Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hi Pam,
When horses have free access to pasture (or hay) they will self-regulate their intake to eat what their bodies need. An idle horse will generally eat 1.5 to 2% of his body weight in dry matter, if the grass is of good quality. If it is very mature and lacks nutritive value, he will eat more to compensate.
So, let's look at the 2% figure... that translates into 20 lbs of dry matter for a 1000 lb horse. Pasture varies in its water content. During the spring, it can be around 80% water and consistently gets drier as the year progresses. During this time of year, it is likely closer to 50% water, but this is an estimate.
So, assuming 50% water, and therefore 50% dry matter, 20 lbs of dry matter would mean consuming 40 lbs of grass (20 divided by .50).
I hope this is helpful. The only way to know the exact moisture content is to have your pasture analyzed.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Can you tell me if there's a way to estimate how much pasture grass a horse will eat in a given time, in pounds? I'm talking about a 1000 pound, idle horse in a good bermuda pasture. Thanks
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO