There Is No Such Thing as a Laminitis Safe Seed Mix
- Mar 9
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 30
Laminitis is one of the most feared conditions affecting horses, and many owners understandably look for ways to make grazing safer.
One increasingly common marketing claim is the "laminitis safe" seed mix. These mixes are often ryegrass free or contain lower Non-Structural Carbohydrate (NSC) grass species, suggesting they reduce the risk of pasture associated laminitis.
While carefully choosing pasture species can form part of good grazing management, no seed mix can make a pasture "laminitis safe". The reason is simple: Laminitis risk depends on far more than the plants growing in a field.
Horse metabolism, weather, grazing management, soil conditions and pasture ecology all influence risk. Understanding that bigger picture allows horse owners to make much better decisions than relying on any single product.
Most Laminitis Is Linked to Insulin Dysregulation
In the UK, approximately 90% of laminitis cases are endocrinopathic, meaning they are associated with insulin dysregulation or PPID (Cushing’s disease).
Insulin dysregulation is similar to type 2 diabetes in humans.
In affected horses, the body produces an exaggerated insulin response when NSCs are consumed. Elevated insulin levels can disrupt blood flow and cellular function within the hoof, triggering laminitis.
Research suggests that forage containing around 12% or more non-structural carbohydrates (or approximately 12% water-soluble carbohydrates, depending on the measurement used) may increase the risk of excessive insulin responses in susceptible horses.
However, this is where a major misunderstanding arises. No seed mix can guarantee pasture levels remain below this threshold.
Plant NSC Levels Are Not Fixed
The NSC content of plants changes constantly depending on environmental conditions. Factors that influence pasture NSC levels include:
Sunlight intensity
Night-time temperatures
Soil fertility and nitrogen availability
Drought or frost stress
Grazing pressure
Recovery time between grazing
Plants produce NSCs through photosynthesis during daylight hours and use them for growth overnight. When growth is restricted, for example during cold nights, drought stress or heavy grazing, NSCs accumulate within the plant.
This means the same plant species can contain very different NSC levels depending on weather and management conditions.
Because of this, no seed mix alone can control NSC levels in a pasture.
Why Plant Diversity Still Matters
Although no seed mix can guarantee low NSC levels, species composition still plays an important role. Natural grasslands rarely contain a single grass species. Instead, they include a mixture of grasses, legumes and broadleaf plants such as wildflowers and herbs. Many of these species tend to have relatively lower NSC concentrations than highly productive agricultural grasses bred for rapid growth.
A more diverse pasture can help:
Dilute NSC intake per mouthful
Encourage slower, more selective grazing behaviour
Improve vitamin and mineral availability
Support soil health and microbial activity
Increase resilience to drought, flooding and other environmental stress
Plant diversity reduces reliance on highly productive agricultural grasses, but it does not eliminate laminitis risk, however, it can help reduce risk and create more balanced grazing ecosystems.
Laminitis Often Starts With Energy Imbalance
Another important point often overlooked is that many horses are not initially sugar sensitive.
Native breeds and good doers often gain weight on pasture simply because it provides more energy than they require. Over time, chronic over-nutrition can lead to obesity and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). Just as in humans, obesity can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes-like insulin dysregulation.
Once insulin dysregulation develops, sugar intake becomes far more significant. At that stage, amounts of sugar that were previously tolerated can trigger laminitis.
This means laminitis prevention often begins long before metabolic disease appears, with energy balance and weight management.
Why “Laminitis Safe” Seed Can Delay Real Solutions
When laminitis is framed as a simple “grass type problem,” or a plant species problem, important management decisions are often delayed. Owners may rely on a seed mix to solve the issue instead of addressing the wider grazing system.
This can lead to:
Excessive pasture intake
Progressive weight gain
Development of metabolic disease
For the horse, the consequences of this can be fatal.
