Equine Management Options in an Urban/Suburban Setting

Dr. Christine Skelly, Michigan State University and Dr. Betsy Greene, University of Vermont

Sponsored by the Michigan Horse Council And Michigan State University Extension

Things have changed…

Introduction• Environmental/Land Use Issues

– Turnout and Forage Requirements – Pasture Management– Hay Purchase– Manure Management– Land Access/Open Space– Sacrifice Lots

• Facility Risk Analysis• Current Hot Topics• Other Resources

Turnout/Housing Options

• Housing outdoors– Respiratory– Exercise– Behavior

• Housing indoors– Behavioral & health

problems – Increased bedding

and time costs

Forage Requirement

• Base for ration 1% of body weight or 50% total ration

• Long stem roughage best for gut motility

• Saliva production• Psychological need• Adult horse at light work

does fine on all forage diet

Pasture Establishment• What are your goals?

– Exercise v. Nutrition• Land Availability

– Ideal stocking rate • 1 horse/2 acres

– Varies with management and land/climate conditions

Soil Testing

• Basis for pasture establishment and renovation

• Basis for manure management plan

Weed Management• Getting a good stand is the

best weed prevention– Keep horses off of new

plants for 6 months– Frost seed

• Spot spray established grass/legume pastures

• Pasture Management– Mowing – not manicure!– Rotational grazing– Dragging– Stocking density– Sacrifice lots

Clovers and Fescue

Tall Fescue and Endophyte James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,

www.forestryimages.org Alsike White Red

Toxic Plants

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)Black Locust

Hoary Alyssum

Over Consumption• A concern with both grasses

and legumes• Occurs in pastures with lush

top growth--common in spring time

• Causes horses to founder/colic– A problem with easy keepers,

ponies– Limit grazing of lush pastures– Consider grazing muzzles

Hay Quality Criteria:• Type of forage• Stage of maturation• Cleanliness• Moisture Content

– Mold/heaves• Foreign material/pests

– Toxic plants– Blister beetles

• Storage conditions• Match nutritional quality with

nutritional requirements!

Common Hay Species for Horses

• Legume – Alfalfa– Clover*

• Grass– Timothy– Orchard– Brome

• Mixed– Alfalfa X Grass

Hay Nutrient Recommendations High Mod Low

Broodmare(Late gest. & lact.)

W & YR

Heavy work

2 yr old

Mod work

Geriatric Light work & maintenance

Forage Testing• Base horse’s diets on

forage – not grain!• Only useful if buying

large loads• Good information for high

performance or growing horses

Buying Hay

• Try to purchase hay by the ton• Examine several bales prior to purchase• Do not talk about “horse hay”• Try to purchase all hay from one source

Overstocking on small acreage Long-term manure stockpiling

Manure Management

Surface Water

Water Quality

Do you know what’s going

on around your wellhead?

How much manure will 1 horse produce?

Manure volume for 1 horse per month:Manure volume for 1 horse per month:

1,000 lb horse = 50 lbs manure/day1,000 lb horse = 50 lbs manure/day

50 lbs manure X 30 d = 1500 lb/month50 lbs manure X 30 d = 1500 lb/month

(1 lb manure:0.3 lbs wood shavings)(1 lb manure:0.3 lbs wood shavings)

1500 lbs manure + 450 lbs shavings1500 lbs manure + 450 lbs shavings

= 1950 lbs feed stocks (manure + shavings) = 1950 lbs feed stocks (manure + shavings) ~ 1 Ton dirty bedding/month~ 1 Ton dirty bedding/month

Manure Management Top 10 List1. Feed management2. Production of manure 3. Collection 4. Storage 5. Treatment – Value added6. Transfer7. Utilization 8. Record keeping 9. Emergency plan 10. Periodic review

Compost Management

• Time– Monitoring– Production

• Equipment– Monitoring– Production

• Patience

Land application means:

• Short-term stockpiling – Under roof or away from

waterways, downspouts, and low areas

• Utilization for fertilizer:– On your land– On someone else’s land Horse Manure

U-haul or I-haul

Land Access• Urban Sprawl

– Unfriendly horse zoning• Neighbor complaints

– Manure

– Decreased trail access

Sacrifice Areas

• Protect pastures– overgrazing– saturated– recuperation time– choice of “wasted” ground– High Traffic Area

Size and Shape

• Depends on . . .– Land available– # of horses– lay of land– horse activity

Sacrifice Considerations

• Mud control– high ground location– compost/hog fuel, gravel base for footing– Drain tile– Divert runoff away from area

Greener Pastures

Virtual Horse Facility Analysis Goals

• A self-guided analysis to help you fix potentialhazards at your barn before the accident happens.

• To provide a proactive, educational tool for people that work with or house horses.

• To alert barn owners and users to dangerous environments or procedures in equine facilities.

• To provide feasible alternatives when developing protocols to minimize liability and risk.

• To facilitate the understanding of potential liability issues that exist in any equine facility.

• To decrease exposure of equine enthusiasts to accident or injury through education.

Entrances

• Perimeter fence• Gate

Office

• Posted signs should direct all visitors to the office

Location, location, location

• This mare and foal barn has no buffer between the barn entrance and the adjacent parking area.  

Stable Area

• Horses head should not have access outside of stall– Stall guards– Windows– Dutch doors

Alley Ways

• Clutter can cause accidents

Phone• EASY Access • Emergency Numbers• Address and Directions

posted• You don’t know WHO will

be calling• visual landmarks• Caution emergency

vehicles with sirens that horses will be in the vicinity.

Hazards

• The main electrical panel box should be in a dry, dust free area. The panel box should be weather proof.

• Fire extinguishers within 50 - 75' of any location in your barn.

• Check with your local fire department for specific guidelines

• Extinguishers checked on an annual basis.

Fire Extinguishers

Riding Arenas• The arena - enclosed

area with fence at least 3' 6" high.

• Surface suitable for the riding discipline and well maintained.

• Loose dogs should not be allowed in arena

• A startled horse is a liability problem.

Warnings

• An electric fence sign warns people to stay away.

• The electric bolt is universal.

• A bilingual sign may be important.

Hay Storage

• Hay storage can pose a fire hazard

• Hay should be kept in a separate area

• Hay stored overhead may limit barn ventilation.

Equipment Storage

• Equipment should be stored away from horse activity.

• Equipment usage should be scheduled during non-riding times.

Liability Signs

• Check with your state's Equine Activity Statutes.

• Notices and Contracts• Notices must contain

the exact words required by your state's statute.

Hot Topics and Resources

• Unwanted Horse• NAIS• Resources

– eXtension– Extension Bulletins– American Horse Council and State Councils– American Association of Equine Practitioners– Farm Bureau