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Post by lindaf on Dec 11, 2007 18:13:46 GMT -5
Assuming that there is no shortage of shelter, water, and feed, what is a reasonable number of horses that can comfortably be kept on 25 acres of wooded grassland (about 80% grass and 20% scattered trees)? The horses would be free-roaming. This land is about 30 miles south of Ft. Worth, TX near Granbury if you know the area.
Linda
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Post by zephyrcreek on Dec 11, 2007 18:53:33 GMT -5
Hi Linda,
Most experts will tell you that 2 acres per horse is optimum, but it all depends and the land, and the climate. One of the biggest reasons for the 2 acres per horse statistic is to control worms. Considering that you are in the South, worms are not as big of a problem for you as they are in the northern wet climates.
Ellen
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Post by lindaf on Dec 11, 2007 19:51:46 GMT -5
<One of the biggest reasons for the 2 acres per horse statistic is to control worms.>
I had not thought about that factor at all. Thanks Ellen.
A related question then (I have only boarded, not managed my own place.)
On a relatively small place, like 25 acres, you do need a manure management plan or let it decompose naturally? Let's say you have 5 horses.
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Post by zephyrcreek on Dec 11, 2007 21:35:54 GMT -5
Each state has its own set of rules, that not enough horsepeople are aware of, myself included. Personally I studied up on composting manure on the internet, and have been trying to use some of this knowledge on my own farm. I currently have 4 adult horses at my place in Michigan (20 acres). Here are a few of the things that I am doing.
My horses are on turnout 24/7 with run-in sheds available at all times. During the wet/winter months they are restricted to a smaller sacrifice area that has little to no grass most of the year. The sacrifce area is around 1 1/2 acres. Due to Michigan weather they are in the sacrifice area from Nov/Dec - April depending on the weather that year. Also, if there is little rain during the summer or the horses are starting to overgraze the pasture they are then restriced to the sacrifice area. It is important to watch the "roughs" in your pature. Roughs are the areas where the horses do not graze do to manure. If they roughs start to dimminish (the horses are eating in the area) they need to be moved ASAP.
Manure, I have a small tracture that I use to place all my manure in windrows. My windrows are 4-6 feet wide and 4 feet high. During the summer I flip the pile every 2-4 weeks. Also if we have a dry spell I water the pile as needed to make sure it stays as humid as a damp sponge that has been rung out. One thing I plan to add next year are plastic pipes with air holes drilled out. It is recommended that these pipes be pushed down into the center of the pile to maintain the correct O2 levels. Also, I have multiple piles, and they are each in different areas of the farm to reduce the chances of contaminating the ground water. Each of these piles is at a different stage, but generally they break down enough to use within 6-8 months, if not sooner. The closer I stick to the above items, the faster the pile breaks down. Once again, due to our weather here, it probably takes much longer than in the South.
I will say that I have little to no smell, and my neighbors to not even notice the piles. We live right off a corner, and share our North property line with 5 other houses that are looking down on our property. Because of the size of piles I keep (perfect dimensions) they would never guess the contents ;D. Needless to say they love to visit my place every fall/spring to pick up a load. Our neighborhood has the best gardens in the County.
Ellen
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Post by lindaf on Dec 11, 2007 22:45:30 GMT -5
We compost here at the house so my husband would have a project that he knows how to do if I can ever convince him to move to the property. It looks like I need to do some research first before I become an onsite horse owner.
I think turning the piles is the key to success. And thanks for the tips on the sacrifice area and the roughs.
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