The official newsletter of Horses for Clean Water, http://www.horsesforcleanwater.com
Published on the 10th of each month by Alayne Blickle, Director of Horses for Clean Water

	Manure Happens! T-Shirt Priced at $17.97 Take a look at this month’s featured HCW product. And don’t forget to browse our CafePress store and find something that will show your support for HCW programs and the environmentally sensitive horsekeeping message!

	In this issue... Message from Alayne: Small Packages Farm Focus: How the Hare’s Lair Counters the High Cost of Horse Bedding Grasses, Grazing and Horse Health: Tips for Safergrass Livestock Mortality Disposal Western Tanager Free Pasture Weed Classes in King County Educational Events

Message from Alayne: Small Packages

Good things come in small packages—or at least that’s what I’m hoping. We just got a new horse but I feel like I should be referring to him as a pony, because technically that’s how small he is.

Reining horses are dramatically smaller than their dressage and hunter cousins, perhaps because their linage is derived from working horses such as cutters. Small often works well for a horse that has to do quick movements, like turning back a cow. It allows them to be handier and not let “bulk” to get in the way of a swift move such as a spin or rollback. Felix, our new guy, is only 3 years old, so even though he will always be small he’s got a couple more years to still develop and fill out.

As many of you know, it’s very exciting having a new horse; it feels like a Christmas present that we are slowly unwrapping. We’ve only had him a few weeks but from what we’ve ascertained, he’s calm, easygoing and very sweet. That’s saying a lot for a 3 year old. Plus, he seems to have lots of reining talent. For a young horse, he’s actually had a great deal of solid training with a few of the industry’s top reining trainers. A measure of the quality of his training is in his attitude and good health; he is relaxed, trusting and happy. That tells me he’s not been pushed mentally or physically beyond what he can handle and that he likes his job.

We’re not sure if he’ll be for me or for Matt to show; that has yet to be determined. But so far, Matt’s looking pretty good on our new pony—and he’s grinning from ear to ear when he’s done. I’ll keep you posted on Felix’s progress.

Happy trails!
Alayne

Have a new horse story you’d like to share with Alayne? E-mail her.

Farm Focus: How the Hare’s Lair Counters the High Cost of Horse Bedding

	FREE TOUR at this Woodinville, WA Friesian horse farm on Saturday, May 12th TWO TIME CHOICES 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon OR 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For registration and directions e-mail Alayne.

by Alan Shank, Snohomish Conservation District Farm Planner

Have you noticed that the cost of sawdust, shavings and wood pellets have been going up lately? Or that they are becoming hard to find? You’re not alone. Whether you keep your horse at home or run a commercial stable, escalating bedding prices are adding to your expense of owning a horse.

What’s causing it? According to Doug Goebel of Gem Shavings in Auburn, WA, the national new housing market is in a slump. Lumberyards have a large inventory of cut lumber to sell, but fewer buyers. The result is a major reduction in the amount of boards being cut and therefore a shortage of sawdust and shavings.

Mr. Goebel said a few Western Washington lumber mills have shut down while others are running on a shortened workweek. To save money, the remaining mills have switched from heating their kilns with natural gas to burning sawdust. Industries such as particleboard manufacturers in Oregon as well as agriculture are competing for remaining scarce lumber byproducts. Add this scarcity to increased fuel and shipping costs and bedding prices go up.

Solutions to the high price of bedding vary depending on barn design, whether you’re caring for a couple of horses or a large stable, and management style. Neal and Serena Friedman, owners of two 1,500 pound Friesian horses near Woodinville, have been experimenting with bedding alternatives in an effort to reduce the waste they have to store and handle.

Neal set out to solve a problem of a very slow composting rate that caused a shortage of waste storage space. First, he relocated the compost bins closer to the horse barn. Immediately this reduced his time and labor. Next he consistently covered the compost bins with tarps. Keeping the waste from becoming saturated with rain accelerates the rate of composting. That reduced the volume of stored waste and largely eliminated runoff from the compost piles. However, there was still too much waste material for the size of his compost bins.

His next move was to switch from “white” shavings to wood pellets. “Just switching to pellets reduced my barn’s total output by about one third to one half, and it also made the stall cleaning chore go much faster,” said Neal. “It’s easier to separate poop from pellets and sawdust than from shavings.” This saved even more time and labor.

