Owning horses provides you with the opportunity to enjoy the companionship and performance abilities these animals can provide. Investing in the care and maintenance of a horse can be costly, with feed costs representing a significant portion of any horse owner's budget. If you are looking for a simple way to help reduce your feeding costs, it can be beneficial to create a horse pasture on your property.

Here are three tips to keep in mind when creating the perfect pasture for your equine friend.

1. Avoid grasses with deep pigmentation.

When selecting seeds to incorporate into your new horse pasture, you should look for grass varieties that feature a mild green color. Grasses that appear to be dark green in color (like Rye grasses or Clover) contain chemical compounds known as photodynamic pigments. These pigments are responsible for the rich color that characterizes many ornamental grass varieties.

Although the dark green color might be desirable for your yard, ingesting photodynamic pigments could cause your horse to develop photophobia and photosensitisation. Avoiding these highly pigmented grasses when planting your pasture will ensure your horse's health well into the future.

2. Incorporate grasses with the right nutritional ratio.

If you plan to let your horse graze for significant periods of time in your new pasture, then you need to plant grasses that will meet your horse's nutritional needs. Look for grass varieties that are high in fiber, but low in sugar.

Some popular and healthy grasses you can select from when creating a horse pasture on your property include Prairie grass and Timothy grass. These varieties will be able to serve as a staple in your horse's diet.

3. Look for hardy grass varieties.

If you want the grass growing in your horse pasture to remain healthy and vibrant over an extended period of time, the grass must be able to withstand the constant foot traffic of your horse as he or she grazes each day.

Incorporating hardy grass seeds into your horse pasture will ensure that your equine friend has access to fresh growth at all times. Some options that are able to withstand continual traffic include Bluegrass and Redgrass, which both have strong root systems.

Knowing which grasses to utilize in your new pasture (and which varieties to avoid) will allow you to create a comfortable and nutritious pasture area for your horse to graze through in the future.