The No. 1 choice for equine enthusiasts. A scientifically developed combination of selected legumes and annual and perennial grasses, providing your horses with nutritional, healthy feed. Equi1st is also suitable for all livestock and is a perennial option, providing all year round production based on the availability of soil moisture.
Key attributes
- Formulated specifically for horses
- Low sugar and low starch
- Moderate protein
- Highly palatable pasture feed
- Tolerant of animal traffic and grazing
- Perennial production with soil moisture
Mix components
Formulation 2025
| Component |
|---|
Tolerant of drier conditions due to its deep root system. Its sugar and starch concentrations average around 10 to 15%, compared with ryegrass at 30%+, and it is highly palatable to the horse. Protein levels as high as 12% are achieved at certain stages of growth. |
A winter dominant, deep rooted annual legume growing mainly in autumn, winter and spring. It has good levels of protein, is consistently low in sugars and starch, highly palatable, and fixes nitrogen to improve the soil. |
Tall Fescue A common horse pasture with reasonable (around 15%) sugar and starch levels, highly palatable for horses. Grows reasonably well in drier conditions thanks to its deep root system; its main growing period is late spring/early summer. |
Naturally low in sugars through most of the growing season, with fair protein levels (around 9%), and very palatable while young. As it matures and dries off, both its palatability and nutrient value start to fall. Like most C4 tropical grasses it contains some oxalate, so teff should not be the only pasture species in the grazing paddock. |
Very resilient to drought and heavy traffic, doing most of its growing in later spring and summer. Rhodes grass retains very low sugar levels in the leaves and very low oxalates, making it an ideal horse safe pasture species. |
A hardy, drought resistant, deep rooted perennial tufted grass, best grazed before flowering and no lower than 5cm to allow regrowth. Endophyte free and tolerant to pest attack, but can suffer from rust until established. |
Being a tetraploid, Callide is more palatable and tends to be preferentially grazed when sown with other sub-tropical grasses. Summer active where soil moisture is available. |
Lucerne A beneficial perennial legume and a very nutritious source of fibre, with about 18% high-quality protein providing essential amino acids for horses, including lysine. High in digestible fibre, including pectin, which provides sustained energy and is very good for digestive health because it promotes beneficial gut microflora. Very palatable. |
*Occasionally some varieties in our mix will be replaced with a like-for-like variety where the original is not available or not easily accessible. Varieties in the mix will be specified on the bag label.
About this seed blend
IH Seeds Equi1st Mix is a scientifically designed equine pasture seed mix. Many horse pasture mixes contain varieties that are highly suited to fattening livestock, but horses are not physiologically designed to cope with high levels of sugars and proteins as provided by traditional mixes, so more appropriate species are needed for the safe feeding of horses.
An ideal horse pasture should be relatively low in sugars and starch, moderate in protein but still highly palatable, resistant to traffic and grazing, and of benefit to both the animal and the soil. Equi1st is built around grasses and legumes chosen for exactly that, including prairie grass, serradella, tall fescue, Rhodes grasses, cocksfoot, teff and lucerne.
Planting & grazing notes
Optimal sowing time is autumn or early spring; sow when soil temperatures are 16°C and rising, as some species in the mix are tropical. Seeds should be planted as shallow as possible into a well-prepared seed bed. Care should be taken when planting into sandy soils, as some seeding methods can form troughs and if wind-blown, these troughs fill with sand and it can result in the seed planting depth being substantially more, therefore resulting in poor germination and establishment. If broadcasting the seed, to increase seed to soil contact it is often beneficial to drag a light rubber tyre roller or similar behind your seed drill (not advised for wet soils that may crust). Depending on the soil structure, it is best not to graze the paddock for 4 to 6 months after planting and up to 8 months on very sandy soils, to allow the root structure to establish. Refrain from cutting for hay in the first year to encourage persistence. Introduce your horses to the lush green pasture gradually over several days. Rotate or strip graze to give the pasture time to recover, and mow down unpalatable clumps not grazed by horses, as horses are preferential grazers.
Stand life
A perennial option providing year round production based on the availability of soil moisture.
How it's sold
| Form | Pack | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bare | 25 kg | In stock |