Mud Management Tips
Written by: Moira Clune
Mud management is an important part of your horsekeeping plans. It's more than just aesthetic, it's a safety issue.
• Raw manure and mud provide a breeding ground for flies.
• Accumulated mud and manure cause equine thrush, rain scald, and other diseases.
But there are ways to dry things out.
Fence Off Problem Areas: Keep your horses away from wetlands, streams or ditches to avoid trampling of banks and manure contamination of water.
Move Things Around: Rotate water tank areas to avoid mud and manure buildup.
Use Sacrifice Areas: Move animals into a corral, run, or pen when pastures are wet in the winter or when grass is less than 3 inches high in the summer. Grass in these areas is "sacrificed" to preserve pastures. Sacrifice areas should be on high ground, at least 100' from wells and open water. If possible, keep a 25' grass buffer around the area to filter runoff.
Be Firm: Common muddy areas include barn entrances, lanes, gates and loafing areas. Consider installing geotextile fabric and gravel in these areas. Geotextile fabric allows water to drain down, but stops mud from working up through the gravel.
Consider The Gutter: Gutters and downspouts can direct the torrent of rain that comes off barn roofs. 1" of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof yields about 623 gallons of water! A rain barrel can be installed, too, to conserve some of that water.
Get A Good Grade: If possible, slope the paddock with a 4 to 6 percent grade. A southern exposure will dry out more quickly, too.
Design A Drain: There are a number of ways to install suitable underground drainage systems including drain tile systems, french drains and trench drains. Contact a qualified contractor if you're unsure which is right for you.
Keep mud to a minimum and you'll have happier, healthier horses.
Let Practical Horsekeeping show you how to become an efficient, effective equine expert! Moira Clune and Noreen Girao provide helpful horse care information with a practical twist. Their free horse care ezine shows you the fastest, safest, smartest ways to care for your horse. Sign up today and get their free, veterinarian approved Colic Preparedness Report that shows you exactly what to do in a horse colic emergency. And be sure to visit their racehorse rehabilitation blog to follow the retraining progress of Bayrod, a thoroughbred racehorse with an impressive lineage and a dismal track record.
