How to Control Manure Piles

As the land crunch continues and horse owners are pushed onto smaller properties, effective methods for controlling manure piles are becoming more important than ever. The average 1,000 pound horse excretes over 40 pounds of manure a day; that's 1,200 pounds of manure a month. But don't panic, there are several good methods to keep your barn's manure pile under control and manageable.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Start a compost pile. The rapid break down of organic material-your horse's manure-reduces bulk, hence making your manure pile smaller. Your compost pile should be surrounded by three, 5-foot tall walls, which can be made of cinder blocks or concrete. For one horse your compost pile will need to be at least 8 by 8 square feet in diameter. You'll need to keep the pile moist and stir it regularly. It is the combination of moisture and air that helps accelerate the break down of organic material.
2. Spread fresh manure daily. If you have the land, thinly spreading manure encourages it to dry out and break down quickly. This eliminates unsightly manure piles and removes the wet, damp conditions which make manure good breeding grounds for parasites. However, spreading alone will not kill parasite eggs, so continue to deworm your horses and don't spread it on fields where your horses graze.
3. Offer your horse's manure for sell or free to those who will haul it away. Many local gardeners, and other individuals, will take your compost (or manure for their own compost piles) to fertilize their gardens, flower beds and lawns. You can put up signs at the end of your driveway and flyers at local stores. Also contact nearby farmers and orchards to see if they need your manure, and if so, ask if they will come and haul it away for free.
4. Bury your manure in a hole or ditch, either nature or pre-dug. It's a free and easy way to raise a low area or change your barnyard's topography. However, as the manure decomposes you will need to stabilize the area and add more top soil.
5. Reduce the amount of bedding you remove from your horse's stall. The less you remove from your horse's stall, the smaller your manure pile will be. Rice halls are a good alternative to traditional wood shavings. They are smaller and less likely to cling to manure, making it easier to remove waste and leave bedding. This will also reduce the amount you spend on bedding.
6. Find a company that will haul your manure away. There are companies out there, which for a fee will provide you with a manure receptacle such as a dumpster, then regularly come out to your facility and empty the dumpster or replace it with an empty one. The price for this sort of service varies greatly depending on your location.