HORSE FACILITIES 3

Horse Stable Manure Management

anure handling is a necessary most horses are kept in suburban or

M evil of stable management

with horse owners naturally
preferring to ride rather than clean
rural residential settings, it is essen-
tial for horse owners to be good
neighbors. Often, suburban horse
Table of Contents
Stall Waste Production and
Characteristics ..................................... 2
stalls. Making sure that stall cleaning facilities have limited or no acreage
and other manure handling chores for disposal of manure and soiled Environmental Impact ................................ 3
are done efficiently can lead to more bedding. Several alternatives for han- Minimizing Nuisances .......................... 3
time spent with the horse. It is im- dling manure include land disposal,
Preventing Water Pollution ................... 4
portant to recognize that horses pro- stockpiling for future handling, re-
duce large amounts of manure that moval from stable site, and Manure Handling ........................................ 6
quickly accumulates! About 12 tons composting. Some stables have devel- Manure Storage .......................................... 7
of manure and soiled bedding will be oped markets to distribute or sell the
removed annually from each horse stall waste. Whether in a suburban or Construction .......................................... 8
stall (housing a full-time occupant). rural setting, proper manure man- Siting ...................................................... 9
Careful consideration of how this ma- agement is based on simple prin-
Management ........................................ 11
terial is moved and stored is needed ciples that will virtually eliminate en-
for efficient manure management. vironmental pollution impacts and Vegetated Filter Area ................................ 11
Getting the manure out of a stall is nuisances such as Manure Disposal ....................................... 12
only the beginning. A complete ma- odor and flies.
Other Stable Wastes ................................. 14
nure management system involves
collection, storage (temporary or Keeping It Legal ........................................ 14
long-term), and disposal or utiliza- Have a Plan ............................................... 14
tion. This publication provides infor-
mation to stable managers on Summary ................................................... 14
horse manure characteris- Additional Resources ............................... 15
tics and options for its
movement and storage.
Associated issues such as
odor control, fly breed-
ing, and environmental
impact are addressed
in relation to horse
facilities.
Manure manage-
ment practices within
horse facilities deserve
careful attention. Since

C O L L E G E O F A G R I C U LT U R A L S C I E N C E S
A G R I C U LT U R A L R E S E A R C H A N D C O O P E R AT I V E E X T E N S I O N
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Stall Waste Production and each stall, about 60 to 70 pounds of waste to handle. There are several
Characteristics total waste material is removed daily. common stall bedding materials and
This results in about 12 tons of waste each has different characteristics in
Manure includes both the solid and a year per stall with 8.5 tons being handling, field application, suitabil-
liquid portions of waste. Horse ma- manure from a 1,000-pound horse. ity to composting, and acceptance for
nure is about 60% solids and 40% The density of horse manure is sales. Availability and cost of bedding
urine. On average, a horse produces about 63 lb/ft3. Therefore, 51 pounds materials in the stable area will prob-
0.5 ounces of feces and 0.3 fluid of manure would occupy about 0.81 ably have the greatest influence on
ounces of urine per pound of body cubic feet. The soiled stall bedding bedding selection. (See Bedding
weight every day. A 1,000-pound removed with this manure would be Characteristics Tables 1 and 2)
horse produces about 31 pounds of about twice this volume, so the total The manure management needs
feces and 2.4 gallons of urine daily, volume of stall waste removed per day of pastured horses are different than
which totals around 51 pounds of per 1,000 pound horse may be esti- stabled horses. The field-deposited
total raw waste per day (Figure 1). mated as 2.4 ft3. To put all these num- manure is beneficial as it serves as a
Soiled bedding removed with the bers in perspective, annual stall waste fertilizer. Substantial amounts of
manure during stall cleaning may from one horse would fill its 12 ft x manure can accumulate where
account for another 8 to 15 pounds 12 ft stall about 6-feet deep (assumes horses congregate around gates, wa-
per day of waste. The volume of no settling). Plan now for handling terers, favorite shade areas, feeders,
soiled bedding removed equals al- this material! and shelters. These areas should be
most twice the volume of manure re- Barn chores include a daily cleaned weekly for better pasture
moved, but varies widely depending cleanout of manure and soiled bed- management, parasite control, and
on management practices. So for ding, leading to a steady stream of to diminish fly breeding. Manure

Figure 1. Daily manure and stall waste production from a typical 1,000-pound
horse.

Manure Daily

31 lbs feces + 2.4 gal urine = 51 lbs manure

(0.5 ft3) (0.3 ft3) (0.8 ft3)

