[Paul Canning]

Hi all, I know of a stables not too far from me that regularly has horse manure but I know that they bedding they use is woodshavings but also flax which i believe is biodegradable but I wondered if anyone could think of a reason that it could be a problem on the plot??

I assume it'd rot down with the manure surely?

It's probably a stupid question but I'm one of those that would rather ask than be sorry later :-)

[Totty]

Hi,

Im fairly sure that so long as the horses have grazed on fields that have had no chemical weed suppressent sprayed, then so long as your manure is fairly well rotted you should have no probs.

Regards, Totty

[Paul Canning]

Oh god, I hadn't even thought about that, what's the score with the chemical weed suppressants then, how's that affect the manure?

[Nige2Plots]

Oh god, I hadn't even thought about that, what's the score with the chemical weed suppressants then, how's that affect the manure?

It's passed onto your crops in essence it kills them!

[Paul Canning]

AH! :-( Right then Ill make sure to find out! God Im glad I asked now!

[Aunt Sally]

Horse manure with Flax will be absolutely fine Paul.

Just ask if the pasture has been treated with a weed killer that contains aminopyralid, if it hasn't it will be fine.

[Nige2Plots]

Horse manure with Flax will be absolutely fine Paul.

Just ask if the pasture has been treated with a weed killer that contains aminopyralid, if it hasn't it will be fine.

Thats what I was thinking of!

[Aunt Sally]

I know...  that's why I said it for you

[noshed]

We get a lot of horse manure from various select stables, including her maj's. The only annoying thing these days seems to be the amount of wood chips in it - it takes ages to rot down but as long as the manure has straw/shredded paper in as well, it's OK I think.
The key really is to let it rot down for a good few months before spreading it about, as they say.

[Aunt Sally]

Flax is quite good for rotting down and doesn't contain the pine resins that wood chip does.

[rowlandwells]

I hope my horse manure is OK i think the lady who supplies me feeds on farm hay and horse feed because I've blitzed the lottie with it and still spreading as i collect a trailer load of it every week 

because i need to manure most of the lottie i am a firm believer in feeding the ground as much as crop rotation my motto is you must put back what you take out does that make sense unfortunately my horse manure does not have any flax with it 

[shokkyy]

I would just check whether they ever put anything on the beds to stop the horses eating the flax. Some people do, because some horses just like eating it and it's not good for them. One of the things that is sometimes sprinkled on the bed to prevent it is very diluted Jeyes fluid or something like that. Chances are they don't need to do it, but I would just check with them.