Your horse spends plenty of time in the paddock, but how often do you stop and take a closer look at what’s actually growing there?
Pastures can change over time. Regular grazing, hoof traffic, seasonal conditions and everyday wear can all leave their mark. Bare patches can appear, high-traffic areas can thin out and the pasture you have today might look quite different from what was originally sown.
Spring is a great time to take a closer look at your paddocks and think about what could use a little attention.
Give your paddock a quick check
You don’t need to be a pasture expert to start asking the right questions.
Do you know what’s growing?
Take a closer look at the different grasses and pasture species across your paddock. Knowing what you already have is a useful starting point before deciding what, if anything, needs changing.
Are there bare or worn areas?
Look around gateways, water troughs, feeding areas and other high-traffic spots. These areas often show wear before the rest of the paddock.
When was the last time you renovated or re-sowed?
If it’s been a while, it could be worth considering whether some areas would benefit from being refreshed or thickened up.
Are you feeding more hay than you’d like?
There can be plenty of reasons for supplementary feeding, but it’s another useful prompt to take a closer look at the pasture available to your horses.
What would you most like to improve?
More ground cover? Fewer bare patches? A more diverse pasture? Identifying what you want from your paddock can help guide your next steps.
Meet iO Equine Pasture Seed Blend
A specially selected pasture blend designed with horse paddocks in mind.
Combining a diverse mix of pasture species, iO Equine Pasture can be used to establish new areas, renovate worn paddocks, patch bare ground or thicken existing pasture.
Endophyte Free | Hard Wearing | Dense Cover | Highly Palatable | Broadcast Oversow
What’s in the blend?
Prairie Grass | Fine Feed Annual Ryegrass | Caretaker II Perennial Ryegrass | Treposno Cocksfoot | Balansa Clover | Campeda Sub Clover | Kentucky Bluegrass | Creeping Red Fescue
From bare patches to bigger paddock projects
Not every paddock needs a complete renovation.
iO Equine Pasture is suitable for hand broadcasting, making it a practical option for targeting smaller areas where machinery may not be practical, including gateways, around troughs, feeding areas and other high-traffic spots.
It can also be used across larger areas when you’re looking to renovate or establish horse pasture.
Before you sow
A little preparation can make a big difference when establishing new pasture.
1. Prepare the area
Remove weeds and excess dead material where possible and make sure the seed has good contact with the soil.
2. Sow the seed
Follow the recommended sowing rate and spread the seed as evenly as possible across the prepared area.
3. Keep it moist
Don’t let newly sown seed dry out. Consistent moisture is particularly important during germination and early establishment, so keep the area watered if rainfall isn’t doing the job.
4. Give it time to establish
Keep horses off newly sown areas while the pasture establishes. Allowing plants to develop before they’re exposed to grazing and hoof traffic will give your new pasture a better start.
5. Consider your soil
If you’re unsure what your paddock needs, a soil test can provide useful information about soil conditions and help guide any fertiliser or soil amendment decisions.
Ready to give your paddock some attention?
iO Equine Pasture comes in a convenient 8kg bucket, covering approximately 2/3 of an acre*
Whether you’re tackling worn areas, thickening existing pasture or planning a bigger paddock project, iO Equine Pasture gives horse owners a practical option for getting started.
*Coverage will vary depending on sowing rate, conditions and application. Always follow pack directions.
