SUMMARY

A comprehensive and objective BMP demonstration project related to environmental and water quality protection targeted to the suburban and pleasure horse owner is urgently needed to ensure preservation of the horse within the society of man, maintenance of the horse as a viable adjunct to the joy of living, improvement of the environment, and eventually contribute to reduction of urban sprawl. Existing educational programs for horse owners are usually on a county level basis only. This project aims at reaching larger audiences. Recent informal surveys conducted during extension meetings and elsewhere suggest a high demand for information by horse owners on issues related to pasture and waste management, mud control, and water quality protection. With nearly 200,000 horses in Kentucky, an interdisciplinary team is needed to provide the horse owner with the training and information needed to implement sound management decisions that enhances horse well being and protects the environment. At present, very little information is available to the horse owner demonstrating the proper use of, or more importantly, the effectiveness of BMP’s in suburban horse farms.

The goal of the proposed BMP demonstration project is to transfer and promote the knowledge that will be essential to realistically protect water quality in suburban horse farms while enhancing horse well being. We aim to accomplish this by (i) accurately identifying baseline water quality and other environmental issues in suburban horse farms, (ii) implementing BMPs that have been proved to reduce water pollution elsewhere, and (iii) facilitating the transfer of this knowledge to horse farmers.

Outcomes of this project include accurate identification and characterization of waste management and water quality issues in suburban horse farms through a public survey to be conducted among 4,000 horse farms in Kentucky. We also plan to address the long-term sustainability of nutrient loading, specially phosphorus, on small land bases. Practical strategies and techniques to improve manure handling and reduce mud and runoff will be demonstrated through the construction of geotextile and fly ash pads for feeding and composting, implementation of small composting operations on horse farms, construction of managed stream crossings, limiting the access of horses to water to one well defined location or water point, and also through implementation of paddock management. Results will be widely disseminated through field days, fact sheets and articles, a video, a manual or guide, and through this web site. Project impacts or measures of success will include pre and post participant surveys during field days and workshops to determine changes in attitude and problem awareness. We will also use digital photographs to document improvements in participant farms.

It should be noted that the problem of horse farms and manure management in suburban areas with small land bases is a relevant and growing problem in many other states beyond Kentucky. Ultimately, this will be a unique opportunity for educating suburban horse owners that has a larger potential multiplier effect due to the visibility of the Kentucky horse industry at the national level.

Our synergistic project team consists of agricultural engineers, horse specialists, extension personnel, several horse farmers, and state horse industry leaders. This team is ideally suited for conducting the project because of its members’ relevant expertise and individual abilities in effectively conducting outreach and educational programs.