Facts About Horse Manure

If a horse produces no manure, it can indicate an impaction in the gut, and that too, is bad news. Veterinary attention should be sought as soon as possible. 

Ingredients

Horse manure contains grass and grain fibers, minerals, shed cells, fats, water, and sand or grit, depending on the type of soil in which the hay or grass was grown, and the paddock or pasture on which the horse is kept. About 3/4 of the total weight of manure is water. It may also contain undigested grain and weed seeds, which is why it should be composted before fertilizing your garden, because these seeds could still germinate.

There are lots of different names for horse manure. Horse manure is sometimes called horse buns, road apples, horse pucky, horse chips, horse hooey, and horse apples. 

Horse Manure in Your Garden

Horse manure should be aged about six months before being used on gardens. Manure tea made with fresh horse manure can be used to feed vegetable and flower gardens, or fresh manure can be used to build a "lasagna garden." It doesn't burn the plants, so even if you don't let it compost for six months, you're not going to kill your plants.

If You Fall Face First in a Pile

Horse manure is unlikely to spread any disease to people, including bacterial problems with E. coli, which is killed in sunlight. Human and dog waste are far more likely to spread disease and parasites to humans. While it's unpleasant to find it on walking trails and other public places, horse manure is not typically harmful. It is, however, good manners for you to stop and get the pile out of the way if your horse poops on a shared trail or parking lot.