Stall Waste
Daily

8–15 lbs bedding + 51 lbs manure = 60–70 lbs stall waste/day

(1.6 ft3) (0.8 ft3) (2.4 ft3)
 3

Table 1. Approximate water absorption collected from paddocks and pas- Environmental Impact
of dry bedding materials (typically 10% tures may be added to the stall waste
stockpile. Minimizing Nuisances
moisture).
Horse manure has been consid- For a suburban setting, one potential
[Reproduced with permission from Livestock Waste
Facilities Handbook, MWPS-18.] ered a valuable resource rather than problem includes overcoming mis-
a “waste.” Fertilizer value of the 81⁄ 2 conceptions about the nuisance and
Lbs of water tons of manure produced annually by pollution potential of horse facilities.
absorbed
per lb of a 1,000-pound horse is about 102 Most people enjoy horses, yet neigh-
Material bedding pounds of nitrogen, 43 pounds of bors can be more concerned that
Wheat straw 2.2 P2O5 (phosphorus pentoxide [phos- horses are manure-generating, fly
Hay—chopped, mature 3.0 phate] = 43.7% P), and 77 pounds of and odor machines. A horse facility
Tanning bark 4.0 K2O (potash = 83% K). The nutrient operating with a large number of
content of horse manure can also be horses on limited acreage can inten-
Fine bark 2.5
represented as 12 lb/ton of N, 5 lb/ sify nuisance problems not noticed
Pine chips 3.0
ton of P2O5, and 9 lb/ton of K2O (nu- at small stables. Generally in the
Pine sawdust 2.5 Northeast, 2 to 3 acres of good pas-
trient values for any manure vary
Pine shavings 2.0 widely so these are only guidelines). ture per horse is needed for summer
Hardwood chips, shavings, sawdust* 1.5 Traditionally, nitrate-nitrogen is the feeding purposes. More horses per
Corn shredded stover 2.5 component that presents the most acre are common and successfully
Corn cobs, ground 2.1 pollution potential since it moves managed with supplemental feeding.
Not recommended for horse stall bedding: flax straw, oat
freely in the soil. Most of horse Fortunately, careful management
straw, black cherry, and walnut wood products. The horse manure’s nitrogen is contained in the and attention to detail can overcome
may eat oat straw. urine. potential problems of intensive horse
*Walnut shavings cause founder so all hardwood These values are an average for operations.
shavings should be avoided on the chance that some horse manure (urine and feces). Pests commonly associated with
walnut shavings could be mixed in.
With the large amount of bedding animal agriculture are flies and small
material mixed with manure in typi- rodents, such as mice and rats. Flies
cal stall waste, the fertilizer nutrient and odors are the most common
Table 2. Hay and bedding material value would vary (see Direct Disposal complaints, but proper manure man-
density. section). agement can virtually eliminate farm
[Reproduced with permission from Livestock Waste pests and odors. Figure 2 shows some
Facilities Handbook, MWPS-18.] simple, yet important site-planning
Form Material Density lb/ft3 features to minimize nuisances asso-
ciated with manure management.
Loose Alfalfa 4
Non-legume hay 4 Insects. It is always easier and more
Straw 2–3 effective to prevent fly breeding than
Shavings 9
it is to control adult flies. Eliminat-
ing the habitat required by the lar-
Sand 105
vae to hatch and grow significantly
Baled Alfalfa 8
reduces fly populations. Because flies
Non-legume hay 7 deposit eggs in the top few inches of
Straw 5 moist manure, minimizing moist
Wood shavings 20 manure surface area is one reduction
Chopped Alfalfa 6 strategy. Eggs can hatch in as little as
Non-legume hay 6 7 days under optimal temperature
Straw 7 and moisture conditions.
Fly breeding season
starts when spring
temperatures get
above 65 ° F and
ends at the first
killing frost in
4

