Particularly when working in warm temperatures, the horse will attempt to preserve its liquids. Weed Seeds Horses in the wild used to roam up to 25 miles a day for food, water and shelter. Their continual movement dispersed manure and urine. However, since horses today are primarily confined to paddocks or pastures, it is unlikely that decomposition of the small amount of horse urine left on trails provides any significant nutrient enrichment to the trail environment compared to either ambient detritus decomposition from trailside flora or atmospheric deposition. Horses generally are restricted to hardened trail treads or fire roads that do not provide attractive habitat for plant growth.
Automobiles are a known non-point source of air borne NOx emissions.
Perhaps it is the elderly we should ban from trails if urine is a feared nutrient. The risk of horse urine providing nutrient enrichment for weeds on hardened trail treads is virtually insignificant. Evidence suggests urine may in fact be toxic to some weed seeds initially exposed to it. Animal wastes should not be allowed in or on the margin of water bodies and management practices exist that can help to keep this from occurring. Disclaimer These materials have been prepared by EnviroHorse for information purposes only and are not legal advice.