December 2010

Welcome to e-Tips!

If you are resolving to make your horse farm more environmentally-friendly next year, let My Horse University and eXtension’s HorseQuest give you a head start. This month’s featured article is by Dr. Ann Swinker from Penn State University and provides practical strategies for implementing green practices on your horse farm.

Also, join us for “How Green is Your Farm” on December 14th at 7PM EST, where Dr. Swinker will help make sense of environmental standards and offer tips for incorporating inexpensive, environmentally friendly horse-keeping methods.

Did you know...?

Environmentally Friendly Horse-Keeping
How Green is Your Horse Farm?
Ann Swinker, PhD., Penn State University

This is the time of year when you start thinking about New Year’s resolutions, and you may want to think of ways to make your stable and farm more environmentally-friendly in 2011. Going green on your horse farm is not difficult or expensive. You may already be using environmentally-friendly methods of horse-keeping and just need to make some adjustments. In addition, there may be funding sources to help you cost-share these conservation improvements. Your farm may be eligible to be paid to incorporate environmentally-friendly conservation practices into your operation. Read on.

This Month's e-Tips

Follow these best-management practices for operating a more environmentally-friendly horse farm:

Reduce water runoff by installing gutters and downspouts on all buildings
Responsibly manage manure and soiled bedding: consider composting or exporting the manure
Follow the NRC Nutrient Requirement for Horses to prevent over-feeding, a common but expensive practice that causes excessive nutrients in the manure and pollutes soil and groundwater
Utilize a rotational grazing system for your pasture
Mow pastures for natural weed control and erosion control
Regularly clean your barn and tack room,store feed in securely sealed containers and consider a barn cat to manage rodents
For natural pest control, plant bushes, flowers and ornamental plants that attract insect-eating birds and encourage the habitat of bats

Question of the Month

Fumonisin is a mycotoxin that is found in:

A. Spoiled feed
B. Fescue
C. Corn kernels
D. Toxic weeds

Click here for the answer!

Photo of the Month

"This is Fox, my registered Miniature horse. He was given to me as a 4-H driving prospect at a year old, I was 10 years old. He was almost completely unmanageable when I got him, couldn't even touch him without him breaking into a sweat or trembling! That was 11 years ago, he's now been the undefeated Harness Champion and Showmanship Champion for over 6 YEARS! He's touched so many lives and so many people, people know HIM before they know ME, he's truly blossomed into an outstanding horse :)"

Submitted by Sarah, Thorn and Thistle Miniature Horses

Want your extraordinary equine featured in the next Photo of the Month?

Send your photo along with your name and a little background info to info@myhorseuniversity.com and we'll also feature your horse on our brand new Facebook page!

Write "Photo of the Month" in the subject line.

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News & Updates

FREE Live Webcast
How Green is Your Farm?
Dr. Ann Swinker
December 14, 2010
7:00 PM EST

FREE Live Webcast
College & Horses
Dr. Kathy Anderson
January 18, 2010
7:00 PM EST

NCSU Horse Breeding Management and Transported Semen Short Course
Raleigh, NC
December 9-11, 2010

NCSU Foaling Management Short Course
Cary, NC
December 12, 2010

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