Horse manure removal from pasture

[sidboswell]

I'm looking for a good method for removing horse manure from a pasture.

I've got a mud lot/barn area where we feed round bales in the winter. I'm going to use a landscape rake to rake up waste hay and manure from this area and make a large compost pile. However, I've got 8 horses on ~ 12 acres of pasture for the other seasons. Long term, I plan on making several divided paddocks and rotate them around, but for now the 12 acres is just one large pasture. I've been reading up on pasture management and watching some educational Youtube videos from extension sources but am still looking for some way to remove the piles from the roughs (the tall grass areas where they aren't eating near their poop piles). Which I would likewise like to compost before using in gardens or spreading once fully composted.

I'm not looking to drag and spread the manure parasites around, but rather remove, compost, then spread. The reason I don't think drag is a good idea, even once I have several rotational paddocks, is that I don't think my summer heat will be enough to reduce the parasite load (see attached as I don't have privileges to post links yet). My wife is an equine veterinarian and when I mentioned dragging she went nutzo.

I've got a stream through my pasture which is a tributary to the East Gallatin River. Therefore, I'm also not looking to deworm unless fecal counts are high enough and would prefer not to use dewormer at all, but will if parasite load requires as such. We do fecal counts quarterly and only have one heavy shedder and some of our equine didn't have any egg count at all. The heavy shedder eats out of the roughs all day anyway, so we'll just manager her as needed.

The pasture is relatively flat. I do have some rocks, but am moving them to piles over time (not a concentrated effort for rock removal, but I hop off the tractor and drop them in the bucket while out and about).

I was thinking the landscape rake might be my best bet. Rake into windrows then use a grapple or even the bucket to scrape them up. However, I'm concerned that the rake might be too rough on my grasses and just tear the crap out of the pasture.

Anybody have a solution which does not involve dragging?

 

[Peter 315]

I use the bucket , york rake , and pick up by hand . Then dump into my compost pile . I have about 100 yards composting now

 

[oosik]

Wheelbarrow and multi-tined pitchfork.

 

[riptides]

Wheelbarrow and multi-tined pitchfork.

Yes.

Ain't no easy solution to creating a pile of, if you don't want to rake or spread.

 

[Sonny580]

With a rake, --You are going to scatter the stuff. ---Only way to actually pick all of it up is to do it like my neighbor does----shovel by hand, walk with wheelbarrow and enjoy the job.
You could build a small clam that is self-propelled with a seat on it that is like small backhoe, only clam instead of bucket, pull wagon behind, pick and swing. Lotta expense but could be made to do the job.
You wont hurt the grass as it needs roughed up so water/air can get to the roots. Horses pack the ground like concrete and will actually kill grass out.
I would just drag a heave harrow over it and call it good.

 

[TractorGuy]

Sounds like a never ending labor of love. X3 on the wheelbarrow and shovel/pitchfork.

My daughter just uses a homemade chain drag and spreads it. They apply Pasture Pro every spring and that controls the weeds pretty good.

 

[brian3180]

I'm sorta in the same boat as you. I made 3 horse runs/paddocks last year and plan on doing more. I just dragged two paddocks yesterday into a pile. Let me know what ideas you come up with.

 

[jeff9366]

24" length / 13 spear Ultra Forks.

LINK: Multi-Spear Ultra Fork

 

[Wagtail]

If you are concerned about dragging and don't want to deal with the time-consuming task of using a manure-fork into a wheelbarrow then I'd suggest a 'manure vacuum'. <Google it>

They have a dump function = into/onto your manure pile.

 

[Birdhunter1]

In my opinion you have too many horses on 12 acres to effectively graze, even on rotation, for manure to break down so your only option is removal.

 

[hosspuller]

If you have a closed herd, parasites are not the problem your wife makes it to be. Determine which horse/s are shedders and separate /worm them until clear. Drag the pastures to keep the forage growing. Otherwise you'll have to fertilize to replace the nutrients removed via manure. With Intensive rotational grazing and irrigation your acreage can support 8 horses during the growing season.

 

[DJ54]

If you have a closed herd, parasites are not the problem your wife makes it to be. Determine which horse/s are shedders and separate /worm them until clear. Drag the pastures to keep the forage growing. Otherwise you'll have to fertilize to replace the nutrients removed via manure. With Intensive rotational grazing and irrigation your acreage can support 8 horses during the growing season.

My Vet told me that same years ago. If you keep them wormed on a regular schedule, then there is no problem with spreading the manure out. Haven't had any problems in 25 years.

 

[zzvyb6]

When I had horses years ago, we would rake it into piles and burn it. No flame, but it just smolders. Even better when there is sawdust in the mix.

 

[Norm W]

If you have a horse, the work just keeps piling up.

 

[sidboswell]

When I had horses years ago, we would rake it into piles and burn it. No flame, but it just smolders. Even better when there is sawdust in the mix.

How did you rake it? Landscape rake?

Sorry for the duplicate post. Just learning the forum....

 

[sidboswell]

If you have a horse, the work just keeps piling up.

Yes it does ....

6 horses, 2 mules ...

 

[Peter 315]

You can pick up some by hand and get a chain harrow for the field and just drag it every couple days...

 

[EddieWalker]

My chickens and ducks love to take apart a pile of horse manure and reduce it down to nothing!!!!!

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

If you have a closed herd, parasites are not the problem your wife makes it to be. Determine which horse/s are shedders and separate /worm them until clear. Drag the pastures to keep the forage growing. Otherwise you'll have to fertilize to replace the nutrients removed via manure. With Intensive rotational grazing and irrigation your acreage can support 8 horses during the growing season.

This is it, right here.

Also...

I would landscape rake it into piles and use the FEL and bucket to haul it off if the Mrs. doesn't like that idea. If she still goes nutzo, then just smile and hand her a shovel, and teach her how to operate a wheel barrow. A few weeks of that and she'll come around to your way of thinking.

Horse people.... sheesh.

 

[Peter 315]

This is it, right here.

Also...

I would landscape rake it into piles and use the FEL and bucket to haul it off if the Mrs. doesn't like that idea. If she still goes nutzo, then just smile and hand her a shovel, and teach her how to operate a wheel barrow. A few weeks of that and she'll come around to your way of thinking.

Horse people.... sheesh.

My wife and the barn girl were picking it up today with a wheelbarrow and forks ..... I was at the gun range...