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Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 17: Manure Management for the Small Horse Property

Manure Pile

If you are plagued by a growing manure pile and no solid plan for disposal, you’ll appreciate today’s chat about ideas that can relieve your manure pile stress. In this episode, Helena welcomes back her horse husband, Buck, and they discuss some of the more popular options for manure management and removal, what they tend to cost, as well as the pros and cons of each. What did the Harrises choose for their small horse property? Listen in to find out!

Can you afford a composting system, manure spreader, or dump trailer? Use the Stall and Stable Financial Planner to find out!

From this episode:

  • Manure Spreader – as narrow as 4’ wide 
    • Available in a stainless steel body (impervious to urine and moisture)
    • Start at $3,000
    • Can handle 1-4 wheelbarrow loads
    • Tow with lawn tractor or ATV
    • Need more than 3 acres to be useful
  • Composting System
    • Low cost or no cost to set up
    • Requires time to manage (turn, aerate, process, move)
    • Makes awesome compost that you could sell
    • Takes up more space than you think
    • Flies still an issue
    • Disposal/disbursement/use still an issue
    • UMass Amherst Composting Page
  • Dumpster 
    • Moderate cost (lowest we could find in New England was $189 / month for a 10 cubic yard dumpster)
    • Removal is low stress
    • Easy to remove, at your interval
    • Ugly
    • Takes up space
    • Unloading a full wheelbarrow into dumpster requires some innovation
    • Wholesale Nationwide Dumpster Rental
  • Removal by 3rd Party
    • High cost
    • Manure pile tends to get very big, drawing flies and taking up valuable space
    • You’re at the mercy of the 3rd party’s schedule
    • The pile must be easy to access with equipment like front-end loader, etc.
  • Dump Trailer
    • High cost
    • Low stress
    • Requires tow vehicle
    • Saves time and space
    • Must be moved when trailer gets full
    • You need a distribution or disposal plan
      • Local dump or transfer station (check your town or city’s Organic Waste Recycling options)
      • Local gardeners/growers who would like to use it
Barn Help
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 12: 5 Strategies for Running a Better Barn

Strategies for Achieving “Barnmony”

If you run a boarding stable, you have probably experienced more in life than most people! The good, the bad, the easy, and the oh my god will this day ever end? In this episode, we’re talking about 5 strategies that can not only ease the pain of those difficult days, but that can actually boost your business by making your clients happy without sacrificing the kind of horse care you know you can offer. Listen in!

For more information:

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  2. Search for “Stall and Stable”
  3. Click “Subscribe”

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Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 11: Financing Your Horse Business

When It’s Time to Take the Leap

Whether you own your own farm or have dreams about it, this is an episode you want to listen to. Making money in the horse industry is tough. The good news, is that there is help you may not know exists. This week, Buck joins Helena to talk about loan programs available to equestrian businesses. Buck is an Economic Development specialist who works with entrepreneurs (yes, Ms. Horse Trainer… that’s you!) to help them get the financial and business support they need to start or grow their businesses. From farm purchases and arena construction, to tractors and new footing, these things are closer to reality than you think. Listen in!

For more information:

Subscribe to the Stall and Stable podcast for free!

  1. On your phone or computer, go to iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts
  2. Search for “Stall and Stable”
  3. Click “Subscribe”

If you want to join in on the Bonus Content fun, follow us on Facebook or Instagram!

Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 6: Keeping the Grand Prix Dressage Horse

“Routines are important, not only for us, but they give great comfort to horses.”  – Nikki Alvin-Smith

Paul & Nikki Alvin-Smith of Willowview Hill Farm, are British international-level Grand Prix trainers who have successfully competed in Europe to scores over 72% at Grand Prix. This husband and wife team have also trained several horses of various breeds from birth to Grand Prix, and trained many students up through the ranks of dressage in their careers. While both have worked with more than a few icons in the dressage world, their training has been most influenced by their work with Olympic trainer, Raul de Leon, and Grand Master Herbert Rehbein, of Germany.

In this episode, I chat with Nikki Alvin-Smith about their dressage training program and how their farm stable routine supports their equine athletes at the highest level.

Nikki Alvin-Smith

Subscribe to the Stall and Stable podcast for free!

  1. On your phone or computer, go to iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts
  2. Search for “Stall and Stable”
  3. Click “Subscribe”
Nikki and Paul Alvin-Smith
Drinking Post Waterer
Stall and Stable Podcast

EP 5: A Simple Automatic Waterer

Making everyday barn chores easier first requires making them simpler. Take watering for example. Filling buckets lined up in stalls each morning and evening is essential, no matter where you keep your horses. Heading out to faraway lands to prep paddocks and pastures for turnout, however, can be one of those farm tasks that eats up time, energy, and for the professional barn manager… money. In my search for simple products that solve these kinds of problems, I found one called Drinking Post. Today’s episode explores the need for, design, and features of this neat new product. Listen in!

Horse drinking in winter
No more frozen troughs. Ahhhh!

Subscribe to the Stall and Stable podcast for free!

  1. On your phone or computer, go to iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts
  2. Search for “Stall and Stable”
  3. Click “Subscribe”

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Interested in a Drinking Post waterer for your barn? Check their dealer locator for a retailer near you.