Who can forget last winter’s weather? Record wind storms, then ice storms. There were power and phone outages. Snowfalls kept many of us (along with our horses) inside for weeks on end. So… are you ready for another wild and wet Northwest winter? As it is with most things, now is the time of year when an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Below is a checklist of my top 10 things to do around your horse property to get it ready for what winter can dish out. And early fall is a great time to get a jump on these preparations -- before driveways get slick and pastures turn to mud.
1) Bring in footing material for paddocks, confinement areas and other high traffic areas. It is much easier for delivery trucks to back into paddocks and drive through pastures now rather than once these areas have become slick and muddy in January. These materials are usually more available at this time of year then later on when the demand is high. Plus getting footing now will avoid creating a mud mess later on! Consider what types of hogfuel or gravel you will need as footing in sacrifice areas, paddocks, walkways, in front of gates and other high traffic areas. For more information on choosing footing types refer to the Horses for Clean Water handout “Footing Findings” on the HCW website, www.HorsesforCleanWater.com.
2) Check gutters and downspouts. Now is the time to think of repairs or additions that need to be made to your roof runoff system. Keep clean rainwater clean by diverting roof runoff away from your paddocks to an area on your property where it won’t get contaminated with manure or mud. This could be a dry well, drain field, wooded area, unused corner of pasture, stock watering tanks or rain barrels. Doing this substantially reduces the amount of mud your horse spends the winter standing in and will make chores easier for you. Also in the fall, clean leaf debris out of gutters and downspouts so they flow correctly – don’t wait until the first deluge when everything is overflowing.
3) Bring your horses in off your pastures. If you’re lucky enough to have pasture then fall is the time to baby them. Pastures grazed too closely in the autumn are subject to winter damage and slow regrowth in the spring. For winter protection it’s best if you allow the grass plants to produce a good amount of leaf growth, at least 4 inches. During the winter months pasture plants are dormant and not able to regrow so pastures simply cannot survive continuous grazing. Also, soils are saturated and easily compacted during our soggy winters. The best option for managing your horses during winter is to create a winter paddock or sacrifice area. Confine your horses to this area during the winter and in the summer when pastures become overgrazed. For additional help with sacrifice areas refer to the Horses for Clean Water handout “Creating and Using a Sacrifice Area” on the HCW website, www.HorsesforCleanWater.com.
4) Tarp your manure piles. This will help keep the nutrients you are trying to save IN the compost and not allow them to get washed OUT into the surface waters where they can cause a potential problem and contribute to more mud and yuck. Be sure to store manure as far away as possible from streams, ditches or wetlands to avoid potential environmental problems, as well as away from fence lines to be a good neighbor. If you’d like to learn about composting see the Horses for Clean Water handout “How to Compost and Use Horse Manure” on the HCW website, www.HorsesforCleanWater.com.
5) Spread compost. Fall is a great time to spread compost. Compost is a rich soil enhancement that adds micro and macro nutrients and replenishes natural microbial life. All of this greatly improves the health of the soil and plants. Spread compost in pastures during the growing season, no more than a ½ inch layer at a time or a total of 3 – 4 inches per season.
Stay tuned – next month we finish with more exciting ways to get you in front of the eight ball on your winter fall horse farm preparedness!
Good horsekeeping to you!
Around Puget Sound
Upcoming Horses for Clean Water Events…
KING COUNTY:
Natural Christmas Tree Production Visit a family-run commercial tree farm in North Bend, WA that specializes in growing and sales of natural Christmas trees. Saturday, September 18th, 10am to noon. FREE! To register & receive directions contact the King Conservation District at 206-764-3410, ext. 125 or Roseanne.Campagna@kingcd.org.
Living with Elk & Deer Learn about co-existing with these beautiful creatures including their habitat needs, their peculiar and sometimes annoying habits and how to mitigate and control damage from these animals around the home and farm. Tuesday, September 21st, 6:30 to 9pm, Maple Valley Community Center, Maple Valley, WA.
FREE! To register & receive directions contact the King Conservation District at 206-764-3410, ext. 125 or Roseanne.Campagna@kingcd.org.
Workshops for Livestock Owners Hands-on workshops on livestock management practices. View different options and work with technicians to discover ways you can have less mud, better pastures, & manage manure. Maple Valley area, WA. Begins late October, details TBD. FREE! To register or for more information contact the King Conservation District at 206-764-3410, ext. 120 .
SNOHOMISH COUNTY:
The HCW Horse Farm Management Series Join HCW in South Snohomish County for this 4 week series to learn techniques to reduce mud, manage manure, make pastures more productive and provide for wildlife at the same time. Bear Creek area, WA. Begins late October, details TBD. To register or for more information contact the Snohomish Conservation District at 425-335-5634, ext 4.
SAN JUAN ISLANDS:
HCW Horse Farm Management Workshops Pasture, Manure & Mud Management Workshops. Late October/early November, details TBD. San Juan Islands, WA. To register or for more information 360-378-6621 or heatherh@rockisland.com.
WHIDBEY ISLAND:
The HCW Horse Farm Management Series Plan now to join Alayne Blickle & HCW on Whidbey Island in March 2005 for the full 5-week series. Learn great ways to care for your horse while reducing mud, managing manure, getting rid of weeds, making pastures productive, controling insects – and more Bayview Cash Store Community Meeting Room, Langley, WA. Tuesdays, March 1st to 29th, 6:30 – 9pm. To register or for more details contact the Whidbey Conservation District at 360-678-4708 or whidbeycd@coupeville.net.