Neal is careful to collect only manure and wet bedding from the stalls and he keeps them separate, composting them in different bins. The result is one bin with quick composting manure and another bin with slower composting bedding. He plans to use the bedding waste as mulch along fencerows.

To reduce odors, Neal lets the stall mats dry before adding more bedding. He first applies zeolite (a mineral that absorbs odors) to the mats where the horses urinate, then puts a layer of wood pellets over that, and another dash of zeolite on the top of the pellets. He prefers granular zeolite to the powder because it’s less dusty.

Neal’s stalls open into his sacrifice paddock. “My newest experiment is letting the horses have access to a small run outside each stall,” he said. He described the improvement in his stalls as dramatic. “They’re pristine and my use of wood pellet bedding is nearly zero.”

Neal found out that neither horse poops or pees in his stall if given a choice. The stalls continue to contain food, water and salt. He still collects manure from the paddock, but the paddock is gravel and hog fuel, so he gets 95% manure with just a little hog fuel. “The horses prefer to be outside. Even in the rain or snow they stand or sleep outside, only going into their stalls to eat or drink,” said Neal.

Proper flooring in the stalls, such as rubber-like stall mats, is required for Neal’s system to work. Horses will urinate on earthen floors and concrete does not give proper cushioning or traction for their feet.

Some horsekeeping facilities may not be able to duplicate Neal’s system very easily; for instance, if you have horse stalls that do not directly access paddocks or if you operate a large commercial stable where customers demand a certain type of bedding for its look, smell and texture appeal. While some parts of Neal’s solutions may not be an option for your farm, conservative use of bedding, properly covering waste storage facilities with tarps, and locating compost bins for ease of use are things all horse owners can do to reduce their bedding expense.

If you’d like to learn more or see it for yourself, Neal and Serena are hosting two farm tours on Saturday, May 12th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon and again from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 pm. The tours are sponsored by Horses for Clean Water and the Snohomish Conservation District and funded by the Department of Ecology. You’ll be able to glean more details from Neal’s bedding experiments as well as many other best management practices, including pasture management, mud management, gutter design, drainage, fly control, barn lighting and wildlife enhancement.

To register and receive directions to this FREE event contact Alayne Blickle of Horses for Clean Water at 425-432-6116 or e-mail.

