Introduction

Manure from grazing animals, including horses, is high in nutrients (e.g. phosphorus and nitrogen) and may also contain pathogens (e.g. cryptosporidium). Manure which is allowed to build up can affect water quality. Manure from foals (as with all young animals) contains higher levels of pathogens than faeces from adult horses.
 

Manure can quickly build up in intensive horsekeeping areas such as stables, yards and small paddocks. A build-up of manure can lead to:

• risk of pollution of watercourses through water run-off,
• uneven pasture growth (see Management of manure), and
• risk of horses becoming infected by internal parasites.

In addition, urine build-up in stables and yards causes excessive urine smell. Urine contains ammonia, and if it is allowed to build up it can put horses at risk of respiratory system and eye problems.
 

Good waste management is also important to avoid odour problems, which could offend neighbours.
 

In South Australia, Property owners also have responsibilities under legislation (Environmental Protection Authority's Environmental Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2003) to avoid discharging or depositing waste or pollutants into any waters, bores or onto land where it might enter the water.
 

Horse owners in other States will need to check with their local authorities.
 

Steps to achieve best practice

Suggested actions are:-

• Regularly clean stables so that waste does not build up, and regularly remove manure from yards and small paddocks.
• Ensure that wastewater from cleaning these areas does not go into stormwater drains or into watercourses. It should be either directed to a suitable surface soakage area, to a trade waste connection, or collected and taken away by a licensed liquid waste contractor.

 

 
Regularly clean stables so that waste does not build up.

Links

• Land Management Program advisers: www.amlrnrm.sa.gov.au/services.html
• Horse SA: www.horsesa.asn.au
• Hoofprints - A manual for Horse Property Management - J. Foyel, Primary Industries SA. Agdex 461/10
• A Legal guide for South Australian primary producers - SA Law Society, available from PIRSA offices, Natural Resource Centres (but note some legislation referred to is now superseded)
• Managing Horses on Small Properties - by Jane Myers. Landlinks Press available through CSIRO publishing or Horse SA: www.horsesa.asn.au
• Horse Sense - Landlinks Press or from Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au
• Check the websites from your State department of agriculture for additional books and fact sheets