the fall. Under ideal breeding condi- ets are excellent feeding grounds for Preventing Water Pollution
tions, it has been calculated that one rodents. Concrete floors and founda- Manure Pile Runoff. Any on-site ma-
fly can produce 300 million offspring tions deter rodent entry as do metal nure storage should not contribute
in about 60 days! Few flies will de- shields on doors and screens over to ground or surface water pollution.
velop if manure is removed from the small openings. Young mice can Leachate is the brownish liquid that
stable site or made undesirable for squeeze through an opening as small has “leached” from the solid pile con-
fly breeding within a maximum 7-day as 1⁄ 4 inch. Overfed, pet cats are not tents and drains off a waste pile bot-
cycle. usually good mousers but a barn cat tom. Not all piles will have leachate;
Keep manure as dry as possible, can deter rodents. Poison bait is not in fact, proper management can
below 50% moisture, to make it less often safe around horse facilities due avoid leachate formation. Stall waste
desirable for egg deposition. Spread to the presence of pets and children; is typically very dry with little
manure out in thin layers during field however, secure bait boxes are leachate. When water or pure ma-
application or field dragging, or keep effective. nure, such as from paddock or arena
out precipitation by roofing or cleanup, is added, some leachate may
Odor. Nuisance odor from the horses
tarping the permanent holding area form. A covered storage area will have
themselves is generally minimal. Of-
and covering any dumpsters or tem- much less leachate than one exposed
fensive odors can be generated from
porary manure storage. Cleaning up to precipitation. Prevent any pile
manure. If manure is allowed to de-
decaying organic material is essential leachate from contaminating
compose without enough oxygen, it
to fly control. Filth flies lay eggs in groundwater or nearby waterways by
will be anaerobic (without oxygen)
any decaying organic matter includ- capturing or diverting it. A concrete
and will usually produce offensive
ing spilled feed, manure left in stall pad with sidewalls is necessary to con-
odors. Aerobic (with oxygen) decom-
corners, grass clippings, and manure tain leachate from very large, uncov-
position, such as composting, does
piles. Store small amounts of manure ered piles. Leachate drainage to a
not produce such odors because the
in containers with tight-fitting lids. treatment system such as a grassed
microbes decomposing the waste use
Cleaning up spilled grain will not infiltration area (see Vegetated Filter
the nutrients and produce odor-free
only suppress filth fly populations but Area sidebar) is necessary to prevent
compounds (water vapor and carbon
will also reduce feed sources for mice runoff to geologically and socially
dioxide, for example) as a by-prod-
and rats. Further information is avail- sensitive areas. Another potential
uct. Anticipate some odor from the
able in Pest Management Recommenda- source of water pollution is from
manure storage area since fresh ma-
tion for Horses (see Additional field-applied manure that is subject
nure is added daily. Place the area
Resources). to surface runoff conditions or is de-
downwind of the stable facility and
Rodents. Clean out trash, dumps, residential areas to minimize odor posited near waterways. Apply stall
piles of old lumber or manure, and problems. Summer breezes are the manure so runoff is minimized;
garbage where rats and mice hide. main concern if winter and summer guidelines are provided in the Direct
Keep weeds trimmed around build- prevailing wind directions are not the Disposal section.
ings to reduce hiding places. Stacked same. Neighbors will be less tolerant Stall Flooring. The type of stall floor-
feedbags create ideal passageways in during warm weather as they are out- ing may determine the potential for
which rodents can eat, hide, and doors more often and have open groundwater pollution from the
breed. Store feed in rodent-proof house windows. stable. Concrete, most asphalt, and
bins, preferably metal or lined with well-packed clay floors are consid-
Aesthetics. Another nuisance associ-
metal or wire mesh. A 30-gallon trash ered impermeable to water flow.
ated with waste management can be
can will hold a 100-pound sack of However, with any stall flooring ma-
the visual aspect of large manure stor-
feed. Feed from these containers terial, there is so much bedding used
age piles. Keep the storage site
rather than from an open bag, and in horse stalls that urine and any liq-
screened from view with vegetation,
clean up any spills immediately. Ar- uid from the manure are soaked up
fencing, and/or by location in a re-
eas under feed bins, bunks, and buck- by bedding. Therefore, free urine in
mote area. A well-designed and man-
aged stall waste facility can be reason- contact with the flooring material is
ably contained and not offensive minimized compared to other live-
visually. Screening the storage site is stock housing. Drains are not neces-
worthwhile because “out of sight is sary in horse stall floors, except un-
out of mind,” if the storage is other- der circumstances noted below.
wise well managed.
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Figure 2. Farm plan showing manure management for minimizing nuisances. wide) is positioned along the front
stall wall in the aisle floor. This gut-
ter would then slope along the aisle
Diversion of any runoff Site Manure Storage toward drains. Horse Stable Flooring
— to grassed area — on high ground Materials and Drainage has more in-
— away from waterways — away from buildings formation.
— not in paddock/pasture
— accessible to stable The floor in an open-sided shed
— visually remote location usually consists of the native material
— downwind of residences found on the building site. Pastured
horses do not spend much time in
the shelter unless encouraged to do
so by feeding or fencing. Groundwa-
ter pollution is minimal because little
Rainy Day manure is deposited in the shed. If
(Sacrifice) horses are fed or confined in this fa-
Paddocks Buckwall cility, then a more durable floor may
be desirable along with a plan to col-
Manure Visual
Storage lect and dispose of the accumulated
Screening
Pad (Fence and/or manure. Packed limestone screen-
Shrubs) ings work very well in open sheds by
providing good drainage and ease of
cleaning.
Rainy-Day Paddocks. Many farm
managers have rainy-day paddocks
Year-round Access

Stable
that are exercise lots with no pasture
Paddocks grass. They are used for turnout dur-
ing inclement weather when horse
Road

traffic on grass pastures would tear

the tur f into a muddy mess.
Ungrassed paddocks also work well
ds
er Win for horses kept on limited acreage or
gS umm when pastures are reseeded, fertil-
ailin
Prev ized, or are rested as part of rota-
tional grazing program. Some man-
House Neighbor
agers use outdoor riding arenas for
House
turnout paddocks. Locate exercise
paddocks on high ground with pro-
vision for cleaning the area of ma-
nure and decreasing runoff potential
(Figure 2). A stone dust footing works
well by decreasing mud, aiding drain-
Floors in wash stalls should have Drains located in the stall should
age, and providing a surface to col-
impermeable and durable floors such be outfitted with a removable cover
lect manure. The rainy-day paddock
as concrete or asphalt. Drains are rec- and located to one side of the stall to
should be surrounded by well-estab-
ommended for wastewater removal to prevent discomfort when the horse
lished sod so that any runoff is cap-
an approved discharge area (see Veg- lies down in the center of the stall.
tured and diverted from adjoining
etated Filter Area sidebar). Some The floor should slope slightly (1
buildings and pastures. Fence sensi-
stalls are frequently washed down and inch per 6 feet is adequate) toward
tive areas around streams and natu-
disinfected, such as foaling stalls or the drain. An alternative is to slope
ral waterways to alleviate further wa-
hospital stalls. When large amounts the stall floor toward the front stall
ter pollution.
of water are used, impervious floors door where a shallow, narrow gutter
and drains are necessary. (about 1-inch deep by 4- to 12-inch
6

