Biodiverse Grazing Mix for Horses
🐴 Welfare Led
🌱 Resilient grazing
🌾 Built to last
Designed for horse owners establishing or renovating full paddocks who want pasture that supports horse welfare, and long term land health.
Establishing more than 3 acres?
For larger acreage projects we can often consolidate delivery and discuss more cost efficient options. Please contact us before ordering.This Biodiverse Grazing Mix combines 80 percent traditional, grazing tolerant grasses with 20 percent horse safe wildflowers, herbs, and legumes to create a botanically diverse herbal ley aligned with equine physiology and ecological function.
Many modern grass mixes are selected for rapid establishment and short term yield. While productive initially, highly grass dominant swards can become less resilient over time and may contribute to higher sugar intake, reduced forage diversity, and increasing management pressure. This often leads to repeated reseeding, fertiliser inputs, and corrective intervention.
This formulation reflects natural grassland systems, where non grass species commonly make up 20 percent or more of plant diversity. The result is a sward that supports:
• Steadier seasonal growth
• Improved soil structure and drainage
• Greater resilience to grazing pressure and weather extremes
• Increased forage choice to support natural grazing behaviour
• A broader and more varied nutritional profile across the seasonInstead of repeatedly correcting decline, you establish diversity, function, and opportunity to support equine welfare from the outset.
Designed for
• Full paddock establishment or renovation
• Larger grazing areas and acreage
• Long term grazing systems rather than short term cover
• Owners prioritising welfare, ecology, and system stabilityTrusted Expertise
This mix was developed by those whose knowledge of pasture management and biodiversity has been featured in Your Horse Magazine and Happy Trackin, and who have been interviewed by Horse & Hound.
Hoof and Habitat is an associate member of the British Equestrian Trade Association. Seed formulations follow recognised horticultural standards and species selection guidance. Mixes are compatible with Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship schemes where appropriate.
This is not a generic paddock blend. It is a welfare-led, ecology-informed system designed specifically for grazing horses.
Species included
Contains 80 percent traditional grass species and 20 percent herbal and wildflower species, including:
Crested Dogstail, Red Fescue, Common Bent, Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass, Rough Stalked Meadow Grass, Cocksfoot, Wild Carrot, Lady’s Bedstraw, Meadow or Tufted Vetchling, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Musk Mallow, Sainfoin, Ribwort Plantain, Salad Burnet, Self Heal, Common Sorrel, Dandelion, Chicory, Lesser Knapweed, Cow Parsley, Red Clover
For pasture owners looking to improve soil resilience, biodiversity and grazing outcomes. Delaying the addition of biodiversity adds to management workload and repeated inputs. This mix is compatible with the SFI Countryside Stewardship scheme (Herbal Ley - GS4, SAM3, CSAM3) and reduces the need for fertilisers.
Category
Highlights Scale and coverage Specifically designed for full paddock establishment or overseeding by the acre, with 20+ species including 20% herbs and wildflowers. Creates consistent, balanced grazing across large areas, in a way small wildflower percentages alone can’t achieve. Grazing balance The variety of grasses and herbs supports natural foraging and steadier intake, reducing seasonal sugar spikes and overgrazing. Limited botanical diversity can leave horses with fewer choices and put pressure on preferred plant species. Soil function Deep, varied root systems enhance nitrogen fixation, aggregation, aeration, and water storage. Low-diversity swards recover slowly and are more prone to compaction—issues this mix avoids. Resilience and reduced inputs Structurally diverse swards persist longer, recover faster from grazing and weather stress, and reduce the need for repeated reseeding or fertiliser. With 20% well-established herbs and wildflowers, this mix thrives in most soil conditions without token quantities that die out quickly. Equine welfare True botanical diversity supports natural grazing behaviour, gut microbiome health, and prevents high sugar grass dominance. Narrow swards can limit choice and increase digestive or behavioural stress. Management flexibility
A botanically diverse sward gives more options to adapt to seasonal growth, stocking density, or changing horse needs across rotational, track-based, or mixed grazing systems.Establish a botanically diverse sward to improve soil function, plant resilience and flexibility across your grazing. Support your horses and reduce the need for avoidable interventions.