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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.
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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
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 • ³1% of body weight or • ³50% 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 Black Locust Red Maple (Acer rubrum) 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
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
Manure Management Long-term manure stockpiling Overstocking on small acreage
Water Quality Surface Water Do you know what’s going on around your wellhead?
How much manure will 1 horse produce? Manure volume for 1 horse per month: 1,000 lb horse = 50 lbs manure/day 50 lbs manure X 30 d = 1500 lb/month (1 lb manure:0.3 lbs wood shavings) 1500 lbs manure + 450 lbs shavings = 1950 lbs feed stocks (manure + shavings) ~ 1 Ton dirty bedding/month
Manure Management Top 10 List • Feed management • Production of manure • Collection • Storage • Treatment – Value added • Transfer • Utilization • Record keeping • Emergency plan • Periodic review
Compost Management • Time • Monitoring • Production • Equipment • Monitoring • Production • Patience
Horse Manure U-haul or I-haul 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
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
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 • 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.
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