Grass

Getting the grass sward (the area covered by grass and sometimes other species) right is key to improving not only the horse’s diet but also in delivering benefits for the landscape, wider environment and wildlife.

Small changes to grasslands can have significant positive outcomes for horses, the landscape and its wildlife. Understanding more about grass itself is a good place to start.

Rye grass species in particular have been bred to be high yielding – to increase productivity in cattle and sheep.

They are highly digestible and can accrue high levels of water soluble carbohydrates, which have been implicated in the susceptibility to laminitis of pastured horses.

Grass swards that are largely made up of Rye grass species, can enable horses to indulge in a high calorie intake over a short space of time.

This is contrary to their evolutionary roots where horses walked long distances, grazing on fibrous material.

Rye grass species have been developed to be quick to establish and persistent, outcompeting other grassland species and relying on regular inorganic fertilizer applications.

Together the dominance of rye grass and regular use of fertiliser has damaged native mixed species swards (wildflower meadows).

Reduce the amount of Rye grass in horse grazed pasture and increase the number of other grasses, and flowering species.