Figure 3. Efficient handling of large quantities of bulky material includes straight- Manure Handling
line movement through wide doors to a convenient stockpile area.
Efficient Movement. When handling
large quantities of bulky material,
Convenient travel Exterior loading access straight-line movement through wide
distance to all stalls
doors is the most efficient. Avoid
stable designs that necessitate turns
Hay
Wide
and tight passages for travel from the
bedding stall to manure deposition area.
doors
storage
Straight line Hand labor is most common in horse
movement stall cleaning. To increase worker effi-
Minimize lifting ciency provide plenty of stall light,
minimize lifting, and make the tem-
porary manure stockpile area easily
Plenty of light for Gradual
accessible from all areas of the stable
work efficiency sweeping
turns (Figure 3).
In most stables, stalls are cleaned
Avoid narrow
passages and tight daily and manure temporarily stock-
corners piled in an accessible area near the
barn. To avoid additional handling,
Outdoor light for workers can temporarily stockpile
pre-dawn chores Use gravity where manure in a vehicle, such as a ma-
possible to transfer
stall waste to
nure dumpster or spreader. Once the
storage stall cleaning chores are finished or
the temporary storage is filled, the
stockpile is moved to the long-term
storage location or removed from the
Figure 4. Automated barn cleaner. stable site.
Adapted from Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook
Mechanization can replace some
hand labor of stall cleaning. A com-
mon adaptation is a motorized ve-
Options include: hicle pulling a cart through the work-
— Removable
cover at each ing aisle of the stable. The engine
door (shown) exhaust and the repositioning of the
— Full coverage cart can detract from its ultimate use-
with
removable fulness and become a health hazard
panel at each if the stable is inadequately venti-
door for stall lated. The cart can efficiently trans-
Channelway to be cleaning
left open
port material to areas more remote
from the stable.
A mechanized alternative is the
barn cleaner, which automatically
moves the waste from the stall area
to the temporary stockpile area. A
barn cleaner is a scraper that oper-
ates in a narrow gutter (about 16-
inches wide) and has closely spaced
flights on a chain drive (Figure 4). It
is designed to handle wastes with
high-solids content typical of horse
stall waste. The gutter cleaner can be
located under the floor at the back
 7

of the stall or along the side of an aisle Figure 5. Options for automatic barn cleaner gutter and stockpile placements.
servicing the stalls (Figure 5). The
primary advantage is that minimal
worker effort is required to move stall
waste into the gutter: no lifting, no
Manure removed
moving carts, and no travel to the
through endwall
temporary stockpile area. The disad-
vantages are the initial cost, complex
installation, and maintenance of the
gutter system. Stall gutters must be
Manure removed
covered and bedded over when through sidewall
horses are in the stall. With aisle gut-

Stalls

Stalls
Aisle

Aisle
ters, horses get used to stepping
around them even if gutters are left
uncovered. Safety may become an is-
sue if normally covered aisle gutters
are left open.

Manure Storage
Barn cleaner at aisle- Barn cleaner at back
The stall waste will have to be stored stall wall junction wall of stalls
somewhere whether temporarily or
long term. Keep stored manure in a Figure 6. Simple manure stockpile pad with backstop, which is suitable for a small
fly-tight area during the warm stable. Use a tarp or other cover to minimize leachate production from
months or manage to prevent fly precipitation.
breeding and protect from rainfall
and surface runoff. A well-built stor-
1 or 2 Buck Walls to aid unloading and to
age pad or container aids in waste
screen from view (use pressure-treated wood)
handling and minimizes pollution
potential from the pile. The pad can
Elevated above
be as informal as a level, well-packed surrounds
surface with a wood or masonry back-
stop (Figures 6, 7, 8) or can be a cov- Concrete or
ered structure with impermeable crushed Sod to capture
flooring. If topography permits, a limestone base any liquid
runoff
below-grade storage container is a
less-objectionable structure as it
keeps the manure contained to a
Figure 7. Manure pad slope and drainage. Drain and gutter are recommended in all
small area, is out of view, can be cov-
ered, and is easily filled using gravity
cases, especially if the manure stack will not be protected from rainfall. Leachate
to dump waste into it (Figure 9). One (effluent) must be directed to a storage tank and/or suitable method of disposal.
side should be at ground level for Reproduced with permission from Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook, MWPS-18.
emptying. Longer-term manure stor- 4" min rise to
ages are often more substantial struc- divert runoff Manure
tures than short-term storages. Large away from
quantities of manure require a stor- stack
age designed with wide door(s), a
high roof, and strong construction to EFW
3 4

allow cleanout with power equip-

ment. Construction features are 1/8"/ft
10' max slope
shown in Figure 10. Additional details entrance toward
of large manure storages are available drain Drain Gutter
8

Figure 8. Bucking wall options. Table 3. Minimum separation distances

Note: These drawings are general representations and are not meant as construction drawings. A site-specific design is commonly recommended for composting
recommended in all cases. If soil backfill is to be placed behind the wall, a more economical wall may be possible. and manure-handling activities.
Adapted from Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook, MWPS-18. Source On-Farm Composing Handbook, NRAES-54.

