We are about to start reseeding a pasture. We live on the coast of North Carolina, just above South Carolina. Lots of sand. When we went to the extension agent he told us he know nothing about horse pasture. (He mostly deals in hogs and blueberries) We got a generic bulletin about horse pasture in NC. But NC covers lots of territory and several hardiness zones. What you get on Grandfather Mountain (zone 5b) is not what we get here (8A/B)
After doing lots of research we found Tipton 90 grows well here as will Ameristand 403T Alfalfa. We have been thinking of adding some Oasis chicory (mostly because my horses seem to love chicory) in the mix as well as some Queen Ann’s lace (same reason)
Has anyone worked with these as a pasture mix? How did your horses do on it? At this point we are planning on having a 3 field rotational grazing pattern.
I’ve never heard of adding chicory or Queen Anne’s lace but I imagine when you inevitably have to spray for weeds those will die too.
The queen ann’s lace was my idea. Not much of it grows in this area. Not sure why. The chicory is a standard food (deer and turkey) seed around here. Adds minerals and grows good racks (on deer). Lots of the other farmers recommended it. But mostly they add it to attract deer (along with sweet potatoes dumped into the field by the dump truck load.) Lots of pastures have deer stands in them. I wonder how the deer and the horses/cattle feel about each other. Especially if one of the deer gets shot in the pasture. I assume the horses are stabled when the pasture is being shot over. Would the horses be able to tell if a deer was shot in their field? They can smell blood… Would they “miss” one of the deer? “Hey Dobbin, have you seen that funny looking jumper with the sticks on his head recently?” Idle thought while waiting for the flood waters to go down.
Do to the fact that Queen Ann’s Lace looks so much like Poison Hemlock, it should not be planted in pastures.
Chicory contains inulin and horses should not consume much of it.
Are Blister beetles active in your area? If so I would plant the Bahia grass.
This entire site is an excellent resource.
Hey caper
No blister beetles active in this area. The only problem that anyone has reported is from alfalfa imported from Kansas. (My extension agent is bored too, waiting for the flood waters to go down. He can’t get home, so he is in his office answering my questions)
Water hemlock grows abundantly 'round here. Normally in the swamps, it’s about 7 feet high. We have the highest land (50 feet!) in the county. We chose it that way. So no water hemlock on our land… so far… plenty in the ditches 'cross the road. I’ll keep an eye on it. You are right, much easier with no Queen Ann’s Lace on the place.
Didn’t know about the inulin. Farming is a spectator sport 'round here. You start working and the next thing you know is a bunch of old timers (mostly former tobacco farmers) show up with sausage biscuits, coffee and advice. Great fun. I learn lots, some of it even about farming. “Have you though about putting in bee hives? Lots of gallberry near by. Loved it on my mother’s biscuits. That and liver pudding are the best breakfast…”
Anyhow, it seems that most pasture 'round here lacks zinc and copper. Hence the recommendation of chicory. Because of the sandy soil, amending it with zinc and copper doesn’t seem to be cost effective. We may just having to rely on supplements.
Do you maybe mean Tifton 9 bahia?
When I bought my current place, it had been used to grow peanuts, so I had nothing but dirt and weeds. I seeded Pensacola bahia and have been happy with it.
I’m a little skeptical about the hardiness and longevity of the alfalfa as a pasture forage in your location, but sure, give it a try.
I think OP means Tifton 90. Developed at Tifton, GA. 
