Composting 101

Composting Horse Bedding

Did you know that one horse produces about 50 pounds of manure per day? That adds up to more than 8 tons per year. Multiply that by the number of horses in your stalls or pasture, and it becomes quite a challenge to manage. Luckily, there is a viable solution that is saves energy (including yours) and is good for the environment: Composting.

Composting is a natural solution that is easy to implement and provides a long list of benefits. To begin with, composting is natural. All organic materials naturally break down over time. Composting also eliminates the need to haul manure away; you can create a compost pile close to your barn for quick and easy disposal.

When compared to bedding that is not composted, composted bedding provides many health benefits for you and your horse. The high heat of composting destroys fly eggs and larvae and will also kill worms, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other disease and infection-causing protozoa.

Properly composted manure and bedding provides many environmental benefits. The same high heat that kills parasites also kills most weed seeds, which is a problem in many pastures. Well-managed compost will have few odors and be much more desirable than uncomposted manure piles. The process of composting reduces the bulk of materials; composting can cut the size of your manure pile in half.

The composting process stabilizes nutrients in the materials. The nitrogen in the manure is reduced from a highly soluble form to one that will be released over time. Compost naturally releases nutrients at a rate suitable for small plants in the early growing season and increases nutrient availability as soil temperatures warm. Properly composted materials are great for any soil, whether it is applied in a pasture or garden. Compost may be sold to landscapers and anyone who needs to enrich their soil, or it can be used to top dress your own pastures and surrounding areas. Compost-enriched soil is more fertile and manages water much more effectively.

How To Compost Your Horse Bedding

Here is a quick and easy guide to composting your manure and horse bedding:

1. Your compost area should be close to your stall and paddock to reduce hauling time and

distance. Pick a spot that is on high ground and well-drained. The spot should not be close to

standing water or streams.

2. Create a container or bin area for the bedding. This will prevent the bedding from blowing away or spreading into other areas. Wood pallets are a convenient way to build a quick compost bin. Create a bin that will accommodate a pile that is at least three feet high. This is necessary to create enough heat in the pile to kill parasites and weed seeds.

3. Ensure that there is adequate airflow during composting. You can use a tractor to turn the pile, especially during the initial composting stage. If you cannot turn the pile, you can use black plastic water pipes or PVC drain pipes that are drilled with half-inch holes at random locations in the pipe. These pipes can then be laid horizontally or vertically to allow aeration.

4. Once your material is in place, you will need to monitor the temperature to determine how well the material is composting. A long-stemmed compost thermometer and be purchased online or at most home and garden stores. Compost temperatures will increase to 120˚-160 ˚F. This temperature will then gradually drop to around 100˚F and then to surrounding temperatures. Cure the compost for a few more weeks until it has a crumbly texture and looks like commercial potting soil. Your compost is then ready to use.

Composting is a simple solution to managing your horse bedding after its primary use of keeping your horse’s stall and paddock safe and comfortable.