Horse pasture mix.....too much clover

[Sniggle]

I planted a new horse pasture with a pasture mix from Tractor Supply. It came in well except that there is way too much clover...clover was only supposed to be like 4% and yet it looks like 80%. I have mowed it down several times this year, and I am hoping that after the winter the grass will begin to assert itself more.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Thanks

 

[MMagis]

Spray with 2,4,D.

 

[dweitzel]

I planted a new horse pasture with a pasture mix from Tractor Supply. It came in well except that there is way too much clover...clover was only supposed to be like 4% and yet it looks like 80%. I have mowed it down several times this year, and I am hoping that after the winter the grass will begin to assert itself more.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Thanks

I would suggest keeping it mowed and see how it does next spring. I would guess that most of the mix you planted is cool season grass, orchard, timothy and the like. The clover will grow well even in the summer, but the other grasses will start to go kind of dormant in the hot summer. I would post back the mix ratio and type of grasses in your mix and perhaps someone else may chime in.

You do wnat the clover there as it wil take nitrogen from the air and help replenish your soil. I would NOT spray it off just yet.

Post back with your mix and ratio.

DW

 

[Sniggle]

Here is the mix:

40% Garbaldi Perrenia Rye
31% Climax Timothy
13.4% Kentucky Bluegrass
9.63% Orchardgrass
5% Rivendel white clover

And then some other stuff in very small percentages.

 

[HoustonBrama]

I don't understand why you would want to get rid of the clover. As DW said, it is a great free way to replenish nitrogen and it is an exceptional feed. Lot's of nutrients. Is it you don't like the look or something else? Just curious.

 

[MMagis]

I'm not a horse guy, but as I understand it horses and clover do not mix well.

 

[ScottOkla]

If you are mowing it frequently, the clover is probably loving you for it. I am not familiar with Rivendel, but the low-growing white clovers love to be mowed regularly down here, especially in late summer.

 

[Foothill Rancher]

If your keeping it cut low it will spread out and keep going, most clover needs alot of water, water less may lessen the clover.
I don't remember horses having a problem with clover but you may check with your vet.
Cattle and sheep love it but you have to watch the sheep very close or they will bloat.

 

[weedsportpete]

Do a search on 'horse clover drool'. Different types of clover (not just red) can get a fungus called black patch which is toxic and can lead to excessive drooling in horses that eat it, and that can lead to dehydration. I'm not an expert. This one link seems to be fairly factual, and indicates that a 'high' or 'negative' percentage of clover (actually legumes in general) is over 30%, so you may be ok.

Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Pete

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

If you ever plan to hay the fields I was told by a local farmer that clover makes it dificult to dry the hay before bailing. He told me to stay away from it if I planned on using it for hay fields in the future. I also heard that certain types of clover can cause "slobers" (excess drooling) in horses. We have white clover in some of our pasture and that doesn't seem to bother them.