Old horse manure

[Tibbo]

This is a random one.
The previous owners of our land used to keep horses.
Instead of having the muck removed they decided to pile it up amongst the trees down one side.
I’ve been looking to get this out for some time but a lot of the farmers are reluctant to take it away.
Not sure if this is access to remove or they just don’t want it.
The reason they might not want it is there is a lot and it’s been there a long time.
From the amount of muck for the amount of horses I’d say at least 10 years worth.
my question is would it be safe to throw over my fields and use it as a fertiliser or is it going to cause some problems. I want to cut the fields for hay eventually.
At the moment the only thing that grows in the muck now is nettles.
Thanks

 

[Foxcover]

Well you’re going to have to get rid of it somehow aren’t you!
If it’s just droppings from the field it shouldn’t have too many bits of twine/broken forks/broken barrows in it hopefully.
Might have to spray out docks/thistles/
nettles a few months after you’ve spread it.

 

[glasshouse]

This is a random one.
The previous owners of our land used to keep horses.
Instead of having the muck removed they decided to pile it up amongst the trees down one side.
I’ve been looking to get this out for some time but a lot of the farmers are reluctant to take it away.
Not sure if this is access to remove or they just don’t want it.
The reason they might not want it is there is a lot and it’s been there a long time.
From the amount of muck for the amount of horses I’d say at least 10 years worth.
my question is would it be safe to throw over my fields and use it as a fertiliser or is it going to cause some problems. I want to cut the fields for hay eventually.
At the moment the only thing that grows in the muck now is nettles.
Thanks

Cash sorts all problems

 

[Universe]

Well rotted, be fine, just spread it

 

[Sharpy]

Good straw based cattle dung, easily accessible and easily loaded will have a small value. Horse dung, quite possibly shavings or sawdust based, generally with string, plastic, lead ropes and old rugs buried in it, nestled amongst trees etc will not be wanted.
If you have your own cutting ground spread it there, harrow immediately and lift the detritus, after assisting the spreader man cleaning the string and rope from the rotor or beaters.
Sorry to be so unenthusiastic but that's the reality of horsey people's middens.
P.S. the dung will do no harm, its the rubbish in it that causes the hassle.

 

[Gander]

When we moved here I inherited a heap very similar to the one you describe. It was lovely composted stuff. I had hired a rear discharge spreader and spent most of the next day cutting string out of it before I could return it. I did this in full view of the livery customers. They could see (and hear) how happy I was about this. I’ve not found any string in horse muck since though. Beware!

 

[Kidds]

P.S. the dung will do no harm, its the rubbish in it that causes the hassle.

I would have it in a heartbeat if it was free from the rubbish, in fact even with a little bit of rubbish I would.
Lets not pretend any farmers dung heap does not have its fair share of bale twine, mastitis tubes and worse.

 

[David1968]

Might have to spray out docks/thistles/
nettles a few months after you’ve spread it.

Be easier and cheaper to spray the heap with Roundup first.

 

[milkloss]

Be easier and cheaper to spray the heap with Roundup first.

I agree but roundup alone won’t do nettles very well.

 

[Henarar]

When we moved here I inherited a heap very similar to the one you describe. It was lovely composted stuff. I had hired a rear discharge spreader and spent most of the next day cutting string out of it before I could return it. I did this in full view of the livery customers. They could see (and hear) how happy I was about this. I’ve not found any string in horse muck since though. Beware!

bet it made it grow though

 

[David1968]

I agree but roundup alone won’t do nettles very well.

Yes, fair point. I forgot about that.

Going to need something like Grazon as well.

 

[snarling bee]

Do not spread horse muck on arable land. Seeds from hay are a major problem IME.

 

[Sharpy]

I would have it in a heartbeat if it was free from the rubbish, in fact even with a little bit of rubbish I would.
Lets not pretend any farmers dung heap does not have its fair share of bale twine, mastitis tubes and worse.

Ours doesn't.

 

[snarling bee]

Ours doesn't.

The occasional pig toy would be all. One a year perhaps.

 

[Kidds]

Glad to hear it @Sharpy and @snarling bee
Last winter I shifted a big 10 year old muck heap from a friends stables, I think I found maybe 3 lengths of bale string and the rubber off an old squeegee in total.
Would love to have more of that.

 

[milkloss]

Out of curiosity does anyone know the approx nutrients in horse manure vs cattle manure? Lot of variables I know but horse dung always seems so coarse.

 

[Sharpy]

Glad to hear it @Sharpy and @snarling bee
Last winter I shifted a big 10 year old muck heap from a friends stables, I think I found maybe 3 lengths of bale string and the rubber off an old squeegee in total.
Would love to have more of that.

Only ever shifted one horse midden with no detritus, worst one had over a ton bag of string and other crap cut off the beaters.

 

[robs1]

I shift at least two hundred loads of horse muck a year, if it's full of rubbish I charge extra, we mix it up a couple of times to even out the pure heaps of sh!t picked up from fields with mainly shavings from stables, it's good stuff, it saves me a lot of money in fert and get paid a decent amount for taking it. I've had far worse in years gone by from covered yards with string, net wrap and tyres, some people are lazy makes little odds if horsey or cattle owners

 

[glasshouse]

Glad to hear it @Sharpy and @snarling bee
Last winter I shifted a big 10 year old muck heap from a friends stables, I think I found maybe 3 lengths of bale string and the rubber off an old squeegee in total.
Would love to have more of that.

Ten yr old stuff is great

 

[glasshouse]

I shift at least two hundred loads of horse muck a year, if it's full of rubbish I charge extra, we mix it up a couple of times to even out the pure heaps of sh!t picked up from fields with mainly shavings from stables, it's good stuff, it saves me a lot of money in fert and get paid a decent amount for taking it. I've had far worse in years gone by from covered yards with string, net wrap and tyres, some people are lazy makes little odds if horsey or cattle owners

The men that bed the cattle should be made to clean the beaters on dfungspreader