Winter time manure pile access

[Pehsness]

So my set up is very basic but very functional - aside from cleaning the stall/run-in.

They have a mini-barn with a matted floor bedded with pellets/shavings/straw - whatever takes my fancy that month. I clean it with a fork and wheelbarrow and in good weather push the manure to the far end of the paddock which is out the run in door and to the left about 300 feet or so (I’m guessing).

However when there is snow - as there is now, lots and lots of snow - it becomes impassable with a barrow.

There are also trees in that narrow alley between the barn and paddock that mean no tractor access.

How do you handle that? Hand shovel every day? small snow blower? The horses have free in and out access so they would be walking the same path.

My dream is to “pave” that alley with mud grids but I don’t know if I’ll ever want to swallow the cost of that.

I don’t know if a walk behind blower is practical either.

[endlessclimb]

Can you designate a “winter pile” area for situations like this? My manure goes in compost bins that are roughly 400 feet from my paddock. I don’t mind hoofing it in the cold/wind/mild rain.

Should the snow get crazy, I plan to put it in a different area right behind the paddock, and tractor it to its final destination when the weather lets up.

[trubandloki]

When I have too much snow for the wheel barrow I use a ice fishing sled to move the manure around. Works great.
It is heavy duty enough that it can handle being flipped over to dump.

[Pehsness]

@endlessclimb

Can you designate a “winter pile” area for situations like this? My manure goes in compost bins that are roughly 400 feet from my paddock. I don’t mind hoofing it in the cold/wind/mild rain.

Should the snow get crazy, I plan to put it in a different area right behind the paddock, and tractor it to its final destination when the weather lets up.

that was my plan… I was going to open up the fence and build a big compost area right off the barn… then we got 4 feet of snow. Which isn’t exactly UNusual, but it’s been so many years since we have had snow like this, I was taken by surprise.

[Pehsness]

@trubandloki

When I have too much snow for the wheel barrow I use a ice fishing sled to move the manure around. Works great.
It is heavy duty enough that it can handle being flipped over to dump.

OMG, thread over. This is brilliant. I have no idea why I didn’t think of this (probably because I don’t ice fish…)

Thank you!

[randomequine]

Glad to see this, it’s my go-to here in Minnesnowta as well

[colorfan]

Once the snow comes I use a calf sled to move the manure, it is actually easier than the wheel barrow, probably holds about the same.
My set up is long and narrow so I have to move the manure or my narrow area gets too congested.

[Lolliver]

This is what I do as well - central Illinois.

[Pehsness]

Well, I just tried this on my kids’ old sled (sorry kiddos) and it worked a treat. Way too small obviously but I can see it is definitely the solution. Thank you!

[B_and_B]

If you want a cheap option, try those black plastic concrete mixing tubs you can find at Home Depot, usually about a yard long. They generally cost about 10 to 12 bucks around here. I drill a hole and attach a string. Great for pulling a small hay bale out into the field too. One small bale fits neatly into it. If you want the exercise, and need to put out two small bales you can chain them together as a train!
I can get several years out of mine.

[Leather]

Add me to the “ice fishing sleds are great for winter poop hauling” crowd. LOL

One modification/upgrade I suggest is to make a handle out of a piece of pvc/conduit - it saves your hands from the rope digging in.

[cardinale]

@trubandloki

When I have too much snow for the wheel barrow I use a ice fishing sled to move the manure around. Works great.
It is heavy duty enough that it can handle being flipped over to dump.

There are also wear bars that can be added to the underside. Jet Sled wear bars

There are also wheels that can be added. I added the wheels to make a hay cart that easily traverses uneven ground (not snow in my case). The wheels might not be a benefit in snow on level ground. Plus, the frame is kind of rinky dink. Remains to be seen how long the cart setup lasts but it works so well that I’ll get it reinforced/repaired when the time comes. Jet Sled wheel cart conversion kit

[Pehsness]

So I got a middle of the road one at Canadian Tire. Still set me back $150 but that’s horses.

Life. Changing. I was able to strip the 12×12 wet wet wet stall in 2 trips. I made it all the way to the manure pile and tipping it was a non issue.

The did have bigger models with bars etc bit they were twice the money so I started here. It is going to be amazing. I can even see using it in mud season when the barrow is also impossible.

So Thank You!!