	Grasses, Grazing and Horse Health: Tips for Safergrass from the April 21st, 2007 Lecture by Katy Watts of Safergrass.org If you missed the Safergrass lecture sponsored by the King and Snohomish Conservation Districts on April 20th and 21st we have tried to capture some of the take-home messages here for you in an effort to summarize key concepts. The horse industry is struggling to develop a better understanding of the issues surrounding sugars, non-structural carbohydrates and grasses for horses. Over the years, pasture grasses and related grazing principles have been developed for horses through the cattle and sheep industries. This means we have grass species with extremely high levels of sugars and carbohydrates—good for fattening up animals bound for milk or meat production and early age slaughter but NOT GOOD for horses which are athletes, intended to live 25 plus years. In horses, “fat” is not healthy and the related high sugar and non-structural carbohydrate issues in hay and grass may explain why we are now seeing so many overweight individuals with metabolic disorders and insulin resistance problems. The way we've been grazing horses and the types of pastures we've developed may be contributing to very serious horse health issues. If your horse is overweight or already has a metabolic disorder you may be looking for some ways to reduce sugars and carbohydrates. Or, you may want to watch your horse’s waistline and do your best to keep him/her in good health. Here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts that can help to reduce the sugar and carb load in your horse’s diet. Remember, seek help from a veterinarian and/or and other professionals experienced in this area especially if you have an at-risk individual. Also, keep in mind that for any changes you institute you need to give the situation time in order to evaluate its effectiveness. And, any changes in diet need to be done gradually in order to give the horse’s gut time to adjust. Do’s: Night grazing may be very useful. The best time to graze while gaining maximum benefit of forage without adding extra fat on your horse is 3:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. At this time pasture plants have used up most of the accumulated sugar that built up during the day. Since there’s not many of us that want to set our alarm clocks to 2:45 a.m., what works for some horse owners is to turn horses out as late as possible in the evening (say, 10:00 p.m.), bringing them in the next morning before heading off to work. Another alternative to night grazing is turning horses out on pasture in the early morning (say 6am) and bringing them in by about 10:00 a.m. when plant production of sugar becomes high once again. Pastures are liable to be healthiest for horses (i.e. lowest in sugars) during the active growing season when plants are green and not stressed (i.e. brown). Therefore, graze horses during the active growing seasons (spring and early summer) and limit grazing of dried out and brown pastures as they can be very high in sugars. Shady pastures and cloudy days will cause lower carbohydrate and sugar levels in grasses. Rotating horses to shady pastures may be an option for high-risk individuals. Easy-keepers on pasture may need a grazing muzzle, a device that fastens on a horse’s head and only allows the horse to eat through a very small hole in the muzzle. When feeding hay, always weigh it and don't cheat—a 1 pound difference in a feeding is a big difference. Exercising a horse as little as 30 minutes per day, three times per week can make a big change and improve their metabolism. Treat each horse as an individual. Just like with people, the dietary needs for one horse may not be the same for another horse. Don’ts: Grain, complete feeds and concentrates add huge amounts of sugars and non-structural carbohydrates to a horse’s diet. Most horses only need these when lacking in energy or weight. Talk with your veterinarian about specific recommendations for your horse. Confining horses in a stall along with reducing physical demands sets the stage for serious metabolic problems. Don’t overgraze pastures. The greatest amount of sugar in a grass plant is in the bottom 3 inches. Allowing horses to overgraze pastures adds high amounts of sugars to their diets. Avoid grazing during cool weather (under 40 degrees) and especially if it has frosted. Pasture plants store carbohydrates at very high levels during these times, making it a particularly dangerous time to graze (i.e., extremely high in sugars and carbs). This is a key issue and may wreak the most havoc with an at-risk horse’s metabolic condition. Don’t graze pastures that are under stress or drought conditions (brown and dried out grass) as these are likely to be high in sugars. During long periods of sunny weather eliminate or substantially reduce grazing time for at-risk individuals. Consider grazing late at night instead (see above). In summary, especially if you have an at-risk individual, you may need to research this area further and perhaps seek professional help. This is a complex and evolving area; each horse is an individual and each situation may require a slightly different way of handling things. Resources: Katy Watts, Rocky Mountain Research and Consulting, Inc.,www.safergrass.org Here are some northwest feed companies that have low NSC (non-structural carbohydrates) feeds and list the NSC content so you know exactly what your horse is getting in grain or pelleted rations: LMF Feeds Mid-Valley Milling (formerly Sterett Bros. Hay) Nutrena A good academic paper explaining the make up of carbohydrates: link International Veterinary Information Service Equi-analytical Laboratories for testing forage Grazing Muzzle

New Website Provides Washington State Farmers with an Alternative for Livestock Mortality Disposal

Mount Vernon, WA—A new Farm Mortality Composting web site is now available that provides information and resources for farmers, county extension agents, university faculty, and the general public about on-farm mortality composting. On-farm composting is an environmentally and economically sound alternative to conventional methods of carcass disposal. A full grown cow can be fully composted in 2 to 4 months with minimal cost, labor, and equipment.

In any livestock farming operation animals will die due to old-age, injury and disease. The cost of commercial disposal is often prohibitive to producers, while disposing of the animals on-farm can cause bio-security issues, attract pests, and use valuable land space. “Washington State farmers need another option for disposing of livestock mortalities” said Caitlin Price, project coordinator. “For many, it’s no longer just an alternative, it’s a necessity.”

The On-Farm Mortality Composting Research and Education Project is a joint effort between the BIOAg program at Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Ecology, with additional support from the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The purpose of this project is to promote on-farm composting as a viable method of disposal for agricultural livestock mortalities over 300 pounds. The project has a focus on both on-farm research and education.

The research portion of the project consists of 6 trial sites in Washington State that range in size from 1 to over 20 animals. One of the sites is at the WSU compost yard in Pullman. The other five sites are in Skagit, Adams, Grant, and Yakima counties. These trials compare management techniques, as well as the effects of climate and material differences by region, on the rate of carcass decomposition.