Managing Pasture for Horses With Insulin Dysregulation
For horses already diagnosed with insulin dysregulation, pasture management often needs to include strategies that control intake while maintaining movement, social interaction and gut health.
Common approaches include:
Strip grazing
Track systems
Grazing muzzles
Dry lots or restricted turnout areas
Feeding soaked hay
Mixing hay with straw to reduce calorie intake
Maintaining a lean body condition
Encouraging appropriate exercise where possible
The goal is not necessarily to eliminate pasture completely, but in some cases temporary removal from grazing may be required to prevent acute laminitis episodes.
Healthy Horse Pasture Is More Than a Seed Mix
Pasture management works best when we view grazing as an ecological system, rather than simply a list of plant species.
Healthy horse pasture balances several interacting factors:
Diverse plant communities
Soil health and microbial activity
Controlled grazing pressure
Appropriate rest and recovery periods
Monitoring horse body condition
Choosing the right seed mix can support healthier grazing, but seed is only one part of the system. Soil health, plant diversity, grazing management, horse metabolism and seasonal weather all influence laminitis risk.
Learn How to Build Grazing Systems That Reduce Laminitis Risk
If you're trying to make your grazing safer for horses prone to laminitis, focusing on seed alone won't give you the whole picture. Our recorded webinar explains why laminitis is a grazing system issue rather than simply a grass species issue. You'll learn how horse metabolism, pasture diversity, grazing management and soil health all interact to influence risk, plus practical ways to reduce risk.
Our educational webinars and courses teach you how to assess your own land, understand why different management approaches work, and make confident decisions for your own horses and circumstances.
If you're reseeding pasture, our carefully designed horse pasture seed mixes support diverse, resilient grazing systems that complement good management, rather than claiming to provide simple fixes.
Understanding laminitis isn't about finding one safe grass species or one perfect seed mix. It's about understanding how horses, plants, soils and management interact. That's exactly what we teach. We empower you to build healthier grazing systems that support both horse welfare and long term pasture resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between sugar, WSC and NSC in horse pasture?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
Water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) include simple sugars as well as fructans, which are storage carbohydrates found in many grasses.
Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) is a broader term that usually refers to water-soluble carbohydrates plus starch. Together, these are the carbohydrates that are rapidly digested and can trigger insulin responses in susceptible horses.
When horse owners talk about "sugar" they are often referring to grasses with elevated NSC or WSC rather than simple sugars alone. As NSC and WSC levels change throughout the day and vary with weather, season, soil conditions and grazing management, they cannot be predicted from a seed mix alone. The same pasture may contain very different carbohydrate concentrations at different times of the year.
Can ryegrass-free mixes prevent laminitis?
No. Removing ryegrass may reduce risk, but pasture Non-Structural Carbohydrate (NSC) levels fluctuate daily. Seed mix alone cannot make a pasture laminitis safe.
How can I reduce laminitis risk on pasture?
Focus on energy balance, species diversity, controlled grazing and monitoring body condition, rather than relying on a single seed mix.
When should I restrict grazing for a laminitis-prone horse?
If a horse is overweight, or has EMS, restrict grazing and encourage weight loss. If your horse shows insulin dysregulation, temporary pasture restriction is recommended to minimise NSC and WSC intake and encourage weight loss (Please - always consult your veterinarian and follow their advice)!
Are diverse seed mixes still worth sowing?
Yes. While they cannot guarantee low enough NSC levels, they create more resilient, ecologically balanced pastures that support horse welfare and reduce risk over time.
Why do some companies sell "laminitis safe" seed mixes?
The term is commonly used to describe seed mixes that avoid high yielding agricultural ryegrasses or include species generally considered lower in non-structural carbohydrates. While these mixtures may reduce some risk factors, no seed mix can guarantee safe pasture because NSC levels change continually with weather, soil conditions and management. It's therefore more accurate to think of these as seed mixes that may support lower risk grazing systems rather than being inherently "safe."
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