If the horses usually are confined in barns or small exercise lots, manure handling can be a serious problem. Surburban horse owners should plan housing and manure management carefully to avoid difficulties with neighbors and health officials. Flies and odors are the most common complaints. Anyone considering keeping a horse, especially in a suburban area, should review local zoning and health regulations. Regular cleanout and removal of manure and wet or soiled bedding to a fly-tight container, storage facility, or field for spreading are requirements of any successful management plan.
Regular cleanup reduces the opportunity for insect breeding and odor production.
Storages should be designed to exclude rodents and to keep rain and surface water away from the manure. Manure should be collected from stalls and paddocks daily. This is usually done with a fork or shovel and a wheelbarrow, tractor-loader, or trailer. Following removal of manure and soiled bedding, fresh bedding is added to ensure clean, dry conditions. Simply adding fresh bedding and allowing manure and soiled bedding to accumulate in the horse stall results in dirty animals, provides excellent fly-breeding conditions, and may be unhealthy for the horses.