Sensitive area Minimum

8" concrete wall, reinforce with separation
#5 bars, 12" o.c. both ways distance (feet)
Property line 50 – 100
3'–4'
Residence or place of business 200 – 500
Space #5 bar L anchors, 12" o.c.
Private well or other potable 100 – 200
water source
Wetlands or surface water 100 – 200
(streams, pond, lakes)
Min 6' concrete Subsurface drainage pipe or 25
drainage ditch discharging
to a natural water course
Water table (seasonal high) 2–5
8" concrete block wall, fill core Bedrock 2–5
with concrete and cap with 4"
concrete, reinforce with #5 bars,
12" o.c. both ways
3' max
Space #5 bar L anchors, 12" o.c. in the Livestock Waste Facilities Hand-
book (see Additional Resources). Ma-
nure for commercial pick-up can be
stored in a container or dumpster.
With any large or small manure stor-
age, a tarp or other cover is recom-
mended to minimize leachate pro-
duction from rainfall.
6" x 6" treated pole, 4' o.c.
2" x 6" tongue and groove
Construction of the Manure Storage
3'–4'
pressure-treated wood Size the storage for about 180 days
of long-term storage in cold climates.
This provides winter storage when
fields are not accessible and for sum-
mer when crops may be present. An
estimated waste production of 2.4 ft3
Embed pole at least 4' per day per horse would require 432
ft3 of storage for each stalled horse.
Wood
Base sizing figures on estimates that
reflect the specific stable’s manage-
ment. It is better to have a slightly
larger storage facility than one that
is too small. Whether constructing a
simple manure pad or more formal
storage structure, some common
practices will minimize labor and
make nuisance control easier.
Slope entrance ramps upward
with a minimum 10:1 slope (Figure
7) to keep out surface water. Provide
a rough-surfaced, load-out ramp at
 9

least 40-feet wide if commercial-sized Figure 9. Manure storage container uses topography and gravity for ease of
agricultural machinery will be used waste-handling chores. Two options are shown for manure drop-off protection.
to load and unload the storage. A
smaller width of 20 feet is acceptable
for smaller farm and garden tractors,
leaving enough room to maneuver
the tractor during unloading. Angle
grooves across the ramp to drain rain-
water. Install a 4-inch-thick concrete
floor and ramp over 6 inches of
coarse gravel or crushed rock (up to
1 1⁄ 2-inch aggregate size). Two inches
of sand can replace gravel as fill un-
der the concrete when placed over
undisturbed or compacted soil.
Smaller or private stables can suffice
with well-packed stone dust. Bucking
walls (backstop) are recommended
to aid in unloading; options are pro-
vided in Figure 8.
If liquids such as unabsorbed
urine, snowmelt, and rain are to be
stored, slope the floor toward a
closed end. The floor may be sloped
to one or both sides, with openings
on the low side to a gutter or surface Figure 10. Features of large, roofed, solid-manure storage.
drain (Figure 11). Unabsorbed liq-
uids may be diverted to a gently
sloped, grassed area that acts as a veg-
Engineered roof trusses
etated filter (Figure 12). Additional
problems of handling separated liq-
uids may make use of roofs or extra
bedding a better solution. A large, Timber wall
unroofed storage (such as those serv- and post
option
ing multiple stables at a track) may
need floor drains connected to un-
derground corrosion-resistant 8-inch Concrete wall option
pipes to carry away liquids. Provide End access
removable grills for periodic clean-
ing, or start the stack with 6 inches
of absorbent material such as wood
or bark chips to absorb some liquids
and permit drainage.

Siting the Manure Storage

The waste stockpile areas must be ac-
cessible to trucks or tractors in all
weather conditions. A location on
high ground will usually provide firm
soil well above groundwater, forming
a suitable base for the storage facility
and access road. Keep manure away
from building materials, as corrosive
10

chemicals in the manure can damage Figure 11. Covered storage with leachate collection for wet materials.
them. Do not store manure where
runoff or floodwater will cause nutri-
Roof gutter
ents to enter nearby waterways. Table
3 lists distances to separate the ma-
Keep clean
nure storage from sensitive areas
water and
such as nearby water sources or resi- leachate from
dences. Do not store manure in pad- mixing
docks due to increased parasite ex-
posure for the horses. Locate storages
downwind from both the farm and Leachate to
holding pond or
neighbors’ residences. Consider the Leachate collecting channel Floor slope 2–4% treatment system
aesthetics of the storage placement to channel
so that it can be screened from view
(Figure 2). Use natural or manmade
screening such as a hedgerow or
Figure 12. Grassed filter area for treating manure storage leachate. Use a site-
fence to improve the aesthetics and
specific design of the vegetated filter based on leachate production and site
help contain any odors. Remember
characteristics.
that for many perceived nuisances,
out of sight can be out of mind for
neighbors. Provide for easy filling of
the storage with a tractor-mounted
manure loader or scraper elevator
stacker unit. Unload waste with a trac-
tor mounted bucket.
Good drainage at any manure
storage site is absolutely necessary.
The site may be graded to divert sur-
face runoff without creating erosion.
Poor drainage results in saturated
conditions leading to muddy access
and pools of dirty water. Divert any
surface drainage water and runoff
from nearby roofs away from the pile
area. On-Farm Composting Handbook,
NRAES-54 has details of surface wa-
ter diversion and site grading. Many
stables and indoor riding arenas do
not have gutters and downspouts,
causing substantial runoff from these
buildings. A gutter and downspout
system will collect and divert water
away from the building foundation
and bypass the manure storage. Tarps
or a roof over the manure storage can
minimize rainwater entry if leachate
containment becomes a problem. Do
not allow polluted runoff to pool as
mosquitoes and flies will breed in the
moist area.
 11

