While gravel products like crushed rock or sand provide an excellent footing for horse paddocks, they can also potentially harbor urine odors – unpleasant for us and our neighbors, and unhealthy for our horses. Last month in this series, we talked about how the design of your paddock can affect odors. We also discussed the use of zeolite products that can help substantially reduce ammonia. This month, we’ll cover other odor control options including using beneficial microorganisms.
At Horses for Clean Water, we have found sprays with beneficial microorganisms to be very useful. These microbial sprays contain different types of “friendly” bacteria, enzymes, and/or fungi. They come in highly concentrated solutions that are diluted and sprayed onto smelly paddock areas with the aid of a garden sprayer. Beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and fungal organisms break down ammonia and organic material that cause odors and attract flies. These safe solutions can be applied as often as odors are detected as well as before or after rainfalls. Beneficial microbial sprays are available at organic garden supply companies. The product we use is called EM-1 Microbial Inoculants and can be purchased from Arbico Organics.
Alum, or aluminum sulfate, is another product being tested in other parts of the country for its odor-reducing properties. This is a salt that reacts with the ammonia in urine to form ammonium sulfate, which is very water-soluble. The poultry industry currently uses alum to reduce the strong and offensive ammonia odors that build up in chicken houses. However, it’s not clear whether the low pH that will occur as a result is harmful to the environment – or a horse. I understand that on the East Coast alum is being tested with the USDA for odor control, health, and safety. In the meantime, if you were to use alum it is very important to follow the manufacturer’s written directions.
Another option might be to try some of the many enzyme products made for this type of use. These are pricier, but are reported to work well. Like beneficial microbes, these products come in a concentrate that is diluted with water and sprayed on urine spots. I have not used these, but others have and report their success. It is often thought that because these are enzymes (or enzymes and bacteria), they are “safe” because they are “natural.” However, natural doesn’t necessarily mean safe or non-toxic to the environment. Until the usage/effectiveness of the product has been tested with the USDA or other research agency, it is most important to read and follow directions carefully.
Other anecdotal techniques abound, include sprinkling baking soda or Dolomite lime on the affected areas, or using a spray of white vinegar. More information may be available on these options if you surf the Internet. Again, remember that just because a product is reported to be natural doesn’t mean that it can’t be toxic to animals, people, or the environment. It’s good to experiment, but exercise caution with natural or anecdotal cures.
I hope one of these options will be useful to you. Keep me posted on what you try, what works and doesn’t work for you.
Until then, good horsekeeping to you!
Join Horses Clean Water at the following events & check out the website, www.HorsesforCleanWater.com, for new events added regularly:
IN JUNE:
HOBART, WA
Beyond Where the Blacktop Ends Tour the Three Sisters Mule Farm, a private, 10-acre equine property that lies above Hobart and is surrounded by Seattle’s Cedar River Watershed. This pristine property is superbly managed for the benefit of the mules and their humans -- as well as for the environment. See a group sacrifice area, a composting shed, rotational grazing, and more management techniques that reduce mud and help with chore efficiency. BONUS: Learn about our unique Cedar River Watershed! Saturday, June 9th, 10am to noon. Hobart, WA. FREE! To register and receive a map, contact the King Conservation District at 425-277-5581, ext. 125 or Roseanne.Campagna@kingcd.org.
SHELTON, WA
Summer Workshop Series: Tips for Managing Horse Properties This FREE Horses for Clean Water series will meet one Monday evening a month at the Mason Conservation District in Shelton, WA. Get your property in ship shape for you & your horse to enjoy this summer! Monday evenings, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Shelton, WA.
TOPICS & DATES:
Ø June 18: Natural Ways to Control Mud, Bugs & Weeds Reduce chemical use on your property while making it healthier for your horses, you, and wildlife! Inviting wildlife to your farm and landscaping with native plants can have many wonderful benefits, including "natural” insect control, mud reduction, dust barriers, visual screens between neighbors, cooling of buildings, summer shade for horses, and low-cost/low care landscaping. We will also cover environmentally sensitive ways to manage odors, useful water conservation tips, and how to manage creeks or wetlands on horse properties.
Pre-registration is encouraged. Contact Karin Strelioff at Mason Conservation District 360-427-9436 or karinls@masoncd.org for registration & additional information.
