Introduction

Horse property managers are recognising more and more the value of good environmental management. They are facing increasing scrutiny of their environmental management performance from regulatory government agencies, from external stakeholders, and from neighbours and industry peers. All would like to see horses kept in a sustainable manner with minimal adverse impact on the environment.
 

In addition, awareness has increased regarding the relationship between enhanced horse health and environmentally-conscious land management.
 
 
 

About the project

Throughout several ongoing environmental awareness raising efforts by the horse keeping community (led by Horse SA), it has been recognised that a vital component in making a difference in true on-ground improvements is the presence of targets for desirable environmental land management practice(s). The following underlying principles led to the need for developing management guidelines for the horse keeping community:

• Environmental (on-ground) outcomes can potentially be achieved in a more straightforward manner if the pathway to those outcomes is known and has general horse industry support (e.g. what practice is likely to achieve outcomes).
• Management guidelines for horse property owners, if developed in conjunction with and endorsed by government agencies, will provide important steps in enhancing government’s confi dence in the commitment of the horse keeping community to environmental management
• Horse keepers will be more likely to take action to undertake sustainable planning and management practices when assisted by a horse industry body (e.g. Horse SA) and advised of the links with horse health.
• Best practice principles will provide clear messages to horse property owners as to which practices will have a greater possibility of meeting their 'environmental duty of care'.
• If underpinned by a structure that allows monitoring of application of these practices and environmental improvements, best practice guidelines have the potential to act as a target-setting protocol.
• The horsekeeping community has been identifi ed as drawing more benefi t from best practice advice rather than self-directed risk assessment procedures.
• Assisting landholders to comply with current regulatory requirements by providing them with a framework for environmental improvements.

Therefore, through extensive consultation which involved surveys, a number of workshops, fi eld days, testing of practices and the recording of collective experiences, this ‘Management Guidelines’ document has been put together.
 

We hope you, your horses and the property on which your horse lives benefi t from the information contained within.
 

 

The need for this particular document arose from the experiences of Horse SA and members who were working on a sister project 'Action Planner for Horse Properties'.
 

The practices in this document were developed by horse property managers in conjuction with government agencies and with the support of Horse SA.
 

This document is designed to support the Action Planner and to act as a stand-alone information source.
 
 

How to use these guidelines

These guidelines are designed to be used in conjunction with Horse SA’s Action Planner for Horse Properties to assess and continually improve environmental management.
 

This publication consists of a series of topics for each of the 30 topics in the Action Planner. For each topic, there is some brief background information, a statement of best practice, practical step-by-step guidelines to help you improve your current practices, and links to helpful resources and further information.
 

First, work through the Action Planner and identify which management topics will help you make improvements on your horse property (available from Horse SA: www.horsesa.asn.au or www.horseslandandwater.com)
 

Next, look at the corresponding topics in this publication to help you develop action plans for your property. There is an action plan template at the back of the Action Planner.
 

For some management issues, you may need to get professional advice for more detail and to help you work out what is best for your horse property.
 

Congratulations for taking the fi rst steps. Your horse - and the environment - will say thanks!
 

What is a catchment?

A catchment is an area of land that catches rainfall, and directs it to a creek, river, dam or gutter, which eventually flows out to an ocean or lake.
 

Water is the link throughout the catchment. As well as rivers, creeks, lakes, dams and reservoirs, a catchment also includes groundwater, stormwater, waste water, and related infrastructure (including sewage pipes and treatment systems).
 

Water is the link throughout the catchment. As well as rivers, creeks, lakes, dams and reservoirs, a catchment also includes groundwater, stormwater, waste water, and related infrastructure (including sewage pipes and treatment systems).

• can support aquatic life such as fish, frogs and insects;
• are available for recreational use; and
• can supply safe drinking water for communities.

Everybody lives and works in a catchment, so we all have a responsibility to look after the environment within our local catchment.
 

All properties need to be well managed to prevent pollutants (including sediments from soils, nutrients from manure and fertilisers and chemicals from pesticides or veterinary products) from damaging the surrounding environment and/or entering watercourses or groundwater.
 

The way you manage activities on your horsekeeping property can have a direct impact on the surrounding environment and the quality of the water that runs off your property, which in turn has an impact on your catchment’s health. These include activities such as:

• soil health, pasture composition and groundcover maintenance;
• weed control;
• manure management;
• storage and application of veterinary products and chemicals; and
• horse access to and across watercourses.

A horse property that practises sound environmental management will have quality pastures, low incidence of weeds, habitats for native birds and animals and well-maintained watercourses. Sound environmental management not only translates into healthy land but also provides an environment that will have positive impacts on the health of the horses that live on such a property.
 

It is important to understand how activities on your horsekeeping property can be managed to prevent poor water quality in your catchment and promote horse health. Once issues are identified you can then begin working towards managing activities on your property to reduce or prevent pollutants harming the surrounding environment and catchment.
 

These guidelines, along with the Action Planner, are designed to assist you to recognise any improvements in management practices that will promote catchment health on your property.