Most horse owners have been put to the task of mucking out the horse stalls using a manure fork and a wheelbarrow, then piling up the manure for disposal later.
In a short time, that pile has grown to out of control and the people who were hauling away the manure no longer want it.
At this point, many folks purchase a small, ground driven manure spreader and attack that pile to try to get it down to a reasonable size.
However, just driving that manure spreader out into a field and letting the poo fly may cause more harm than good! Here are the basics of using a manure spreader and why using it correctly is important for both the health of your horses and the environment.
Horse manure should not be spread on frozen or snow-covered ground.
The nutrients in horse manure cannot be absorbed into frozen soil and there is the real possibility of water contamination by way of surface runoff during a snow melt.
If you are spreading horse manure on a pasture, do so during the growing season when the grass is active.
I suggest to harrow the pasture soon after the manure is spread, to break up the clumps and spread the manure more uniformly across the field.
This allows the heat of the sun to penetrate the manure and kill the parasites and their larvae much quicker than if the manure is allowed the lay in clumps.
Horse manure should be spread at least 200 feet from any surface water area or water well.
Rotate your pasture area and if possible, keep your horses out of the harrowed pasture for three to five weeks depending on how much sunlight the pasture has absorbed.
Spreading manure properly promotes a healthy pasture, healthy animals and is good for the environment.
Country Manufacturing makes 2 models of ground driven manure spreaders which are designed for use with horse manure.
A 25 bushel manure spreader which is ideal for owners up to 6 horses and a 75 bushel manure spreader for horse owners who have more than 6 stalls to maintain.
In a short time, that pile has grown to out of control and the people who were hauling away the manure no longer want it.
At this point, many folks purchase a small, ground driven manure spreader and attack that pile to try to get it down to a reasonable size.
However, just driving that manure spreader out into a field and letting the poo fly may cause more harm than good! Here are the basics of using a manure spreader and why using it correctly is important for both the health of your horses and the environment.
Horse manure should not be spread on frozen or snow-covered ground.
The nutrients in horse manure cannot be absorbed into frozen soil and there is the real possibility of water contamination by way of surface runoff during a snow melt.
If you are spreading horse manure on a pasture, do so during the growing season when the grass is active.
I suggest to harrow the pasture soon after the manure is spread, to break up the clumps and spread the manure more uniformly across the field.
This allows the heat of the sun to penetrate the manure and kill the parasites and their larvae much quicker than if the manure is allowed the lay in clumps.
Horse manure should be spread at least 200 feet from any surface water area or water well.
Rotate your pasture area and if possible, keep your horses out of the harrowed pasture for three to five weeks depending on how much sunlight the pasture has absorbed.
Spreading manure properly promotes a healthy pasture, healthy animals and is good for the environment.
Country Manufacturing makes 2 models of ground driven manure spreaders which are designed for use with horse manure.
A 25 bushel manure spreader which is ideal for owners up to 6 horses and a 75 bushel manure spreader for horse owners who have more than 6 stalls to maintain.