Basic Farm Equipment

for Small Acreage Horse Properties

Part 1 of a 2 part series

by Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water

If you’re new or relatively new to owning horse property, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the thought of acquiring all the equipment you think you’ll need to manage manure and pastures. Relax!  You can actually do all of these things without going overboard on expensive equipment. In this article we will go over some basic, realistic equipment considerations for a small acreage horse place. In Part 1 we will cover manure management equipment and will start on pasture equipment. In Part 2 we’ll finish pasture management equipment and will discuss some alternatives to buying new.

Manure Management Equipment

Let’s start off with managing the back end of the horse first: manure management equipment. This is usually as basic as a good wheelbarrow and manure fork. That may sound simple, but there is actually a bit of an art to the selection of an effective wheelbarrow and manure fork.

Ø       When choosing a wheelbarrow, look for one that will be easy to dump (especially important if you have back problems). That usually means – depending on how tall you are – a long handle (so you don’t have to bend over). Consider the size – an extra big wheelbarrow will clean several stalls and paddocks before it gets full, but it may get very, very heavy in the process. I prefer a smaller sized one that is easier to dump as our compost bins are close by and easy to dump into. Next look at ease of maneuverability, an important consideration if there’s a lip or board in front of the stall or any tight spots. If you need to lift versus dump into your compost pile you may want to consider something lightweight and not too big, such as a manure bucket with a cart. There are several different designs around for these.

Ø       Find a heavy-duty manure fork with plastic tines with a bent edge meant specifically for cleaning horse stalls. It is next to impossible to clean a stall with a straight-tined metal pitchfork or tool designed for other purposes. There are many designs of manure forks – with and without baskets (baskets help with “sifting” through bedding to remove manure only) and even some handles that are ergonomically correct. Also, look for a wooden handle. It is a lot easier (and less cold) to grip than a metal one.

Pasture Equipment

Below are some pieces of equipment that will help you to manage your pastures. Keep in mind that the equipment you need will vary according to the size of your place and number of horses.

Ø       Harrows are used for spreading manure piles in pastures. Spreading helps break up manure so plants can utilize the nutrients. If you have an arena, harrows can also be used to smooth arena surfaces. A wide variety of harrows can be purchased from farm and tractor supply stores or catalogues, or you can look in the back of horse magazines. A basic harrow can even be made with a piece of chain-link fence fastened between two boards. Or get really creative by using an old metal bedspring or metal gate. For any of these homemade options you may need some extra weight – two old tires tied down will work well.

Ø       Mowing several times a year is an important part of good pasture management and will promote the growth of the grass you want and will rid pastures of the weeds you don’t. If you only have a couple acres of pasture (about two acres or less) you may be able to get by with a regular lawn mower on foot. You’ll obviously want a mulching mower since you don’t want to collect all those grass clippings. Be sure to set your mower as high as it will go.

Ø       If you have more than a couple of acres, a riding lawn mower (or garden tractor) can be a great piece of equipment to have. They are much more maneuverable than a large tractor and if you get one that is 16 to 18 horsepower you can use it to pull other farm equipment like a harrow or manure spreader (described below). Look for a sturdy, riding mower with a mulching mower deck that can be adjusted at least 4 inches high.

Ø       Ideally, fence your pastures into smaller portions using temporary fencing (electric tape or hot wire usually works best) and use your horses as lawn mowers to intensively graze the first portion. Once horses have grazed the grass down to about three inches, move them on to the next section and then mow and harrow the area the horses just grazed.

Join us next month to learn more on basic equipment requirements for pasture management, as well as more on alternatives to buying new equipment. Until then, good horse keeping to you!

Upcoming FREE Horses for Clean Water Educational Events:

Pony Farming   Come meet the grand dame of the driving and pony world, Isabelle Moe, and her 8 beautiful ponies. Tour her mudless Enumclaw Plateau farm, see how she raises her own hay, composts all the pony manure and reapplies it to her fields. Hear about her journey of over 50 years of working with thousands of youth and adults, introducing them to the wonderful world of horses, ponies and driving. Enumclaw, WA. Wednesday, August 25th, 6:30 to 8:30pm. FREE! To register and receive a map contact the King Conservation District at 206-764-3410, ext. 125 or Roseanne.Campagna@kingcd.org.