Whether you’re new at keeping horses on your property or you’ve had horses for several years, you know that it doesn’t take long to accumulate that proverbial pile of manure. But now you may be contemplating what the next-door neighbors think of your manure pile stacked up-wind from their back patio. Or, perhaps you board your horse at that beautiful “place in the country” that has an expensive sub-division going in behind the barn right next to good ol’ Mount Manure. We were here first so that should mean newcomers have to put up with odors and flies, right? If this sounds all too familiar, then maybe you've already given some thought as to what to do with that mountain growing behind the barn – or the potential pile that’s promising to accumulate.
Perhaps in the back of your mind you’ve thought, "There must be something good to do with all that stuff. After all, didn't farmers used to put manure to good use?" Well, if that's what you're thinking, then you’re on the right track! There definitely are some wonderful uses for manure and stall waste. And the good news is that having a manure management program is not only useful to you as an owner, but it’s beneficial to your horse, your property, the neighborhood – and it's good for the environment. Environmental considerations are especially important in this day and age when we are all starting to take a hard look at taking care of water quality and other natural resources. Let's take a closer look at why all of this is true. Then, in this series, we'll detail five different options you can choose from to manage manure on your horse place. We group these options into three categories: on-site options including composting and spreading straight manure, off-site options including giving and hauling away manure, and ways to reduce the amount of stall waste currently generated.
Having a manure management plan is important on any horse property whether you have one horse or a large boarding facility. For your horse’s sake it is important that you have a plan and stick to it. Living in or near manure creates an unhealthy environment for a horse that any self-respecting wild horse would avoid. Worm eggs from parasites can hatch in the manure as frequently as every three days. This means when you de-worm your horse and put him back in a manure-contaminated pen, he becomes re-infested by the newly hatched microscopic parasite larva already in the pen. Not only is this unhealthy for your horse but it wastes money for you. Living in manure also creates more mud. Manure is composed of fine organic material, i.e. mud. And who needs more mud around a horse place? Mud and manure create a breeding ground for insects, especially filth flies. Insects are annoying at best and at worst carry diseases, bite and can cause allergic reactions. Mud also harbors bacteria and fungal organisms that cause diseases such as abscesses, Scratches, Rain Scald and thrush. It also offers a slick, unsafe footing which can cause slips and injuries – for horses AND humans!
For a horse owner, manure problems are inconvenient and make chore time difficult and unpleasant. One horse produces between 40 to 50 lbs. of manure per day, which adds up to 8 tons per year. Add bedding to this amount and the volume starts getting HUGE. Ol’ Mount Manure is going to start quickly eating up a fair amount of space even with just one horse, let alone several horses over several years.
And who likes to look at a manure pile? Even if you have a lot of space to pile up your manure and stall waste, manure problems are unsightly for the neighborhood and community. They also cause odors and flies for others.
Finally, run-offs of sediment and nutrients from manure can seriously impact the environment in a harmful manner. Sediment and nutrients contaminate the surface water and are detrimental to fish and aquatic wildlife. You don’t have to live near a creek or wetland for this to cause a problem – all water runs downhill to somewhere. Your run-offs could easily be causing a problem for the next-door neighbor or the creek at the bottom of the hill. Nutrients from an unmanaged manure pile can also contaminate ground water, a particular concern if you have a well.
Now for the GOOD news; there are many great options for managing manure, many of which the old-time farmers used to use! Manure management techniques can actually be beneficial for the health of your horse, they can improve your farm's productivity as well the esthetics of your neighborhoods and community – and they can benefit the health of the environment. Plus, a good manure management plan can make your job as horse and property manager a whole lot easier and more pleasant. All the options start with one important component: cleaning stalls and picking up the manure in paddocks, pens and turnout areas on a regular basis, at least every 3 days. This will help break the parasite reinfestation cycle, get the manure into your management system and keep it from turning into mud or an environmental problem.
This month we begin a series on looking at some useful options for managing manure. Next month we look at the on-site options of composting and spreading straight manure, including the advantages and disadvantages and what it takes to implement each option.
Until then, good horsekeeping to you!
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Alayne Renee Blickle, a life-long equestrian and reining competitor is the creator/director of Horses for Clean Water. HCW offers educational materials, courses & individual consultations on ways to care for and manage your horse and the facilities with an emphasis on environmentally friendly techniques. For more information on HCW visit the website at www.HorsesforCleanWater.com.
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This June join HCW at the following events:
STANWOOD, WA:
No Bugs Here! Tour a 5-acre horse farm with innovative, all-natural insect control techniques. Jubilee Farms breeds Missouri Foxtrotters, raised & handled with natural horsemanship techniques. Some of the insect control techniques include Victor Fly Traps, biological fly control, fly tape, goldfish in water troughs, resident swallows, and, of course, excellent mud and manure management techniques which substantially reduce insect habitat. Join HCW & see unique, gravity-based compost bins, gravel paddocks, a beautiful covered arena, recently established pastures and even a beautiful baby Foxtrotter! Saturday, June 11th, 10am to noon. Stanwood, WA. COST: $5/household or free to 4-H households. To register and receive directions contact the Snohomish Conservation District at (425) 335-5634, ext 4.
Check out the HCW website for a possible June tour at Alayne’s demonstration farm in Maple Valley! www.HorsesforCleanWater.com
Copyright © 2008 The NW Horse Source, LLC
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