Getting rid of rye grass

[ChrisJackson52]

My horse has recently been diagnosed with an allergy to Rye grass and Timothy grass. I have 4 paddocks and need to reseed with something other than Rye/ Timothy. Apart from spraying and ploughing and reseeding what options do I have ? All the paddocks are rye grass ?
Chris

 

[HappyHollyDays]

There are several companies who do specific equine meadow grass seed but for the life of me I can’t remember the one that was recommended on here. I’m sure somebody else will know the name but if you do a search on here you might find it sooner.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I have just ploughed and reseeded my paddocks and as I had to use contractors it was a very expensive business so I understand your reluctance to go down that route. I can’t think of an alternative to “burning” off the rye and timothy with a herbicide and reseeding but I am no expert. Perhaps you could seek professional advice from an agronomist or seed merchant?

 

[ycbm]

I don't think you'll have any alternative than to kill and reseed. I have very little ryegrass now but it's taken 30 years of no topping, no fertiliser to achieve that and it's not all gone.

That diagnosis must be a bit of a nightmare, I don't know where anyone can find hay/ haylage without ryegrass in.
.

 

[Andie02]

I do not think that you will have any alternative than to kill and reseed either. Progreen have seed mixes that do not contain ryegrass but they do contain timothy. Maybe it would be possible to have a mix of grass seeds specifically made up for you.

 

[stangs]

How allergic is said horse? To the point of not being allowed to eat any rye/timothy, or would they be alright with some of those grasses growing amongst others? (Wondering too whether if you completely get rid of rye, the lack of any access to the allergen will only worsen the allergy.)

But, boy, I do not envy you. I know there is hay available without rye, but that always has timothy in it.

 

[PurBee]

I can highly recommend Cotswold seeds - they will do whatever mix you like, and already have many mixes available for equines without ryegrass/clover etc.
Well worth ringing them up and chatting to them - they were brilliantly helpful to my enquiries - they are involved with many large and small scale farmers advising on maintenance etc so will be able to advise whats best for your situation/soil type etc.

https://cotswoldseeds.com/seeds/9/horse-and-pony

Ryegrass allergy i can understand, as it can cause flourescence-type symptoms (tetraploid grass mainly) and immune issues, which are usually linked with liver problems, but timothy allergy ive never ever heard/read or come across, how unusual.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

What a nightmare. Big problem with ploughing is the time it takes to get a decent turf again. If you can get the grass killed off how about direct drilling? You might need to make your own hay in future to be sure of getting the right mix.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I had my grass seed drilled in and it has been so successful I have had to draft in 40 ewe lambs and 2 rams to eat it down because the soil is too wet for horses at this time of year.

 

[Nasicus]

I can highly recommend Cotswold seeds - they will do whatever mix you like, and already have many mixes available for equines without ryegrass/clover etc.
Well worth ringing them up and chatting to them - they were brilliantly helpful to my enquiries - they are involved with many large and small scale farmers advising on maintenance etc so will be able to advise whats best for your situation/soil type etc.

https://cotswoldseeds.com/seeds/9/horse-and-pony

I've used these guys before, was very happy with the seed

 

[quizzie]

My horse has recently been diagnosed with an allergy to Rye grass and Timothy grass. I have 4 paddocks and need to reseed with something other than Rye/ Timothy. Apart from spraying and ploughing and reseeding what options do I have ? All the paddocks are rye grass ?
Chris

What method was used to diagnose the allergies?...some are moderately reliable, but many are not, and tend to give a large number of false positives. So you may not be looking at the true culprits (before you spend a large a mount of time and money!!)
Depending on how severe his symptoms are, the only truly reliable way of diagnosing a food allergy in a horse is by an exclusion diet, avoiding the suspected feeds, and then reintroducing them one by one.

 

[sbloom]

As you're likely to have to start from scratch don't miss the opportunity to really step up to the most cutting edge of pastures, see Equi-Biome on FB for in formation about how many grasses but especially non-grasses are like superfoods for our horses, this is your chance to get as many species as possible established.