Horizon Structures Presents Series: Keeping

Hatching a plan to deter the dastardly pesky biting bugs and flying insects from wreaking havoc at the horse farm is a good idea to ease the distress insect life can cause to horse and human.

Aside from mosquito-borne disease concerns such as Zika, Eastern and Western Encephalitis and the West Nile virus, the daily torrent of everything from tiny biting midges to giant pale horse flies that invade the horse farm can make life miserable for man and beast.

Here are a few ideas to help assuage the problem:

The Manure and Moisture Magnet

The dining delights for many insects include a handy supply of manure and moisture that the horse readily provides. While mucking stalls a few times a day may suffice in cooler winter months, in the summer it’s a good idea to pick up the pace and remove manure from both stalls and pastures as frequently as possible.

Of course, removing the manure from one spot to place it nearby in another makes no sense at all. Muck buckets should be kept outside, emptied, and rinsed clean and stored upside down when not in use. Any equipment or tools used for the task of manure removal should be parked and stored away from the horse population. Manure management in a closed container may be an option if a disposal service is utilized, or a manure compost pile may be the destination for the manure supply. All manure storage should be kept a significant distance from the horse’s living and exercise quarters.

Standing Water Worries

Ridged upturned buckets, empty water troughs, poor drainage around the farm and puddles of standing water in the driveway all provide the perfect breeding and feeding ground for insect life when rainfall descends on the farm.

Explore your horse property for areas of issue and make repairs as necessary to keep gateways and driveway surfaces level, preferably with a gravel or compacted stone