Vegetated Filter Area

A grassed, gently sloped area may be
used as a filter and infiltration area for
wastewater (Figure 12). Wastewater is
piped to the filter area and spread
evenly across the top portion of the
filter. As it flows through the soil
profile and down the slight slope,
biological activity and adsorption in
the soil matrix removes waste
materials. Most biological activity
occurs in the topsoil layer where
aerobic (using oxygen) activity
provides for odor-free treatment.
Obviously, not all soils are equally
suitable as some provide rapid
infiltration for limited treatment while
others are rather impermeable and
Management of the Stored Manure season (some are killed by cold tem- provide surface run-off. Frozen soil
peratures), and their activity depends will not act as a proper filter. Get
With proper management, flies and professional help from your Natural
odors from manure storage can be on manure conditions, with dry ma-
Resources Conservation Service,
minimal. The major deterrent to fly nure best. Wet manure decreases
County Conservation District, for
breeding in horse operations is to wasp effectiveness. example, for proper filter sizing and
keep the manure as dry as possible. When cleaning out the storage, design.
Other wet organic material sites also leave a 4-inch DRY pad of manure
over the bottom of the storage area Vegetated filter area is a relatively
need to be removed. Remove manure low-cost farm wastewater treatment
from the farm at least every 7 days to provide a stock of fly parasites and
system. They can be variable in cost,
during fly breeding season or oper- predators. Manure removal can be
approaching that of a septic system. In
ate a properly managed composting staggered to leave one section per size, one rule of thumb is to provide
facility. week to supply fly predators and para- about 10-square feet of vegetated
Add new stall waste to the pile as sites. Remove a winter’s stockpile of filter for each gallon of wastewater
a large block of material to minimize manure during cold weather (<65°F) being handled. The spreading device
fresh manure surface exposure. This before fly breeding begins. at the head of the filter strip is
reduces the area of odor volatiliza- important for establishing even flow to
tion and access to moist manure for minimize short-circuiting wastewater
through the area. A settling tank
fly breeding. Avoid dumping new
before the filter strip will be needed if
material on top of a pile where it
manure solids are allowed into the
spreads out and falls away down the wastewater.
sides creating a large fresh, wet ma-
nure surface area promoting flies and These filter areas need to be well
odor. Flies lay eggs in the top 2 inches vegetated before put to use. Keep
animals off the filter strip, as the
of moist manure.
frequent wet soil conditions lead to
Naturally occurring fly predators,
destruction of the sod cover by horse
tiny, non-stinging wasps and para- grazing and exercise. If the storage
sites, are beneficial to the manure facility will hold the manure from more
storage. Avoid indiscriminate use of than a few horses, the volume and
larvicides and other pesticides that strength of the leachate may be too
kill predator wasps and parasites. great to send directly to a vegetated
Depending on the species, wasps filter. In that case, the liquid should be
have 10- to 28-day egg and larva collected in a tank and be dosed to the
stages. Wasps are active during fly vegetated filter every 3 or more days,
or be irrigated on pasture. In any case,
a site-specific design is recommended.
12

Manure Disposal Figure 13. Proper application with a tractor and spreader provides a thin layer of
stable waste over the soil to improve manure drying and fertilizer application
Direct Disposal. Direct disposal in-
along with decreased fly breeding.
volves the on-farm use of the stall
waste via field application. Proper Adapted from On-Farm Composting Handbook, NRAES-54.

field application demands equipment

such as a tractor and spreader so that
the manure is applied in a thin layer
over the soil (Figure 13). The thin
layer is essential for drying the ma-
nure to discourage fly breeding and
also spreads the nutrients for more
optimal plant use. Weekly spreading
in the summer will disrupt fly breed-
ing and egg development cycles. To
minimize pollution from runoff, do
not spread manure on frozen ground
or near waterways. It may not be pos-
sible to spread manure each week,
year-round, in which case the manure
must be stockpiled. In cold climates,
figure on 180 days of stockpile stor-
age space. Manure application may
be limited to preplanting and
postharvest dates for cultivated fields. Field application is based on fer- Contract Disposal. Another manure
Fields may not be accessible due to tilizer needs of the crop or pasture disposal option is to contract with a
heavy snow accumulation or soil that grass through soil sampling. The ap- hauler who will remove the waste
is too wet to support equipment proximate fertilizer value of manure from the stable facility. The waste can
traffic. from bedded horse stalls (46% dry be used in a commercial composting
Spreading manure in thin layers matter) is 4 lb/ton ammonium-N, 14 operation or for other functions
has been thought to reduce parasite lb/ton Total N, 4 lb/ton P2O5 (phos- where the waste disposal is the re-
numbers by desiccating the eggs. This phate), and 14 lb/ton K2O (potash). sponsibility of the hauler. Dumpsters
does hold true under dry and ex- Fertilizer value of manure at 20% are positioned at the stable for tem-
treme cold or hot conditions. Under moisture without bedding is approxi- porary stall waste storage (no trash
the moist conditions encountered in mately 12-5-9 lb/ton (N-P2O5-K2O). or garbage); a full dumpster is re-
the northeastern United States, the Nutrient values vary widely so use placed with an empty one. Dumpsters
practice of spreading manure in thin these values as guidelines and have should be sized so that the contents
layers on pasture is being questioned the manure analyzed if more specific are emptied at least weekly during the
(as far as parasite control is con- data is needed. The amount of or- fly-breeding season. Place the
cerned; the other nutrient, aesthetic, ganic nitrogen mineralized (released dumpster in a convenient location
and fly egg desiccation characteristics to crops) during the first cropping where barn waste can be dumped
remain). Recent evidence suggests season after application of horse into it and trucks can access and
that spreading thin layers of manure manure is about 0.20. Organic nitro- empty the dumpster during all
on pastures can enhance grazing gen must be released through min- weather (Figure 9). A concrete tank
horses’ parasite exposure by spread- eralization before plants can use it. or pad is useful to contain any
ing viable parasites over a larger area. About 20% of the organic N from dumpster leachate.
The recommendation is to leave the horse manure is available to the pas- A less-formal “contract” disposal
manure piles in clumps and pick ture grass the year of application. is to interest neighbors in free gar-
them up for disposal outside the pas- Organic N released during subse- den organic material. The key is to
ture area. quent seasons is usually about 50% locate the organic fertilizer enthusi-
(second year), 25% (third year), and asts. Owners of small stables have had
13% (fourth year) of the first year success with newspaper ads and locat-
mineralization. ing “free” bagged manure at
 13

