Sustainable Grazing & Rewilding Solutions
Keeping grazing animals is hard. On top of the everyday time and money spent meeting our animals daily needs, land management requires money, more hours than we have in the day and equipment we don't always have, or know how to use.
Do you have:
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No idea where to start?
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Little opportunity to rest land?
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Not enough hours in the day?
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Limited equipment and machinery?
We enable you to diversify
Whether you want to improve the wellbeing of your animals, support your local bee population, improve your grazing without chemicals or do your bit to fight climate change, we can help. We are developing seed mixes that are suitable for grazing animals and educational resources that will enable you to choose how to steward your land according to your needs.
Seed Mixes for Horses, Ponies, & Livestock
Our grass seed and grass free seed blends for horse fields are designed to improve equine wellbeing, the soil and the ecosystem while being safe for cross-grazing with donkeys, sheep, cattle and goats.
Designed for Animal Wellbeing First
When we design our seed mixes for equine paddocks, ease for harvest, mixing, packaging and making profits is not our first, second or third priority!
Diversity Heals
We believe diversity is key to improving the health and wellbeing of humans, animals, ecosystems, the environment and the climate. By diversifying grassland and using sustainable practices, we can boost soil health, support ecosystems, improve animal wellbeing and make a positive impact on the climate.
Educational Courses & Resources
We aim to bridge the gaps between wild grazing, conservation grazing management and domestic pasture management.
Why Traditional Pasture Management Falls Short
Traditionally, equine pasture management has been all about increased grass yields, removing toxic plants, preventing poached areas, ensuring horse safety, and human convenience.
Unfortunately this reduces biodiversity, increases reliance on fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, and in the long term makes fields less resilient. High-grass content with minimal wildflowers, legumes, shrubs and herbs impacts gut microbiomes and overall wellbeing of grazing animals. Read our blog "Is Your Horse’s Diet Like Fast Food?" to learn more about the modern horse's diet and what small changes we can make that will have a positive impact on diversity.
The Importance of Equine Welfare Principles
Management of paddocks has not always supported the three pillars of equine welfare: Friends, Forage and Freedom or, the 5 pillars of animal welfare:
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Species appropriate environment
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Species appropriate diet
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Freedom to exhibit natural behaviour
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Freedom to live in a herd
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Freedom from pain, suffering, injury, and disease.
Alternative Grazing Systems
There are many ways we can move forward from traditional grass grazing management. Simply overseeding grass with safe wildflowers can help.
Examples of Sustainable Approaches Include:
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Rotational grazing
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Track systems
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Equicentral systems
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Regenerative grazing
What our courses aim to do:
Our courses are designed to help horse, livestock, and landowners by:
1) Informing
Understand the different pasture management options, including their pros and cons.
2) Supporting Decision Making
Consider the impact of every choice on animal wellbeing, soil health, and the wider ecosystem.
3) Enabling Practical Change
Discover sustainable, affordable, and realistic strategies to implement.
4) Improving Outcomes
Make better decisions for themselves, their animals and the broader habitat
Customer Story
Due to some unfortunate, unforeseen circumstances, I had to allow one of my fields to be totally destroyed over the winter. The field was a mess, an embarrassment, and I found myself explaining and justifying the state of the field to whoever laid eyes on it. My intention was to 'sort the field out' before I allowed my horses to graze on the field.
However, circumstances led me to turn my horses out on the field of 'weeds' and I was absolutely blown away. They were selectively eating the 'weeds' and totally disregarded the 'grass'. I'm convinced that they are not designed to eat grass solely and require a balanced diet of different species beyond grass.
They are capable of self selection and so I believe it is our responsibility to provide them the ability to self select!
Helen Searle, freelance riding coach and yard owner
Five Star Customer Reviews
The British Rewilding Mix is the first seed blend I have found designed for both equine wellbeing and biodiversity. It has create more diversity within my field. Both my horses love the patches I overseeded and I’m excited to sow this blend further across my field.
Smallholding owner, Norfolk
Sian from Hoof and Habitat continues to provide some much needed support for our small herd of goats and my wife's 3 horses. We depend upon Hoof and Habitat to create some balance to our forage.
Simon Debondt, Smallholding Owner
I have nothing but praise for the team at Hoof and Habitat! Excellent service and support!
Nothing is too much for them and they absolutely care! I highly recommend them!
Helen Phillips, Yard Owner
Future Products
Is there a topic that you would like to be educated on, or a seed mix you daydream of being able to buy? Let us know!
Contact us if you own Horses, Ponies, Donkeys, Goats, Sheep or Cows and would like to work with us to develop and test seed mixes for these animals. All our mixes are developed to be sown and grown with sustainable and environmentally conscious land practices.
