Best Management Practices for Horse Farms

Best Management Practices are simple management strategies and tools that can help decrease potential negative effects horses' have on the water and land.

In recent years water has become a very serious issue locally, as well as statewide. We are not alone, as most states will or already do face the same problem. Everyone has a part in protecting our potable water resources to ensure clean water today and for future generations.

Due to the concentrated number of horses in our county, the equine industry poses a higher risk for negatively impacting the water.

HOW DO HORSES AND HORSE FARMS IMPACT THE WATER NEGATIVELY?

1. Manure and urine – manure is made up of many different components, Nitrogen being one of them.  Excess amounts of N+ can:

• Increase algae growth, which then can harm and kill fish and aquatic life
  
  
• Make the water undrinkable for humans and animals when excessive levels are found in the water
  
  
• Leach into our ground water. Florida, in particular, has a ground with little ability to hold this excess, so the rest goes to the water below

2. Over or improper fertilizer handling – adding too much, or the wrong type of fertilizer and fertilizing soil with an improper pH adds additional N+, as well as other potential harmful nutrients to the soil.  THIS CAN ALSO WASTE YOUR MONEY!

3. Overstocking the land – this leads to overgrazing which will potentially destroy good vegetation: 

• Without grass, the land has no ability to take up the N+, so all of it goes straight to the aquifer
  
  
• Little or no vegetation increases soil erosion, thereby increasing sediment in the aquifer
  
  
• It decreases property value and can also decrease usefulness of the land due to erosion, but it will increase the money needed by farm for upkeep
  
  
• Potentially increases chance of sand colic
  
  

WHY ARE BMPs ESSENTIAL TO PROPER FARM MANAGEMENT?

1. They help to decrease or eliminate harm to water:

• By using these simple techniques properly, you decrease or eliminate your farm's negative impact on the environment 
  
  
• Each impact adds up to big difference.

• More grass in the pastures leads to better grazing conditions, which logically improves nutrients being taken up by horse
  
  
• It may help decrease worm and insect infestation, thereby reducing medical issues for the animals, reducing the money spent on medical issues
  
  

• Helps improve business when a beautiful appearance is given to the farms
  
  
• A smartly run business helps to sell itself-this counts in the horse industry

AN OVERVIEW OF BMPS

1. No stockpiling of manure in sinkholes/excavated mines or pits:

• Any dumping in sinkholes only increases excess N+ ability to reach aquifer.
  
  

2. Proper fertilization of pastures:

• 50lbs Nitrogen per acre generally recommended rate for pastures. Rates are higher when growing to hay
  
  

• Saves the farm money by only using correct item/amount
  
  
• Ensures proper amounts/rates that can be best taken up by the grass
  
  
• Should soil test every 2-3 years to find out correct needed nutrients and soil pH
  
  

4. Proper spreading of manure or disposal via hauling away or composting: (use 1 horse-per-spreadable acre as a guide.)

• Spreading manure/shaving will be acceptable; must be careful with application rates
  
  
• Composting on-site is an excellent way to decrease manure's harmful effects AND increase numerous benefits to soil:
  
  

• It makes an excellent soil amendment
  
  
• It allows soil to need less water
  
  
• It is an excellent slow-release fertilizer
  
  

SPECIFICS FOR BMPS

• Proper stocking rates of pastures (UF recommends 1:1- 2 1/ 2  ratio as a minimum, may need as much as five acres per horse for pastures); horse breed, grass type, soil base, stocking amounts all factors for not allowing pastures to become overgrazed: maintain grass levels of at least 3 inches
  
  
• Use proper pasture rotation to allow grass time to rest and regrow
  
  
• Where applicable, plant additional seed and winter rye to help maintain pasture thickness
  
  
• Cut larger pastures into smaller ones to allow for more uniform grazing
  
  

2. Develop a plan for manure handling:

• Make sure that manure spreading on paddocks is within acceptable rates (One spreadable acre per horse)
  
  
• Either composting manure on-site or removing to an environmentally-friendly alternative is best
  

PROPER FUTURE FARM MANAGEMENT: LOCAL AND STATE LAWS

• Adopted in 2009
  
  
• Excessive manure stockpiling now prohibited; piles must get picked up a maximum of every 3 months
  
  
• Fertilization maximums will also now be enforced;  50 pounds of Nitrogen per acre is the maximum which may be applied to pastures

2. State Legislation Regarding CAFO's (DEP)

•  Concentrated animal feeding operation
  
  
• Any facility housing animals 45 days or more must have groundwater permitting
  
  
• Initially for 500 horses or more; will affect 150-499 horses in future
  
  
• ANY facility seen to be a Nitrogen Emitter by DEP can have legislation enforced upon them