Water-wise Tips for Horse Owners
By Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water
It’s that rare time in the Northwest when we stop thinking there is too much rain and start worrying that we aren’t getting enough. Here are some tips on how you can use water wisely on your horse property and conserve during the dryer times...
Caring for Plants During the Dry Season
· Continue composting. If you’ve been composting your horse manure and spreading it on pastures, landscape, lawn, and garden, your plants are better prepared for dry weather than most. Soil that has been amended with compost absorbs water easily, drains well, and retains moisture. The end result is that your plants fare better in dry weather.
· Use mulch. If you don’t use mulch (wood chips, compost, bark, dry grass clippings, etc.) around your plants, this is a good time to start. Mulch will significantly reduce evaporation on the soil surface—you will be amazed at how well a good layer of mulch retains moisture. Stall waste composed mainly of shavings (with very little manure and urine) also works well as mulch.
· Water deeply. Fortunately, most landscapes require very little watering after plants are well established (this takes about one to three years). In fact, watering frequently in small amounts will encourage plants to keep their roots shallow, which can result in poor growth and disease. Watering deeply but less often encourages roots to grow deeper.
· Water efficiently. Water in the evening hours when evaporation is less likely. For maximum efficiency, use drip irrigation, micro-sprays, or soaker hoses on all plants, except lawns. These systems apply water directly to the soil with minimal evaporation or runoff. Soaker hoses (which sweat water along their entire length) will only save water if they are used for the right length of time. To moisten the top 6 to 12 inches of soil, a soaker hose may need to be run for about 30 to 40 minutes for loamy soils. Sandy soils may need less time; clay soils may need more.
Stock Watering Systems
· Divert roof runoff. To conserve water, you can devise a system to capture the water from barn roof downspouts and divert it to stock watering tanks. You can do this using existing gutter equipment or you may be able to design something yourself. (Note that this practice is recommended for those with fiberglass or metal roofs but this is not recommended for composite roofs.)
· Automatic watering. Automatic watering systems conserve water because they only use as much water as your horse can drink. Look for systems with moderately sized water pans—a large one will get dirty quickly and full of algae, requiring you to clean it frequently. Another advantage to an automatic waterer is that since water is circulating and not stagnant, it won’t provide a habitat for mosquitoes. One example of a useful automatic waterer for horses and livestock is the MiraFount, http://www.amsusa.net/Water.htm. MiraFount waterers don’t require energy to run, and since they hold five to ten gallons at a time, they are quick and easy to clean. They are also insulated to help keep water cooler during the summer and to prevent water from freezing in the winter. Insert Photo DSCN2574.JPG
Rain Barrels and Cisterns
· Rain barrels and cisterns are another great way to save water. Rain barrels are designed to capture and store rainwater coming off a roof and are usually attached to a downspout. They consist of a storage container (usually plastic), a system for diverting downspout water into the barrel, and an overflow that returns to the downspout or diverts water safely away from the house to percolate into the soil. Cisterns are above or below ground water storage systems designed to serve large portions or all of the water needs of a building or landscape. For more information on rain barrels, download and read Using Rain Barrels in Northwest Gardens, http://www.savingwater.org/docs/rainbarrels.pdf. Insert Photo DSC_0029.JPG
If you have some tips for conserving water on horse property and would like to share them, please contact me at Alayne@horsesforcleanwater.com. We’d like to hear what works for you!
Until then, good horsekeeping to you!
Alayne
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