miss when they are buried inside a grain note. Record the amount, type and timing in a dedicated place. If hay is provided continuously, say so clearly. Keep operational instructions separate from nutritional decisions so the chart communicates an approved plan rather than creating one.
4. Make supplements and medication unmistakable
Use separate columns for supplements and medication. Include only the instructions staff need to carry out the approved routine. Medication changes should be confirmed through the barn's established process and verified with the owner, barn manager and veterinarian when appropriate. A feed chart is a communication aid, not a medical record or substitute for professional advice.
5. Keep notes short and actionable
Reserve the notes column for preparation details such as soak time, mixing order or a clearly defined handling instruction. Long explanations make the entire chart harder to scan. If a note needs several sentences, keep the full procedure elsewhere and use a short reference on the chart.
6. Review before printing
Ask a second responsible person to compare the finished chart with the approved feeding plans. Check horse names, quantities, units, timing and any recent changes. Print with enough contrast and a readable text size, then place the chart where feed is prepared without exposing it to moisture or dirt.
7. Date changes and remove old copies
A perfectly formatted chart can still cause problems if an outdated copy remains in use. Establish who may approve changes, when the chart should be replaced and how staff learn that something changed. Remove obsolete copies from the feed room as soon as the updated chart is posted.
Create your chart now
FeedStable gives you an editable chart with separate columns for AM, noon, PM, hay, supplements, medication and notes. It saves automatically in your browser and can be printed or exported as CSV.
Open the free chart maker