Grass type and seed rate for horse paddock.

Ok, need to grass down a couple of acres for a horse paddock. What is the best type of grass to use and a seed rate to get it going ASAP. I'm presuming that it won't be ready to graze until late spring. Light loam over chalk, P and K both 2+
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
I'd suggest that this is an impossible question without knowing the breed of horse. If you have natives, then you won't want a highly productive species of grass but the opposite without clover. If you are breeding TB's, a high yelding mixture might be more appropriate. What suits one will not suit another. It is quite wrong for seeds suppliers to advertise "Seeds mixtures suitable for horses" when their requirements vary.

I have sown a fescue/cocks foot mixture here for my natives because I have dry sandy soil and breed Highland ponies. So far, so good -- but I'm not recommending anything!:)

I am not aware of any seeds supplier who supplies mixtures specifically for good doing native ponies, though perhaps they should? There is a demand out there if they look.
 

sleepy

Member
Location
Devon, UK
I'd suggest that this is an impossible question without knowing the breed of horse. If you have natives, then you won't want a highly productive species of grass but the opposite without clover. If you are breeding TB's, a high yelding mixture might be more appropriate. What suits one will not suit another. It is quite wrong for seeds suppliers to advertise "Seeds mixtures suitable for horses" when their requirements vary.

I have sown a fescue/cocks foot mixture here for my natives because I have dry sandy soil and breed Highland ponies. So far, so good -- but I'm not recommending anything!:)

I am not aware of any seeds supplier who supplies mixtures specifically for good doing native ponies, though perhaps they should? There is a demand out there if they look.

Most horses are best in a paddock of weeds, even breeding TB's.
 

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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