How do we do this?
Waste Management
Covered compost bins - manure waste is converted into usable soil amendment and is spread on the pastures during the spring and fall growing season. Stall shavings are not applied in excess (beyond what's needed) in order to reduce the waste load.
Prescribed Grazing
Pastures are divided into areas that are grazed and then rested in a planned sequence in order to maintain a healthy forage crop and healthy, thriving horses. The rule of thumb is to open a pasture area when the grass is 6-8 inches tall, and close it when grazed down to an average height of 3 inches. Overgrazing severely stunts the re-growth, allows weeds to become established (equine "junk food"), and the bare spots turn to mud when it rains.
Use Exclusion
Horses are removed from the grass pastures and confined to mud-free "sacrifice pastures" during the wet winter months and at other times when heavy rain soaking/saturation may occur. Pastures in the northwest cannot survive grazing and trampling in the winter months. When pastures are soggy, pounding hooves compact the soil and suffocate plant roots. The hooves also act like plungers, churning soil into mud, which can pull shoes, cause strains, and contribute to hoof/foot diseases.
Sacrifice Pastures & Paddocks
Mud-free sacrifice pastures and paddocks are utilized for turnout and exercise when the main pastures are closed due to: 1) wet winter months - typically beginning of November through end of March, 2) short term closure (typically a day or two) during other periods of rain soaking/saturation, and 3) lack of available grazing area if insufficient growth occurs during the late summer season. In this case an "every other day" rotation between pasture and sacrifice area will typically be employed to conserve/stretch available forage.
Acknowledgment:
Implementation of "best practices" is based on information and training provided by the King Conservation District, U.S. Department of Agriculture, WSU Cooperative Extension, and Horses for Clean Water.
Learn more below about how we implemented this management process into our farm. See amazing before and after photos and learn how you can support this concept in your community
Quick Links to Informational Sections:
Manure Management
Proper handling of manure waste is important in order to prevent pollution to local waterways and to maintain a healthy environment for horses. In 1994 the original farm manure pile was poorly managed. Water from the non guttered barn roof was falling onto the uncovered manure pile. This created a manure tea that flowed into the local drainage swale. An additional manure pile was stored in the drainage area itself. There is no doubt that it was contributing toward water pollution.
Original
Manure Pile
Second Original Manure
Pile in drainage area
Following training from the "Horses for Clean Water" program we signed up for a voluntary Farm Management Plan, prepared by the King Conservation District. Following their site visits, the King Conservation District made the following recommendations:
- Remove the manure that is piled up outside the arena
- Construct manure composting bins in a location that is convenient to the stables and pastures
- Cover the bins during the winter months
- Install gutters and downspouts on all buildings and divert the water away from manure sites or confinement areas
- Spread the composted manure on pastures during the growing season
Our composting system uses an "L" shaped wall constructed with 6x6 treated posts (5 ft spacing) and 2x10 treated boards. Concrete "eco-blocks" could have been used, but we took advantage of existing posts along one side of a paddock. The bin is 70' long, 16' deep, and 7' high, and can hold up to 300 cubic yards of material. The photo on the left shows how much was accumulated from 20 stalls over a 6 month period, from October (last time compost was spread) until April (first opportunity to spread compost). We start dumping at the far end, and use a tractor to turn it and push it up.
A metal roofing lean-to is used to cover most of the pile. A tarp on a sliding rail is used to cover the remainder of the pile. Construction of the sliding cover is near-identical to mounting a barn door, except that a 2x4x12 board is hung rather than a stall door. Railroad ties are used to hold down the bottom end of the tarps, and old tires are placed on top.
The manure quickly heats up to 150 F through the composting action. This kills pathogens, parasites, seeds, and produces compost that can be spread on the fields during the growing season. It does not produce any objectionable smells, due to the healthy aerobic (organisms using oxygen) activity. If however, the compost piles were allowed to get winter-rain soaked, lack of oxygen could cause the aerobic activity to cease, and bad smells to occur.