The education portion of the project consists of field days at farm trial sites in the spring, county extension bulletins, print media, classes and presentations, and the website. The website and printed materials will be available to farmers, educators, and state agencies to share information about the best composting methods in different regions and situations.

There are many resources on mortality composting available from other states and universities, but until now there has not been any resources specific to the needs of Washington farmers. The new website is a concise and accurate source of information for farmers, county extension agents, industry professionals, and educators interested in large animal mortality composting. It includes clear instructions, photo galleries of the trial sites, material and climate considerations, regulations, frequently asked questions, and links to further research.

Price, now living in Mount Vernon, Washington, became interested in this topic while still a student at Washington State University. She decided to create a website after doing her own research and finding that information on large animal mortality composting was difficult to locate. “Farmers don’t have time to sort through pages of information” she said. “They need information that is easy to find, and easy to use.”

Contact:
Caitlin Price
On-Farm Mortality Composting Research and Education Project
206-920-3732
E-mail
Web site

	İMike Danzenbaker Western Tanager Would you like to know how you and your morning cup of coffee could help this beautiful bird that is common to western North America? Visit Western Tanager, Coffee Bird.

Free Pasture Weed Classes in King County

Interested in learning more about those strange plants in your horse pasture? Would you like an expert to ID them for you? And let you know if they are toxic to livestock or not? Or give you ideas on how to eliminate them from the picture? The following workshops are being offered by King County Noxious Weed Education program and are open to everyone.

Snoqualmie/North Bend Invasive Weeds Workshop

June 5, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Meadowbrook Farm Interpretive Center
1711 Boalch Avenue N.W.
Snoqualmie/North Bend, WA

Come learn about the tough invasive plants that are overwhelming farms, forests and wetlands in King County. Sasha Shaw from the King County Noxious Weed Program will teach how to identify the worst invaders and how to control them so they don’t overwhelm your property. Bring your mystery weeds for identification and get answers for controlling the tough weeds on your property. Free and open to the public. Please register by calling 206-263-6468 or e-mail.

	You can ID your pasture weed by visiting the King County Noxious Weed Program Weed Photos page. Get information about a plant by clicking on its common name, Latin name, or a thumbnail photo.

North King County Pasture Weeds Workshop

June 13, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Woodinville Library
17105 Avondale Road N.E.
Woodinville, WA

Come to a free workshop on pasture weeds and invasive plants in north King County. Find out about new invaders that could be the next worst weeds if we don’t stop them now, and learn new tricks for managing familiar weed pests. Noxious weed expert Sasha Shaw will teach about common and uncommon weeds with a slide show and a live weed show and tell. Everyone is welcome but space is limited so please register ahead with Sasha Shaw at 206-263-6468 or e-mail.

East King County Pasture Weeds Workshop

June 26, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Maple Valley Library
21844 S.E. 248th St.
Maple Valley, WA

Come to a free workshop on pasture weeds and invasive plants in east and south King County. Find out about new invaders that could be the next worst weeds if we don’t stop them now and learn new tricks for managing familiar weed pests. Noxious weed expert Sasha Shaw will teach about common and uncommon weeds with a slide show and a live weed show and tell. Everyone is welcome but space is limited so please register ahead with Sasha Shaw at 206-263-6468 or e-mail.

These free educational events are open to everyone. For more information:

Sasha Shaw
Noxious Weed Education Specialist
King County, Washington
206-263-6468
E-mail
Web site

	Quote of the Month “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” Christopher Reeve

Educational Events

Discover great ways to get your horse property in ship shape for you and your horses to enjoy this summer! Check out the web site, for new events added regularly.

Woodinville, WA
Tour the Hare’s Lair!
Saturday, May 12th TWO TIME CHOICES: 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon OR 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.	This beautiful Friesian horse farm combines sustainable horse keeping in a wildlife-friendly, fairy tale setting. View carefully planned out wildlife enhancement techniques where woods, streams and ponds are preserved and artfully woven around pasture areas. See a sacrifice area that doubles as an exercise area, tour a barn with many energy as well as chore efficient features and observe horse manure being composted. Parking will be limited to 20 cars maximum—carpooling and cooperative parking encouraged. E-mail Alayne for registration.

