For those who haul and dump horse poop off your property

[Mukluk]

We have two horses on a small property. Our climate is high and dry so we have been spreading the manure and it breaks down pretty quickly. However, we live in an equestrian community that has a horse poop dump and I think the fly situation would be better if we could get rid of the poops rather than spreading them. Some people here just load the poop into large trash cans and haul to the dump. So what containers do you use for poop (preferably fly proof) and how often do you haul to the dump?

Ideally, I’d like to take the poops to the dump daily and don’t want to mess with constantly hitching and unhitching horse trailer as truck is Mr. Mukluks everyday vehicle I’m thinking with just two horses and the dump being less than a mile a way, I could get a bicycle trailer and pedal the poop to the dump in two muck buckets. I would feel like a good citizen of the planet if I could do that.

Anyway would love to hear what ya’ll do with the poop!

[Hinderella]

At my barn (4 horses, 3 ponies, one mini) we dump the manure into a dump trailer which is then emptied about every 5 days. It definitely helps with the flies.

[kcmel]

I love the bicycle idea! I don’t know if it would work, but if you try it you must post pictures :).

[S1969]

Somewhat off the topic, but we compost our manure, and once it’s in the pile, there really are very few flies. So, another option would be to compost instead of spreading; although without a front-end loader that’s a terrible job (and easy to not do, and then maybe not as successful).

How about rigging up something from a cart like this – http://www.zoro.com/i/G6584006/?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&gclid=CjwKEAjwkf-gBRCd-b2m2aOo0EQSJABMeQDk5o6z5P8EbK3Rmg7sZJhFCHuo05lYEMbFx9zkla6F0hoC63Tw_wcB

The wheels are pretty small, though, so it might not turn well with your bike.

[DHCarrotfeeder]

Agreed, if you turn it over, it will compost and take up less space. This reduces handling effort, flies, risk to the environment, and number of trips to the final destination. Once composted there are very few flies so both composting and keeping a pile of compost is relatively clean and odor free.

Also if you put manure into a dump trailer and let it sit there it can be quite corrosive. If you only load up to transport it and clean it out you won’t see much damage.

[Mukluk]

How about rigging up something from a cart like this – http://www.zoro.com/i/G6584006/?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&gclid=CjwKEAjwkf-gBRCd-b2m2aOo0EQSJABMeQDk5o6z5P8EbK3Rmg7sZJhFCHuo05lYEMbFx9zkla6F0hoC63Tw_wcB

That’s a nice cart. I think I would want something with a wider wheel base though as the last thing I want is to be riding along, hit a bump and have the cart tip over (yikes). There are bike specific carts, or I might be able to buy a suitable cart and set it up for a bike. It’s a short ride to the dump. Also we could use the cart to pick up groceries from the store that is only 4 miles away.

[Mukluk]

I can just see me towing the horse poop to the dump spot with this!!!

http://www.tonystrailers.com/cargo/cargo_header10.jpg

I really think it would be fun and ever so green!!!

[Bicoastal]

I’m not sure putting manure into a community dump -which ends up in a landfill- is green. I know cow manure is a problem for the ozone and am guessing horse manure is, too. I like the suggest to compost. Besides, it sounds like a lot of effort to visit the dump daily.

[Anjou]

I compost our community’s manure from 8 horses, but I have a sub-compact utility tractor with a front end loader. That’s a lot of poop, but with minimal turning/watering (once a month), I can covert it into quite a few cubic yards of mulch/compost. In your case, I would propose that you dig a 5-gallon hole and bury the manure. Fly and disposal problems eliminated; no need to travel to the dump… and your soil gets amended with organic matter and nutrients!