Eco-conscious practices in horse barns

Whether you are a newbie to horsekeeping, starting your equestrian hobby, or simply have a horse property to keep that you would like to make more sustainable, incorporating eco-conscious practices in stable management can help you reduce your expenses in terms of waste disposal, energy costs, water use, building materials while keeping your horses happy.

Eco-conscious practices that lead to sustainability can be highly beneficial for horses. These practices can optimize their health, provide them a safe and conducive environment for their growth and save you money as stable owners. You might want to kick off your change with these practices, here is a list of pro-tips:

Make eco-conscious decisions all the time

Neglecting your horses’ stable can be harmful to the environment. Imagine the piles of manure that can potentially contaminate local waterways during the rainy season, or the pesticides and hygiene chemicals that can end mix with soil from whichever spot you take them for a bath. An eco-friendly stable starts with proper planning, management, and careful decision-making. 

Revisit your manure management system

Did you know that the average horse can produce 45 pounds of manure on a daily basis? If that is not a lot, think of how much that would be in a week plus all of the soiled shavings. A well-detailed plan in removing and managing manure should definitely be an integral part of your eco-conscious stable. Proper collection, storage, and disposal of manure should be carefully considered. Avoid seeping the manure into the ground and keep it away from water sources. Keep your manure piles covered so that bugs and flies will not feast on them. You may choose to make a fertilizer or compost out of them so you can make a treasure from your waste.

Rotate your pasture for preservation

To prevent horse stables from overgrazing, you may opt to schedule pasture rotations. You do not want to experience a major loss of vegetation and have problems with regeneration. What you can do is tailor a plan for a rotational use of your pasture. Keep one space free each time another one is used. Overgrazed pastures are the ones prone to erosion and this can be a threat to your local water supply as dirt and manure can be washed into them.

Use only the organics

From your cleaning supplies, insect repellents, to your grooming items, let all these be organic and non-toxic. Commercial products purchased must be carefully read and identified whether or not they have high amounts of chemicals harmful to the environment. Organic products are not only safe for your animals, but they are also healthy for your land. 

Conserve energy and water resources

Turning into the use of eco-friendly energy sources like switching to LED or ideally, solar lighting or wind turbines, can be financially beneficial to you. Being eco-conscious, you must consider using only natural and renewable energy sources. This can reduce your carbon footprint and indirectly be one for net-zero carbon emissions. In addition, water should be conserved too. A lot of horsekeepers are taking advantage of rainwater for bathing their animals, rinsing their barns or stables, and watering their garden’s plants. For this, you might need to have a large barrel for your natural supply of rainwater. Remember to keep this covered to avoid mosquitoes from breeding. 

Purchase for sustainability

To be true to sustainability and being eco-friendly, challenge yourself to only consider affordably recycled and renewable products in selecting materials or items for your stable or barn. Do your research. With the advancements in Science today, the global market already welcomed various alternatives to commercial products including eco-friendly lumber crafted from 60% recycled materials. Skip the commercial brands and always go towards the green direction.

Automate your horse stable management

Find a horse management software that can connect various stable owners with people who are interested in the same. Riding clubs, equestrian centers, and horsekeepers are provided a platform from which they can communicate and ask questions to each other. Automating your stable management can make you more productive and efficient by helping you handle and monitor your barns and stables responsibly.