Shelton, WA
Summer Workshop Series: Tips for Managing Horse Properties
Monday evenings 6:30 p.m.to 8:30 p.m. FREE!	This FREE Horses for Clean Water series will meet one Monday evening a month at the Mason Conservation District in Shelton, WA. Get your property in ship shape for you and your horse to enjoy this summer! TOPICS and DATES: May 21: Horse Pasture Management Learn basic techniques for good pasture management including how grasses grow, creating a winter paddock, rotational grazing, managing small grazing areas, weed control, fencing and small farm equipment. We will also discuss what constitutes a “lush” pasture and how to manage horses and grazing so a horse doesn’t become fat. Learn about changes you can make now so your pastures will be more productive and your horses healthier this summer! (LOCATION: Shelton) June 18: Natural Ways to Control Mud, Bugs and Weeds Reduce chemical use on your property while making it healthier for your horses, you and wildlife! Inviting wildlife to your farm and landscaping with native plants can have many wonderful benefits for horse owners including “natural” insect control, mud reduction, dust barriers, visual screens between neighbors, cooling of buildings, summer shade for horses and low-cost/low care landscaping. We will also cover environmentally sensitive ways to manage odors, useful water conservation tips and how to manage creeks or wetlands on horse properties. (LOCATION: Shelton) July 16: Composting and Other Useful Manure Management Options Make your place healthier for your horses, more productive during the growing season, reduce the nuisance insect population, AND make it a chore-efficient place for you to enjoy next winter! BONUS: Meet experts in the industry: compost guru Peter Moon will talk about Static Aerated Piles and Silver Springs Organics will discuss their composting operation and how they can accept horse manure and stall waste. (LOCATION: Olympia) Pre-registration is encouraged. E-mail Karin Strelioff at Mason Conservation District or call 360-427-9436 for registration and additional information.

Hobart, WA
Beyond Where the Blacktop Ends
Saturday, June 9th 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon FREE!	Tour the Three Sisters Mule Farm, a private 10-acre equine property that lies above Hobart and is surrounded by Seattle’s Cedar River Watershed. This pristine property is superbly managed for benefit of the mules and their humans—as well as for the environment. See a group sacrifice area, a composting shed, rotational grazing and more management techniques that reduce mud and help with chore efficiency. BONUS: Learn about our unique Cedar River Watershed! To register and receive a map contact the King Conservation District at 425-277-5581x125 or e-mail.

Fall City, WA
The Chore Efficient Horse Farm
Wednesday, July 18th 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. FREE!	This small farm is big on economizing. The horse portion of this property was carefully designed and built by the owners to maximize space and chore efficiency. Everything for 3 horses has been neatly arranged on 1 acre including barn, mud-free paddocks, arena, compost bins and pasture. Hear about cooperative arrangements with neighbors that result in sharing equipment. This farm enjoys a picturesque view of the Snoqualmie River Valley and helps keep the waters clean, too! BONUS: Learn about King County Parks equestrian trails which are accessible nearby! To register and receive a map contact the King Conservation District at 425-277-5581x125 or e-mail.

Fall City, WA
Living Without Horse Pasture
Saturday, September 22nd 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon FREE!	This 6 acre mini-farm had lots of challenges in the horse pasture department—rocks, no topsoil, lots of big trees. Not having much pasture led to creative thinking and alternatives. Tour this Fall City, WA farm to see good use of turn-out areas, mud-free paddocks, different footing choices, a large all-season riding arena, attractive wood fences—plus ducks, chickens and goats, fruit trees and garden.

Fall City, WA
Preparing Your Horse Farm for Winter
Saturday, November 10th 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon FREE!	This large-scale reining horse breeding operation is beautifully set-up and managed. Tour this 20-horse Fall City, WA facility with the owners to hear and see how they designed and built it from the ground up. Learn what works for chore efficiency and what doesn’t. See winter pasture management techniques in place, tour a covered arena which doubles as turnout, hear about dust control, see gates designed for tractor access, and learn about green alder shavings which compost beautifully in their cement compost bins.

If you have any questions or would like to submit an article for publication in The Green Horse, please e-mail info@horsesforcleanwater.com.