Figure 14. Simple process of a Figure 15. A front-end loader (pictured) or specialized compost turning equipment
composting stall waste pile. is used to turn compost in professionally managed composting facilities.
Reproduced with permission from On-Farm Composing Handbook, NRAES-54.

Heat
Water CO2
Warm Warm
air air

O2 O2
Cool air Cool air

curbside. Empty feed sacks filled with courses and nurseries provide an Compost microbes live most com-
horse manure are a useful package outlet for truckloads of compost. fortably at certain temperatures
for manure distribution. Pathogens and fly eggs are killed (130–140oF) and moisture levels (50–
by composting’s high temperature. 60%). They need oxygen (5–15%),
By-Product: Compost. An alternative
Parasite eggs can be killed with a 30- so waste pile aeration is necessary.
to “disposing” of horse manure is to
minute exposure to 140°F that will The more carefully these biological
compost it into a by-product of the
occur on the inside of a properly factors are controlled, the more so-
operation. Composting occurs natu-
composted pile. These temperatures phisticated the compost facility be-
rally if stall waste decomposes in the
are not reached on the pile exterior, comes. It takes 2 weeks to 6 months
presence of oxygen and is kept rela-
which is one reason the pile is peri- to produce finished compost under
tively moist, above 50% moisture con-
odically mixed and turned so that professionally managed conditions.
tent (Figure 14). The microbes that
exterior material is incorporated into The benefit of faster production is
decompose the bedding and manure
the middle for full composting. Stall that less space is needed for compost
occur naturally in stall waste. In fact,
waste composts well in piles that are processing and storage. Large, com-
commercial composters and mush-
at least 3-feet square by 3-feet deep. mercial compost facilities provide
room substrate preparation facilities
Smaller piles will not retain enough near-ideal conditions for composting
often seek straw-bedded horse stall
heat to reach the proper composting to speed the process and minimize
waste. Composting provides a mate-
temperature. space. A good and thorough guide
rial that is more readily marketable
There is a trade off between the to On-Farm Composting is available
than raw stall waste. Finished com-
complexities of composting facilities (see Additional Resources).
post is partially degraded manure
versus the amount of time to produce Intensive composting will be an-
and is more organically stable, pre-
finished compost. For example, static other daily operation at the stable.
senting less of a pollution threat. Its
pile composting, which is informally This responsibility may not be of in-
finer texture, high organic matter
practiced at most stables, involves terest to all stable managers. The sale
content, and fertilizer value make it
simply piling the stall waste and let- or disposal of the compost must also
desirable as a garden soil amend-
ting it “compost” for 6 months to 2 be considered. Marketing and poten-
ment. Composting reduces the vol-
years. In contrast, with more ideal tial liability becomes important if off-
ume of waste by 40% to 70%. Horse
conditions and intensive manage- farm disposal is desired. Having a
manure, with its associated bedding,
ment, the same stall waste could be ready outlet for compost will make
is almost per fectly suited for
composted in about 4 weeks. Inten- the facility and time investment more
composting because it has appropri-
sive management of a composting worthwhile. With limited hauling, a
ate levels of nitrogenous material and
operation entails daily monitoring centralized cooperative facility could
carbon-based bedding material. (The
and periodic (perhaps weekly) atten- be managed for several farms with
carbon:nitrogen ratio of stall waste is
tion to mixing the raw ingredients, more effective process labor and
20:1 to 30:1.) Stables have success-
forming the pile, and perhaps turn- marketing of compost being addi-
fully given away, or even sold, bulk
ing the compost (Figure 15). tional benefits.
and bagged horse compost. Golf
14

