Advantages of composting for the horse owner
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Kills worm eggs, pathogens and weed seeds.
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Reduces parasite reinfestation in your horse.
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Reduces flies by eliminating their breeding ground.
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Reduces odors - proper compost smells "earthy," not putrid or sour.
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Reduces potential for non-point pollution (runoff of nutrients and sediments).
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Reduces the total volume of material (stall waste) by about 50%.
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Improves your pasture soil's physical properties by increasing the rate at which water can soak in, increasing the amount of water that your soil can hold.
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Provides a beneficial soil amendment that will slowly and steadily release nutrients for your pasture. The amount of nitrogen released by compost is lower than with chemical fertilizer, which is better for grazing horses.
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Provides you with a free, easy and valuable soil amendment.
Compost application guidelines
- Apply compost to pastures, gardens, shrubs, trees or lawns.
- Apply about ¼ to ½ inch at a time, no more than 2-3 inches per year.
Haul manure off your premises (or have someone pick it up) on a regular basis.
Advantages: This may require less energy and time on your part. Paying to dispose of manure off site may be the easiest way to go if you have a mountain of manure, lack of storage space or don't have time to research or implement other options.
Disadvantages: If you have to hire out for this, it can be more expensive than the other options. It also requires an initial time investment to research potential sites.
Costs: If you have the equipment to do your own hauling, you can haul your stall waste to a composting facility. Some compost or topsoil facilities rent drop boxes that they will deliver and empty. They usually charge pick-up, rental and disposal fees. Your local garbage hauler may be able to pick up and haul away stall waste as well. Be aware, though, that this material may very well end up in a landfill. When manure is disposed of in a landfill, it decomposes very slowly, generating methane gas in the process, which ultimately contributes to greenhouse gases.
Having a manure management system on your horse property is part of responsible horse ownership. Many local cooperative extension agents conduct small-acreage workshops, which include information about pasture and manure management. If your county doesn't have a program like this, ask that it start one. As horse owners, diligence about manure management is just as important as properly fitting tack, a sound nutrition program, trailering safety and the many other aspects of horse ownership.
The benefits are many. Proper manure management will reduce the parasite load for your horse; cut down on mud, flies, odors and runoff; improve pastures; reduce costs for fertilizers; improve the neighborhood esthetics and make the environment a lot healthier, too. And with an effective manure management plan in place, you will know just what to do when manure happens.
