Tips On Horse Owners Being Good Neighbors
When I bought my horse farm thirty years ago in Eastern Pennsylvania, the area was mostly open fields and farms with a small town nearby. Since then, the small town has grown greatly and the area has gone through major development. Many businesses have moved into the area as have families from neighboring states.
Most have moved from the big city to the country. Since they are not used to the sights, smells and sounds of the country, it is a challenge for horse owners. So how can horse owners maintain a positive relationship with non-horsey neighbors?
For starters, have a sacrifice area or a paddock for the horses. Using this confined area will keep your pastures from being overgrazed and destroyed, especially during the winter months. It will also be easier to manage manure and urine in a smaller area. Surround the area with lawn or pasture grass to filter the contaminated runoff. To cut down on mud in the paddock, use crushed rock or coarse sand for footing.
In Pennsylvania, a written manure management plan is required for anyone that owns livestock or horses on their property. Even if it is one horse or pony. The plan would include picking up manure on a daily basis in confined and high traffic areas. The manure should then be sored and composted in an area away from residences and buildings, as well as water sources. With time, it will turn into rich, black fertilizer, which you and possibly your neighbors may want to use on lawns, gardens, pastures, etc. The vegetation grows well in composted manure.
Plant along ditches, creeks, and bodies of water. This will help stabilize the banks, prevent soil erosion and filter out nutrients and sediments. It will also reduce weeds, dust and improve the views.
Consider adding native plants for wildlife habitat in used areas of the property or in hedgrows. As deveolpment progresses, wildlife tends to be lost. Before you know it, more native birds and small animals willbe attracted. Hang some bird and bat houses. This in turn will attract animals that eat insects to help manage mosquitoes for both you and your neighbors.
Last, but not least, trim the growth on and under the fencing. This will make the property more attractive looking, not to mention prevent having your electric fence short out.
Good land management on your horse farm will keep the smells, weeds and pests from traveling into your neighbors property. In exchange, your neighbors will be happy, and may even enjoy seeing the horses out their windows.
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