Pasture Grass for Horses

TheMan419 · Feb 27, 2017

I am looking for a good source for seed. I am planting pasture grass for horses. I will do it in two phases. Phase one this spring will be the areas that will be used for pasture next year. This summer the horses will be on basically dry lots.

Once they move to the nice grass next spring, I will plant the dry lots. So in two years the entire place will be nice grass and I can rotate pasture nicely.

So..... I know I want a seed mix similar to http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/groundwork-pastureland-equine-forage-seed-mixture-25-lb

The seed mix is about
Italian Ryegrass 25%
Tetraploid Annual Ryegrass 25%
Timothy 20% Orchardgrass 10%
Tall Fescue 10%
Bluegrass 5%
White Clover 5%

That is a good mix for horses. Keeps something growing most of the season.

Now I am just price shopping.

Anyone have any recommendations as to where to shop this?

KYErik · Feb 27, 2017

It will likely be cheapest if you can buy the seeds individually in bulk and then mix them yourself. I don't know what type of farm co-ops you have near you, but you could always call a local place that sells fertilizer and ask them for a source.

riptides · Feb 27, 2017

Second calling the co-ops for mixtures in your soil. They may have bags ready to go for farmers and horse owners alike. Also you may want to reach out the your ag-extension office for even more advice.

I think I just went to my local co-op and grabbed what they had available. Our horses are not the finicky types, thank goodness.

fishheadbob · Feb 27, 2017

I would start with the local extension agency and run your questions past them. This is what their field crops specialists are all about; they should know what will grow well for you based on your soil test results ( Get one ), what's out there, who has it ready, who can mix it right, how you can incorporate it, etc., etc.. Best part is that they're not selling anything so their answers should be unbiased.

M5farms · Feb 27, 2017

on good pasture here it takes about 3 acres per horse. Them BE NICE never stop grazing.

TheMan419 · Feb 27, 2017

M5farms said:
on good pasture here it takes about 3 acres per horse. Them BE NICE never stop grazing.

Yeah here in the summer they say like 2 acres per horse. So we will likely be in a situation where the grazing helps reduce but not eliminate the need for hay.

I will call the extension office. Had not thought about them.

Ideally I would like the seed pre-mixed as that is one less step for me to deal with. Also the % in my OP are not set in stone. That was just from one mix that TSC had. I was thinking I had to be able to find it cheaper.

NoTrespassing · Feb 27, 2017

Here's a long but good read. Thankfully I don't have to worry about it anymore, the horses are long gone.

Purdue Forage Information

Kevin

Halftrack · Mar 19, 2017

Not sure which neighborhood you are closer to, but here are some seed suppliers which serve the Amish and Menonite communities.

Ed Miller Feed and Supply
9690 W 200 S
Shipshewana, IN

Beech Rd Seed & Fertilizer
276 Beech Rd
Nappanee, In

Midwest Farm & Pet
535 5B Rd
Bremen, IN

Nutritional Blending
67895 Cr 23
New Paris, IN

Westville Farm Supply
4725 US 421
Westville, IN

The first 3 would have considerable knowledge concerning horse pasture establishment.

Dadnatron · Mar 19, 2017

I would think hard about so much annual rye. If you mow, it won't have a chance to go to seed, thereby, in a couple years, 25% of your planted seed will have been for naught.

Also, pay attention to both seed rates and cost. My 2 local suppliers typically have different seed preps. 1 likes to provide seed with coating. Now, this coating helps that individual seed germinate and grow, but the coating also makes up approximately 40% of the weight/bulk of the seed. So, in essence you will have a higher germination rate of fewer seeds. Most folk around here buy bare seed, plant it a little heavy, but insure they plant it well. (Right depth, etc)

Finally, I would NOT recommend mixing it yourself, regardless of the cost savings. You will never do as good of a job as someone with a large mixer.

These are just my thoughts. I am in the process of putting in horse pasture, and have gone over this in ridiculous detail. I have been in contact with U Kentucky Ag/Botany dept as well as my local County Extension agent.

The Extension agent was the person who talked with me about how horse handle mixes in the pasture. ie planting Timothy in the mix will only last for a few years, because horses prefer it, and will selectively eat it thereby causing other less palatable grasses to mature past any palatability and also to stunt and ultimately potentially kill your Timothy. He said, probably the best mix (and what I am going with) is Bluegrass and Orchard grass. I have mares, so cannot/won't have Fescue, even though the new strains don't have the endophyte. I won't be able to determine a rogue strain vs planted, and I don't want to lose foals.

This is just a few thoughts which are guiding me.

I am planting TEFF this spring/summer for ground cover and forage. It will provide hay and keep the weeds beat down. It is also cold sensitive, so will die out on its own this fall/winter. I currently have 11 ac in Blue/orchard planted last fall. I will plant the remaining 70ac in permanent Blue/orchard this fall. I'll sacrifice the 11ac for grazing this fall/winter and rotate horses as needed next summer.