How to Compost Horse Manure

Composting horse manure is a simple procedure that can be done in your backyard. Even if you don't live on a ranch or have a horse, it is easy to obtain horse manure. Composting horse manure requires a few simple materials, but very little expense. Composted horse manure is rich in nutrients that make it a valuable resource for any type of garden. While you can use horse manure as fertilizer without composting it, this does not kill any parasites or weeds seeds present in the manure.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Horse manure
• Containers with snugly fitted lids
• Shovel or pitchfork
• Compost bin or compost area

1. Locate horse manure. Contact friends with horses or local stables or ranches and negotiate to pick up some of their horse manure. Many stables pay an outside manure disposal service to pick up their manure, especially when they are located in residential or suburban neighborhoods, so there should be no charge for you to pick up some of it. Be polite and prepared to work around their schedule.

2. 
   A container with a tightly fitted lid like this one will make manure pick up easy.

   Drive to the stable or ranch with your containers and shovel or pitchfork. If you are concerned about dirt or manure spilling into your car, lay down plastic sheeting to protect the car's interior.

3. 
   Manure mixed with wood shavings.

   Shovel the horse manure you are allowed access to into your plastic containers. If the manure comes from horse stalls it may be mixed with straw or shavings, but this is okay. Make sure the lids to your containers are tightly fitted before placing them in the car.

4. Unload the containers into your yard.

5. 
   Turn your compost pile or bin every few days.

   Shovel or fork the horse manure into the compost bin and turn every few days. If you don't have a compost bin, make a pile of the horse manure and turn it every few days, pulling the manure from the inside to the outside and from the bottom to the top. It generally takes about 1-3 months in the summer and 3-6 months in the winter for the horse manure to completely break down.

6. Spread your composted horse manure in your garden. You will know it is ready to spread when it has gone from green to light tan in color and no longer has a strong odor.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find the task of filling containers with horse manure unpleasant, you may be able to pay someone at the ranch or stable to fill them for you. If you would like the further convenience of horse manure delivered to your yard, there are services you can pay to do this for you. Many cities offer free workshops that will teach you about composting. Many people use horse manure without composting it, but this does not kill any parasites or weeds seeds present in the manure.
• Horse manure is heavy. Be aware of this as you are filling your containers. Depending on the size of your containers, you may not want to fill them up all the way or they will be too heavy to lift. There are laws regarding where compost piles may be located within your yard. Check with your city or county to learn the rules and restrictions.

References

• A Guide to Composting Horse Manure
• PlanTea

Resources

• Home Composting Information, References, Message Board and more
• A Guide to Composting Horse Manure
• Recycling Facts Guide