Hello,
I am contacting you in regards to the Horses 101 article on ‘Summer Management for Horses’ by Barb Hento in your June 2005 issue. In her last paragraph she speaks of adding a “thick layer of hog fuel to prevent mud next winter …”. I am curious as to what exactly ‘hog fuel’ is, where it is available, and how cost-effective it is. I enjoyed your magazine – this issue was the first one I have seen.
Thank you for any information.
Andrea
Columbia Falls, MT
Dear Andrea,
Firstly, we’re delighted you’ve discovered NW Horse Source, and hope you continue to enjoy each issue.
With regard to hog fuel: it’s ground up tree stumps and limbs – so a mixture of bark and wood fiber – that have generally been taken from slash piles. If you use it for mud control it must be a thick layer, otherwise you’ll end up with mud soup – especially in high traffic areas. Being biodegradeable, hog fuel will break down eventually and will need topping up periodically. How quickly this happens will depend upon traffic volume and composition. Hog fuel made from cedar is highly recommended for outdoor use because the break-down period will be much longer due to its natural oils – but it will likely be more expensive. Hog fuel is not recommended for turn out areas where it will quickly pack down and could compromise drainage.
As a matter of interest, for anyone using or considering using hog fuel for horse bedding, opinions seems to be divided, especially with regard to cedar. Some people say to avoid it, others say there’s no reason not to use cedar other than expense. In fact, as cedar is a known natural flea and tick repellent there could be additional benefits – also for controlling stall odors as it’s a very aromatic wood. (Bear in mind that horses are especially sensitive to scent and some may not like it at all.)
In terms of price – it depends whether you purchase hog fuel in bales, or loose, and whether you’re in a high production area for wood products. The price for purchasing hog fuel loose ranges from $10 to $16 per cubic yard (based upon three sources in the Pacific Northwest who provided information to us), depending upon whether you collect or have it delivered. We’re told that some lumber mills will give away hog fuel at various times if you collect, because it saves them the cost of paying someone to clean up!
Look in your local yellow pages or on the internet for lumber mills or shavings manufacturers who sell hog fuel.
EQUINE TRIVIA QUIZ
Good luck!
1. Which Hollywood actor starred in the 2003 film, Hidalgo?
2. Who wrote Black Beauty?
3. How many kilometres must you ride in order to complete an international-level endurance race?
4. Which German spa town will host the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games?
5. What is the name of the world-famous showjumping facility based in Calgary, AB, Canada?
6. Can you name the three classic horse races in the USA that make up the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing?
7. What are the three phases that make up a three-day event?
8. Which cowboy of both the big and small screen rode a white horse called Topper?
9. Which is the world’s smallest horse breed, developed in Argentina from Shetland pony stock?
10. In Greek mythology, the winged horse Pegasus is reputed to have sprung from the slain blood of whom?
11. Are the Horseshoe falls on the Canadian or the American side of the Niagara river?
12. A horse called Commanche was the only survivor from one half of the combatants of which famous 19th century battle?
13. Which character, played by Alan Young, was the owner of TV’s talking horse Mr. Ed?
14. Who first scored pop success in the 1970s riding A Horse with No Name into the charts?
15. Which famous service actually ran for less than two years between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California in the 1860s?
16. Who introduced the sport of polo to the United States in 1876?
17. Which Rock N’Roll star rode a horse called Rising Sun?
18. What was the name given to an elite cavalry group comprised entirely of African American horsemen?
19. What was the name of the only horse to win the British Grand National three times?
20. The horses Paint, Chubb, Waggoner, and Beauty were all part of what popular TV show?
Answers:
1. Viggo Mortensen
2. Anna Sewell
3. 160 kilometres
4. Aachen
5. Spruce Meadows
6. The Kentucky Derby; the Preakness Stakes; and the Belmont Stakes
7. Dressage, cross-country, and showjumping
8. Hopalong Cassidy
9. Falabella
10. Medusa
11. Canadian
12. Battle of the Little Big Horn. Commanche was General Custer’s horse
13. Wilbur Post
14. America
15. Pony Express
16. James Gordon Bennett
17. Elvis Presley
18. Buffalo Soldiers
19. Red Rum
20. Bonanza
If you scored between 16 and 20, give your horse a hug; if you scored between 11 and 15, give yourself and your dog a hug; if you scored between 6 and 10, give yourself, your dog, and your best friend a hug; if you scored 5 or less, have your horse, your dog, and your best friend give you a hug!
