Steady Ley Horse & Donkey Grazing Mix

Steady Ley is a dependable, ryegrass-free grazing mix for paddocks you want to last. Seven grasses give a dense, hard-wearing base: Timothy for palatability, cocksfoot for drought tolerance, smooth-stalked meadow grass and creeping red fescue to knit the turf and resist poaching. A small herb component adds variety to the bite.

It sits between our other mixes: more diverse than Thin Pickings, but without the wildflowers found in Upland Heritage. Choose the light or medium-to-heavy soil blend to match your ground.

Suitable for donkeys?

Yes, with restricted grazing. There is no ryegrass, but donkeys should not have unlimited access to any grass ley. Strip-graze or limit turnout time and keep straw available. For donkeys that are overweight or have had laminitis, Thin Pickings is the leaner choice.

What success looks like

A thick, even sward by the end of the second season that holds up in wet winters and greens up steadily in spring without a sudden flush.

Do this / avoid this

• Do roll after sowing for good seed-to-soil contact
• Do pick up droppings regularly and rotate paddocks
• Avoid turning out on new sowings until well rooted
• Avoid nitrogen fertiliser, which raises sugar levels in grass