Water Runoff
Surface water runoff can cause adverse impacts related to water quality and quantity. Horse farms impact water quality by improperly managing manure and mud on the premises. Nutrients from manure runoff promote the growth of nuisance aquatic weeds that choke stream channels, and reduce oxygen available for fish. Bacteria’s in manure are a major contributing factor in the widespread degradation of shellfish beds in Puget Sound. 20 years ago we could drive a short distance to local beaches where clams and oysters could be harvested in abundance. Now, however we find "closed" signs at these beaches. Our native salmon are in trouble as well.
Another problem is created when water runs off too fast without having a chance to soak in or spread out. In the 1980's reconnaissance studies were begun on local watersheds, and it was noted that streams throughout the Puget Sound region were reacting to a new flow regime caused by surface water runoff created by development. Problems included flooding, erosion, sedimentation, landslides, and loss of water quality. Catastrophic events were occurring whereby stream channels, that had been stable for thousands of years, were being dramatically altered in a single rainfall event. Property damage and injury were becoming widespread.
Water running off from building roofs, driveways, and other impervious surfaces has historically been dealt with by channeling it off as quickly as possible, where it would become a problem on the neighbors property. More ditches were dug and sandbags added. But like a game of musical chairs, someone ultimately gets left standing - property damage occurs and wildlife habitat is destroyed.
Culverts along local drainage swales normally get successively larger. However, the culverts in our drainage swale (drainage from immediate area - not a stream channel) get progressively smaller. This has the desirable affect that when there is a big downpour, the water has an opportunity to gently expand into grassy areas at each "checkpoint," which provides water retention/detention buffering. If it were not this way, we would be causing problems for our downstream neighbors, and the local private road would probably flood. It doesn't cause us any hardship as the water drains in due time.
Mud Control
Winter rainfall in the Pacific Northwest creates a near-insurmountable challenge for mud control on horse farms. We are over 6 years and 1 million pounds of gravel and hogs fuel into tackling this problem.
Mud can cause problems for horses and the environment. Runoffs of sediment contaminate surface water runoff. This contributes to silting of waterways and causes harm to fish and aquatic wildlife. Horses forced to slog through mud can suffer from strains, pulled shoes, foot/hoof diseases and other problems.
Below are pictures of one of our paddocks before and after mud management efforts.
Before
After
In the top photo, water from an un-guttered roof is falling on the high end of the paddock and causing saturation. The plunging action of horse hooves made sure that the dirt was turned into mud. The bottom photo shows the same paddock after gutters, drain pipes, and gravel were added.
Mud management begins by adding gutters and downspouts to barn and building roofs. From there drainage pipes can be used to convey the clean water away from paddocks and manure storage areas to drywells or appropriate discharge areas.
The next step is to add base/footing material. We have used various combinations of mineral and wood products including 5/8 minus gravel, hogs fuel (wood chips), and gravel or hogs fuel over 1.5 inch drain rock. There are advantages and disadvantages to each and opinions abound. In the end you have to go with whatever works best for you. For us the 5/8" minus gravel (like what's used on driveways) has provided the best results. It compacts well to provide a firm surface, whereas the straight hogs fuel or hogs fuel over drain rock tends to shift around (the horses paw through it). Washed sand, pea gravel, or hogs fuel footing can be added over a portion of the compacted gravel to provide a cushioned pad if desired.
Apply base/footing during the dry season before the mud gets bad. Otherwise it tends to sink in and disappear. It's also important that the paddock or sacrifice area has a gentle slope for the water to drain off. We pick the manure out of these areas on a daily basis. Keep at least a 25' wide vegetative buffer at the downward side, which will act as a natural filter.
Pasture Management
When 20 stalls filled up we thought we were going to need more land for grazing, but after implementing these pasture management techniques, there's more than enough grass and it's much higher quality.
August 1, 2009 - photo
above - Despite the drought, much of our pasture area remains green and
lush. We have not irrigated, and we do not use any chemical
fertilizers. The grass is deep-rooted and healthy as a result of
following proper pasture management techniques.
Horses on our farm are removed from the grass pastures and confined to mud-free "sacrifice pastures" during the wet winter months and at other times when heavy rain soaking/saturation may occur. Pastures in the northwest cannot survive grazing and trampling in the winter months. When pastures are soggy, pounding hooves compact the soil and suffocate plant roots. The hooves also act like plungers, churning soil into mud, which can pull shoes, cause strains, and contribute to hoof/foot diseases. The photos below show pasture conditions when horses were allowed full access to all areas year-round and after when pasture manage techniques were put into action. Hotwire fencing was used to permanently keep horses out of the wet drainage swale area.