Other Stable Wastes Keeping It Legal Fact sheets of environmental in-

formation are available from the
Waste management is not confined Among state and federal agencies, Pennsylvania Department of Environ-
to horse stall waste at a large facility. there are various regulations for pro- mental Protection (DEP) Web page:
Keep trash separate from manure tecting environmental quality that www. dep.state.pa.us (choose Sub-
and soiled bedding for disposal. Re- are aimed at manure management. jects, then Water Management). A
cyclable materials are also kept sepa- Often categories of livestock (includ- local source of conservation-minded
rate for collection. Medical waste ing horse) operations are defined assistance for manure management
(e.g., syringes) usually has special dis- that relate to their potential to cause planning and design are county Con-
posal requirements. Fertilizers and environmental harm. When stable servation District and Natural Re-
pesticides and their containers some- facilities and manure storage struc- sources Conservation Service offices.
times have disposal restrictions. Hu- tures are properly designed, con- Check the phone directory Blue
man waste from a bathroom requires structed, and managed, the manure Pages under County Government
a septic system or connection to mu- is an important and environmentally and United States Government (Ag-
nicipal sewer. Gray water, such as safe source of nutrients and organic riculture), respectively.
shower and sink water, may also go matter. Proper land application of
to the septic/sewer unless it is needed manure will not cause water quality
for groundskeeping or other uses problems. The intent of regulations Have a Plan
where high-quality water is not nec- is to ensure that economically practi-
It is recommended that managers of
essary. A grassed filter area may be cal techniques are used in all aspects large stables (10 or more horses) pre-
used to treat wastewater from the of manure handling. All farms are pare a written manure management
stable’s horse wash stalls, tack area, required to properly handle manure
plan. This is a useful tool for the op-
laundry, showers, and feed room. in accordance with Pennsylvania’s erator and shows that a proactive
Drainage and surface runoff from Clean Streams Law, but formal nutri- stance has been taken if methods of
pavement, building roofs, ent (manure) management plans are
manure handling are questioned.
unvegetated paddocks, and exercise generally not required of all farms. Keep it simple but address exactly
areas need to be managed. This is The Pennsylvania Nutrient Man- how and where manure is stored and
especially important for areas where agement Act is aimed at higher den-
disposed. Address leachate manage-
manure is allowed to accumulate be- sity livestock farms to address water ment and manure storage siting for
tween rainfall or thawing events. Run- quality concerns. The law defines the reducing water pollution. Address
off should not enter natural water- regulated community as those animal
water run-on and run-off from the
ways where it could increase nutrient production facilities having more stable and storage site. Even prepar-
level of the water or contribute to than two Animal Equivalent Units ing a simple handwritten plan is ben-
increased erosion. Pick up excess (aeu) per acre. An animal equivalent
eficial in thinking through how to
manure from paddocks and exercise unit is 1,000 pounds of animal, or efficiently handle tons of manure and
areas and add to manure handling about one horse or four market- soiled bedding.
system. weight hogs, etc. Although most
horse facilities would be smaller in
total animal equivalent units than the Summary
currently targeted Concentrated Ani-
Making manure management a more
mal Operations (CAO), stable own-
thoughtful and efficient chore ben-
ers should be aware of the regulatory
efits both the horse owner and their
emphasis being placed on environ-
neighbors. Time spent planning for
mental stewardship. (Currently, a
proper and easy manure disposal will
CAO has more than 1,000 aeu or
pay back in many more hours spent
more than 301 aeu located in special
enjoying the horses through de-
protection watersheds). Be aware
creased time and effort in stall clean-
that many suburban horse farms are
ing and manure disposal chores.
considered higher density livestock
Maintaining good neighbor relations
farms, according to the Nutrient
through fly and odor minimization
Management Act guidelines, since
will assure the compatibility of horse
they have more than two animal
stables within the neighborhood.
equivalent units per acre.
 15

Additional Resources Acknowledgements

Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook. The authors would like to thank the
MWPS-18. 1985. 2nd edition. MidWest following experts in manure manage-
Plan Service. Iowa State University, ment and equine sciences for their
Ames, IA 50011. (515) 294-4337, fax outstanding technical advice offered
(515) 294-9589. www. mwpshq.org. during review of this manuscript:
On-Farm Composting Handbook. Robert Graves, professor of agricul-
NRAES-54. 1992. R. Rynk, Editor. tural and biological engineering;
Natural Resources, Agriculture and Patricia Comerford, instructor in
Engineering Service, 152 Riley-Robb dairy and animal science; Timothy
Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-5701. (607) Murphy, conservation engineer,
255-7654. www.nraes.org Natural Resources Conservation Ser-
vice, Pennsylvania; and Daniel Greig,
Pest Management Recommendations for
district manager, Chester County
Horses. P. Kaufman, D. Rutz and C.
(PA) Conservation District.
Pitts. Penn State Cooperative Exten-
sion, University Park, PA.
The Pennsylvania State University Visit Penn State’s College of Agricul-
Agricultural and Biological Engineer- tural Sciences on the Web: http://
ing Extension www.cas.psu.edu
246 Agricultural Engineering Building Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension,
University Park, PA 16802 and resident education programs are funded in part by
Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and
(814) 865-7685, Fax: (814) 863-1031 the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
WEB SITE: http://www.abe.psu.edu/
This publication is available from the Publications Distribution
Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural
Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. For
Prepared by Eileen Wheeler, associ- information telephone 814-865-6713.
ate professor of agricultural and bio- Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no
logical engineering, and Jennifer endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied.
Smith Zajaczkowski, senior research
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of
technologist in agricultural and bio- Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S.
logical engineering Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature. T. R.
Alter, Director of Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State
University.

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