WHAT -

Cascade Farm and Stables implements a Farm Management & Conservation Plan in accordance with the King County Livestock Management Ordinance and approved by the King Conservation District.

WHY -

Comply with local ordinances; exercise good environmental stewardship; maintain pasture quality and productivity; reduce mud; prevent contaminated water runoff; provide healthy environment for the horses

HOW -

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.

Acknowledgement:

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.