Pasture before maintenance
project
Pasture after maintenance project
Pastures are divided into areas that are grazed and then rested in a planned sequence in order to maintain a healthy forage crop and healthy, thriving horses. The rule of thumb is to open a pasture area when the grass is 6-8 inches tall, and close it when grazed down to an average height of 3 inches. Overgrazing severely stunts the re-growth, allows weeds to become established (equine "junk food"), and the bare spots turn to mud when it rains. Composted manure is also applied in the spring and fall.
We have 4 large pastures that are separated by permanent fencing, and which support 4-6 horses each. Each pasture is further divided into 8 rotational grazing areas (about 12,000 square feet each) using hotwire fencing. Every 5 days or so horses are shifted to the next section by simply moving a hotwire "gate," which consists of a section of wire with insulated handle and hook. The previously grazed section is then mowed and (sometimes) dragged. We typically wait and mow 2 or 3 sections at a time if we don't feel like getting the tractor out so often. Mowing maintains the grass at a more uniform height, keeps it succulent, and prevents it from going to seed (at which time it will stop growing). If you cheat and repeatedly graze the grass too low, and don't give it enough time grow back, it causes a major setback. You will likely have to wait a long time for it to recover, and may even have to replant. See the images below for a representative sketch of a rotational pasture layout, and details of the hotwire gate.
Mud-free sacrifice pastures and paddocks are utilized for
turnout and exercise when the main pastures are closed due to:
1) wet winter
months - typically beginning of November through early April
2) short term closure (typically a day or two) during other periods of rain soaking/saturation
3) lack of available grazing area if insufficient growth occurs during the late summer season. In this case an "every other day" rotation between pasture and sacrifice area will typically be employed to conserve/stretch available forage.
Wildlife Enhancement
Good farm and land stewardship includes wildlife habitat considerations. It's good for the environment, the owner, and the community. The Puget Sound region is rapidly losing land to development, and wildlife habitat along with it. Farms near these urban areas can play an increasingly important role in providing alternative habitat.
Some good practices –
- Let vegetation grow in fence rows (wildlife corridor)
- Keep native vegetation along stream channels
- Provide ponds or other sources of water
- Plant trees and shrubs
- Provide rock and/or brush piles
- Provide nest boxes for birds
- Reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals
Regulatory concerns - It's probably a good idea to take some photos and document the conditions before starting an enhancement project so that you don't inadvertently get penalized by having setback buffer requirements imposed or widened under King County sensitive/critical area ordinances. We are working to get language into updates of these ordinances that will clearly provide incentives, rather than risks, for implementing wildlife enhancements.
Consider corners of pastures, fence lines, wet areas, and other locations where wildlife enhancement can be added without significantly reducing grazing area and economic use of the farmland. We began by fencing off the drainage swale/wet pasture area. It wasn't good for the horses to be in there anyway, where they would pull shoes, etc (see mud control section). We also set aside a low-lying wet corner and enhanced it (see before and after photos below).
Before
After
Enhancement features included the following:
- Fencing to keep the horses out
- Placement of rocks and stumps in and around the pond
- Planting
native trees and shrubs, including -
- Western Red Cedar; Sitka Spruce; Oregon Ash
- Weeping Willow (okay, maybe this one's not locally native)
- Red Twig Dogwoods; Serviceberries (good food for man & birds)
- more to come
Taking this small area out of "farming use" has had negligible economic impact. Right off the bat it has provided a bonanza for amphibians, where hundreds of tadpoles successfully made it to frog hood the first season. As the trees and shrubs mature, it will become increasingly useful for birds and other small creatures.
Useful Links
Horses for Clean Water - Environmentally sensitive horse keeping practices. Learn more about how to reduce mud, manage manure, and improve pastures
King Conservation District - Farm planning, classes, tours, site visits, and general help on sustainable land care for farmers.
WSU Cooperative Extension - Cooperative Extension promotes lifelong learning, self-sufficiency and a livable environment by providing research-based education to individuals, families and diverse communities.
