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Discussion on Manure pile in paddock area | |
Author | Message |
Member: horse4u |
Posted on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 10:24 am: Are there any health risks to horses when manure pile is in their paddock area? Where we board, we have our 2 horses in one area and the manure for 5 horses is put in their paddock. It used to be moved weekly, but now it often sits there for weeks at a time. Should I be concerned? The paddock area is good size and they have a field next to them where they can exercise and graze. |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 8:08 pm: Hi, Vicki -- A manure pile will most certainly attract some flies and other pests and that can include reproducing bot flies. Whenever there are multiple horses, you need to pay more attention to the worming schedule. If the fly population is excessive and causing irritation, you can put a fly mask on your horse. Overall, when manure piles are being composted, I do not see the health risks as being extreme beyond those previously mentioned but perhaps Dr. O will have some further comments. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 6:15 am: Besides breeding house, face, and biting stable flies, intestinal parasites are spread through the manure and if fresh and profuse enough that horses must stand in it manure can be damaging to the hooves by promoting thrush.DrO |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 9:04 am: Good point from Dr. O as certainly it is not good for horses to stand in manure/urine. If I was boarding somewhere, I certainly would not like the manure pile in my horse's paddock, unless it was such a huge area that the horses stayed away from it. When visiting horses are at my farm, I dump their manure in areas well away from where my horses could be exposed to any of it. A friend of mine has a boarding business and it is forbidden for anyone to dump their horses manure into another horse's turn out area. |
Member: sonoita |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 10:29 am: I don't think you can get it far enough away from your horses if it is in the same area. Mine like to sleep in it and they do scrounge around in it. And they have access to hay most of the time and some pasture. I just make sure they are wormed and I also turn mine regularly. |
Member: paul303 |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 9:50 pm: It would be nice to get it out of there, if possible. Aside from the main points made above, a manure pile breaking down and getting rained on, makes for some pretty nasty mud in the surrounding area.Like Wanda said, if it's a big enough pile it should be turned. |
Member: horse4u |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 10:26 pm: I appreciate everyones feedback. I will try and suggest to the stable owner that perhaps another area away from the paddock would be a healthier alternative. If any of you have a suggestion as how to best present my request, I would be most grateful! I don't want to come across as a whiney, complaining boarder. I do, however, want what is best for our horses in order to keep them healthy. Boarding is such a pain... One day I hope to have my own place to keep them. |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 11:02 am: If you check around there may be a University or governmental agency that publishes "best management practices," for keeping horses, which you could get a copy of and pass along to the stable owner. Keeping the manure pile well away from the horses and barn would surely be listed. |
Member: dres |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 12:34 pm: I hope adding to this thread is appropriate.. Dr. O we compost then in the late fall we spread it out on the pastures..My question is: I have a huge pile that is ready to spread, done composting smells like fresh dirt.. would it be ok to just pile it out in one of the paddocks till we are ready to spread? We can't till fall as the pastures are closed and to wet now then will be thigh high with grass early spring and we don't have a real spreader , so we spread with the tractor.. In the past we just make 'done' compost piles around the barn area.. unsightly in my way of thinking.. husband says ITS A BARN!~ Is is safe to just pile it out there while horses are out.. ? On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 6:00 pm: Composting should make it safe Ann.DrO |